The timeworn proverb, "All good things must come to an end," rang true for many in Draper last month when Ballard's Iceberg Drive-In closed its doors after 65 years in business.

Owner Don Ballard explained that he is ready to start a new chapter in his life. "We've been open for 65 years and I've been managing it for 55," he said. "Not many of my friends have worked at one job that long, seven days a week. I'm going to be 75, figured it was time."

While Ballard will retain ownership of the property, the Iceberg and the small house behind it will eventually be demolished to make way for a Jiffy Lube. “There’s nobody to pick up the reins,” he said of the eatery’s closing, explaining that his children and grandchildren have careers of their own. 

“I’ve been doing this for so long,” Ballard said, adding that he and his wife, Deb, hope to spend some of their retirement years traveling.

Deb appreciates that the Iceberg is a special place for many in the community. When she was growing up, her family stopped in for a treat whenever they were in Draper. At the same time, she is ready for a change. “I am looking forward to Don not having to get up before 6 a.m.,” she said, “I’m happy for him.” 

Ballard’s mother, Alice Mae, opened the Iceberg in 1960. At the time, the small burger and shake stand was surrounded by farm land. The Ballard family lived in the home behind the Iceberg and worked there in various capacities over the years. “Dad did steel work,” Ballard recalled. “He opened up on Saturdays.” 

Don, the youngest of three brothers, took over as manager in 1976 but Alice Mae stayed active working at the Iceberg. “In her early 80s, she would run errands and still come in,” he said.

The Iceberg had a distinctive, zig-zag shaped roof when it first opened and there was no seating. The building was later enclosed and small booths were added. As word about the Iceberg’s imminent closure spread, people reached out to Ballard asking about acquiring a booth as a memento. The place holds memories for many in the community. 

“Sixty-five years can accumulate a lot of history,” Ballard said. He reminisced a bit about a lifetime of family and community at the Iceberg. He spoke of his dad working the counter and about the time his brother caught his tie in the soft serve machine right before a date. He shared his memories of a customer who proposed to his girlfriend in one of the booths and the kids skipping church who came by on Sunday mornings, drawn by the candy counter that used to be there. 

As Draper grew and fast food franchises moved in, Ballard managed to keep the place going. “We kept doing what we do,” he said. “The demographics have changed, but we still have quite a few people who have been coming in over the years.”

The burgers, fries and shakes, all made with locally-sourced ingredients, kept customers coming back for decades as did the familiar faces behind the counter.

Julie Mitchell brought her mother to the Iceberg for one last malted milkshake before closing day. Mitchell worked at the Iceberg in the 1970s. “It was my very first job,” she said. “I got to work with Alice Mae and Don. Alice Mae would see people and just know what they wanted before they ordered. And Don joked with everybody.” 

 Mitchell recalled making sure that each milkshake towered over the top of the cup and chopping the lettuce and onions by hand. “It’s just sad to see one of the original places in Draper close,” she said.

The Iceberg held a closing party with live music Oct. 4 which was packed with patrons wanting to say goodbye.

Former Utah State Rep. LaVar Christensen remembered the Iceberg as one of the few businesses in town when he first moved to Draper in 1989. “It isn’t just one thing or one person,” he said, “it’s the history of our town. We want to say thank you.”