Dairy Queen is not only found in Washington, and for that we are thankful — a Blizzard tastes especially delicious on a road trip, after all. The first DQ opened ints doors in Illinois in 1940, and we’ve been getting addicted to its soft serve ever since. But did you know that the first Dairy Queen in the Evergreen State opened less than a decade later? And thankfully, that location is still around (and better than ever).

Washington's first Dairy Queen opened in Vancouver in 1948, making it the oldest DQ in the PNW.
Deb ZJ / Google
The location was opened as a drive-in and a walk-up window, and that's how it still operates today.
The DQ is located in Vancouver's Shumway neighborhood, which is considered one of its most walkable.
Paul O / TripAdvisor
Herb Ehle bought the restaurant in 1953, passing it down to his son three decades later. This family legacy has brought the locals a lot of joy.
This Dairy Queen location was in danger of extinction in 2008, when the Columbia River Crossing project announced plans to build a mass-transit line through Main Street and Broadway.
Levi May / Google
Luckily, the neighborhood came together to create a "Save the Queen" campaign, and the original building remained.

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There's a lot of history here, which is great... but of course, the eats and treats are the best part.
Dairy Queen / Facebook
This DQ has everything the franchise is famous for, from the chicken strip baskets to the irresistible desserts.
We're not suggesting a Blizzard made at such an iconic spot is better than a Blizzard at a shinier and newer DQ, but there does seem to be something magical about the Blizzards sold here.
Dairy Queen / Facebook
Feel free to test that theory anytime.
We've lost quite a few of our older restaurants in recent years, so it's nice to see this spot still going strong.
Marty Campbell / Google
Support them on your next road trip or, if you're in Clark County, the next time a Peanut Buster Parfait craving hits.

Tell us! What’s your go-to order at Dairy Queen?

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Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, 2707 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98663, USA