Chesterton, IN
Terry Gassoway, 61, has a time machine in his basement at 419 N. Calumet Ave. that he bought from his father, Virgil. It makes root beer.

The antique is part of family history that's now celebrating an anniversary.

Carloads of families passing through the Gateway to the Dunes on the way to the state park beach have been stopping at the family-run Port Drive-In to down frosty homemade root beer and chili dogs made with his mother Elsie's secret recipe for 50 years.

"We're the only mom-and-pop drive-in left in Porter County. Our little corner of paradise stays the same," said Gassoway, taking a break while his wife, Beth, was watching the kitchen during the afternoon lull.

The Port re-opened for the new season March 21 with the sign out front proclaiming "It's Our 50th Year!"

Actually, it's been 54 years since the drive-in known as Studman's opened to serve the hordes of summer visitors to the Dunes.

For a short time after Gassoway's parents bought it in 1957, it was the Snack Shop, competing with Rigg's A & W at the south end of town and the Purple Onion a block up the street (south of the present Porter Bank) to feed the crowds of travelers coming over from Illinois for a day of sun and swimming.

The Indiana Toll Road was dedicated the year before and opened up the area to new customers.

"Our grand opening was Aug. 5, 1957, with free root beer," Gassoway said.

There's room for 50 cars underneath the awnings that jut out from the building, attended by waitresses who often wear in-line skates, instead of the old metal, four-wheeled kind, Gassoway said.

The bypass and Interstate 94 actually helped the business, Gassoway said, after he and Beth took over from his parents in 1978. The roads eliminated the summer tourist traffic jams created by the railroads.

"The new highways made it easier for them to turn in here. We have a lot of fans in Illinois," he said.

The menu, larger than in the old days, still offers homemade coleslaw (another secret recipe), milkshakes with peaches and other fresh fruit in season, the legendary local soft drink Green River, and a concoction called Swamp Water, a root beer and orange combo served with lily pads.

"Our specialty that people come in for, from everywhere, is smelt when they're running," Gassoway said.

Former carhops have fond memories of their summers in aprons and caps.

"I worked at Rigg's for four years," said Chesterton Clerk-Treasurer Gayle Polakowski. "We used to send messages back and forth to the Port with friends who would drive between them."

The Gassoways said they employ 40 to 50 people at the height of the season.

"With this place, we have no time for kids. But when you work with them, you stay young. We're going to stick it out as long as we can, Gassoway said.

If you go...

Take Indiana 49 to Indian Boundary Road (exit north on Indiana Toll Road/I-90 or south on I-94, and U.S. 20, go west to Calumet Avenue and then south for two blocks.)

Originally published online here: http://www.post-trib.com/news/342925,cport.article