The Corn Dog Was Invented Here In Oregon, And You Can Grab One From The Original Pronto Pup In Rockaway Beach
By Sarah McCosham|Published June 27, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Oregon has quite the culinary repertoire. In addition to being at the forefront of the farm-to-table and locavore movements, the Beaver State is behind such tasty treats as tater tots and marionberry pies. Oregon’s greatest culinary claim to fame, however, is everyone’s favorite food-on-a-stick: the corn dog! That’s right, the corn dog was invented in Oregon back in the 1930s, and you can still grab one from the original Pronto Pup in Rockaway Beach.
What is it about food on a stick that's so irresistible? It's such a simple concept, but a little wooden skewer makes eating pretty much anything much more fun.
But this fun novelty isn't actually how the corn dog came to be. As with so many iconic, classic foods, the corn dog's invention was a bit of a lark; or, as some might say, a happy accident.
You see, the corn dog got its start when George Boyington had a catastrophe at work one rainy day in the late 1930s. As so often happens on the Oregon Coast, a storm blew in, soaking the restauranteur's hot dog buns.
Not one to let food go to waste; by the time the sun came out, he had figured out a solution to his soggy buns: dip the dogs in a special mixture and deep fry them. George's new "corn dogs" were an immediate hit, and he soon opened up his Pronto Pup shop in Rockaway Beach.
This adorable little restaurant has enjoyed modern updates throughout its lifetime, and its cute dining room is a bright little space with white-and-black checkerboard floors and bright red tables. You can also dine at the picnic tables outside, or take your Pronto Pups to go and eat them on the beach, which, in our opinion, is how they're meant to be enjoyed!
Have you been to Pronto Pop, home to the original Oregon corn dog? This roadside stand in Rockaway Beach really is a must for all Beaver State foodies!
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