Excitement ‘a plenty’ at The Beacon for Travel Channel feature

SPARTANBURG, SC (WSPA) – It was excitement “a-plenty,” to be exact, for a historic Upstate restaurant.

Crews from “The Travel Channel” had cameras rolling Monday at The Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg.

“It’s a big deal,” said one of the owner/operators, Karen Harwell. “We have been very excited.”

Folks like Linda Wells said they’ve kept coming back to the restaurant for years because it’s like family.

“Favorite thing to drink is The Beacon tea,” said Wells.

The Travel Channel was on site filming to feature The Beacon on it’s show “Food Paradise”.

“We asked how they learned about us and I believe they said they were looking at Southern landmarks and we popped up,” said Harwell.

An establishment dating back to the 1940s, the restaurant was also featured on the Food Network years ago.

“We’re honored,” said Harwell. “We’re so fortunate to represent Spartanburg.”

People were invited to be part of the Travel Channel’s feature, and a car show out front brought back memories of how everything started.

“When you pull up in a car… They put a tray with your food on it,” Wells recalled.

It’s a piece of Spartanburg history that people across the country will get to see for themselves.

“I’m so delighted to know that the beacon is still standing and I hope it stands for ever ever more,” said Robay Stroble, wife of the late Beacon caller, J.C. Stroble. Members of the Stroble family were also interviewed by the Travel Channel.

There’s no word on when the episode will air.