MILT’S POLAR QUEEN DRIVE-IN
Brick By Brick, Burgers & Fries
Milton Jarvis and workers are shown at work on the Polar Queen building located at 745 Highway 198 in Payson in the late-1950s. Jarvis was a carpenter and brick and block mason by trade who dreamed of running a diner. He made his dream come true by building Milt’s Polar Queen brick by brick, burgers and fries.
A grand opening celebration held on June 18, 1958 had people lined up in cars and trucks at the drive-thru window and all down the street for the burgers, fish sandwiches, fries, and ice cream the Payson restaurant perfected.
Image shows the old Turf Cafe with its multiple businesses, which included a Polar Queen drive-in. Milton Jarvis built Milt’s Polar Queen next to the Turf and opened his business in 1958.
The Real Story Of Payson’s Polar Queen
By Ron Jarvis
There have been many versions of the history of the Polar Queen in Payson. They have been written by historians and citizens in the area. I am the grandson of the man who built and ran the Polar Queen that still stands today in 2026. According to facts, personal pictures, deeds, and city and county recorded records I decided, in honor of him, I would write the actual history of Milt’s Polar Queen, basing it all on my grandfather Edgar Milton Jarvis. A written history of Milt’s Polar Queen — a factual story.
In 1946 Jess and Wanda Bachman built the Turf club with a bar, a service station, cafe, and Polar Queen drive-in. They ran it all successfully for many years.
In 1957, Jess and Wanda Bachman, owners of the Turf building that included a service station, cafe, bar and the first Polar Queen, wanted to move to Nevada. They sold their home at 745 South 100 West, Payson, and vacant property behind the home facing Hwy 91 on the west to Charles and True Dixon on June 27, 1957.
Edgar Milton Jarvis and wife Trilma and son Jack bought the Polar Queen franchise rights and a one-year lease of the building the Polar Queen shared with the Turf Cafe from the Bachmans in February 1957. Jess and Wanda took the time to help Milt and Jack get acquainted with the business and staff of the Polar Queen.
In no time Milt was successfully building a thriving business. Cars packed the drive-up window and business was quickly growing, but the one-year lease on the building was up. To Milt’s surprise, instead of renewing the lease on the building, he was given 30 days to move out. It appeared they planned on taking over the business that Milt had worked so hard to build over that year’s time. So Milt scrambled to find a new place to move the Polar Queen business.
Luckily he found that Charles and True Dixon had property just a few hundred feet north of the Turf Cafe that they had bought from Jess and Wanda Bachman just a year before. On April 10, 1958 Milton and Trilma, along with Jack and Lazawn, bought the property from the Dixons, they drew up the plans and began to build a new Polar Queen building.
Milton was a brick and block mason, as well as a carpenter. He built many houses in the county. He hired professionals from each trade to help get the business open as soon as possible.
After nearly three months, the building was ready and the grand opening was set for June 18, 1958. Cars were packed at the drive-up window, all around the building and down the street. Milt’s Polar Queen, as it was called, was a huge success.
Milt and Trilma kept the Polar Queen open 7 days a week from 7 AM to 10 PM. They worked long, hard hours and the business thrived. After 6 years of hard work and getting older they retired in 1963. Son Jack and Lazawn Jarvis took over the business and continued to make the same delicious food, only adding a few new items. They kept the business open the same hours as Milt. Lazawn managed the business and the whole family worked hard cleaning and prepping food and waiting on customers to keep it all going. Lazawn even offered breakfast that the locals enjoyed.
Milt’s Polar Queen, as it was known to everyone in the area, was for years the most popular and business food drive-in in the Payson area. For over 12 years it was the place to go to.
It was sold in 1970 to Gene and Colleen Thomas, who eventually remodeled it to make it what it is today (2026).
All the dates and information here was found in personal, recorded city and county deeds.
