Which McDonald’s restaurant format introduced a drive-through window in 1975 at a location near Fort Huachuca?

The McDonald’s drive-thru format introduced a drive-through window in 1975 at a location near Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

The restaurant served customers connected with the nearby military installation, including people who could not easily leave their vehicles. The format allowed customers to order and collect food from a window, extending McDonald’s convenience-focused identity beyond indoor counter service.

Drive-thru service became one of McDonald’s most important branded restaurant features. It influenced building layouts, menu boards, vehicle circulation, packaging, and advertising language across the company’s later network.

The format is distinct from PlayPlace, McCafé, and other McDonald’s concepts. Those names refer to children’s play areas, coffee-focused offerings, or menu and restaurant developments, while the 1975 innovation concerned vehicle-based service.