Archives On The Air 107: Tacos In Small Towns—Taco John's International, Inc. Records

By Wyoming Public Media

Published February 5, 2019 at 11:12 AM MST

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The first Taco John's Restaurant in Cheyenne, circa 1969. Box 9, Taco John's International, Inc. records.

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The first Taco John's Restaurant in Cheyenne, circa 1969. Box 9, Taco John's International, Inc. records.

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Taco John's billboard in Greeley, Colorado, 1977. Box 8, Taco John's International, Inc. records.

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Taco John's billboard in Greeley, Colorado, 1977. Box 8, Taco John's International, Inc. records.

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Taco John's donkey cart logo that was used 1976-1979. Box 7, Taco John's International, Inc. records.

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Taco John's donkey cart logo that was used 1976-1979. Box 7, Taco John's International, Inc. records.

In 1968, John Turner of Cheyenne wanted to expand his restaurant Taco House. He partnered with James Woodson and Harold Holmes to outfit a camper into a mobile restaurant that could feed visitors at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Holmes and Woodson bought the franchise rights from and named their new restaurant chain, Taco John's, after JTurner.

The first Taco John's sign had a picture of a devil in a sombrero. The slogan was "the hottest place in town." The first Taco John's were operated out of campers made in Cheyenne and trucked to their new location.

Since 1969 the franchise has expanded across the world. There are over 400 locations, mostly in smaller towns.

Taco John's is still based out of Cheyenne. The company's records are available at UW's American Heritage Center.