Brooksville, Florida - Chocolate shakes, fried pickles, cheese fries and a footlong... these are just a few of the items served at Coney Island Drive Inn in Brooksville.
The Hensley family purchased this local landmark back in 2006 and did the right thing by just adding a few items to this classic menu.
It seems that the King, Elvis Presley, even dropped by back in the 1960s. Locals say that he drove up in a big black limousine with a few other people, ordered quite a few of hot dogs to go, and left.
Coney Island Drive Inn
1112 E. Jefferson Street, Brooksville Florida
Phone: 352-796-9141
www.coneyislanddriveinn.com
Hours of of operation:
Mon -Tues 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wed - Sat 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Coney Island Drive Inn History
- July 7th 1960 - Darrell and Gertrude Todd and Family from Brooksville opened Coney Island Drive - Inn in an old boat manufacturing building.
- 1961 - Elvis Presley was in Inverness Florida filming a movie and legend has it he ventured down to Brooksville for one of the Famous Footlongs.
- 1968 - Fred Rice was brought on board and was the master hot dog slinger until 1992 and legend still has it that he keeps an eye on the place still.
- 1971 - Coney Island Drive Inn was purchased by Ralph and Gene Collins.
- Mid Seventies - In the Mid 1970's Walt Disney World was the only other institution that used more footlong Hotdog buns in the state than Coney Island Drive - Inn.
- Mid Seventies - Diggity Dog was born into the Family and has been the Brooksville Icon since.
- 1972 - The movie Night Stalker was filmed in Coney Island for a day and was the highlight of the movie.
- 1985 - Tom Collins son of Ralph and Gene Collins purchased the family business with Daughter Daiquiri and keep the Brooksville Tradition going into the 21st century.
- 2006 - The Hensley Family purchased the Drive - Inn and a old tradition was kept in place.