Driftyland Dairy-Port

Drifty the cow looks down from her sign at the corner of Lower Azuza Road and El Monte Avenue, a spot she's occupied since 1961.  The Driftwood Drive-Thru Dairy, originally called the Driftyland Dairy-Port, was built by Theodore Masterson, and designed by an unknown architect.  

A parabolilc arching canopy structure covers the buildings.  The outer curbs of the driveway are trimmed with custom made ceramic tiles featuring the face of "drifty" and a milk bottle.  The Jetsons-era sign, topped with a space needle catches the attention of passers-by.

The significance of the Driftwood was described in a California Historic Register nomination as follows:

The Driftyland Dairy-Port is emblematic of Southern California car culture from the early 1960s.  It is the only example of a drive-thru dairy in El Monte and one of the very few in Los Angeles County.  The Driftyland Dairy-Port embodies the distinguishing features of Spage Age style as applied to roadside architecture.  The eye-catching pole sign and parabolic arch-shaped canopy are its most distinctive and unique features.  the integrity of all three elements; the two stores, the canopy, and the pole sign are retained with no significant alterations apparent.

Although the dairy was nominated in late 2008, it still faces one major hurdle - the owners don't want their building on any historic register.  In a letter to the historic commission, Driftwood officials wrote "We will vigorously fight any effort to continue with the nomination process."  Preservation magazine recently reported the current owner, Marwit Capital, announced plans to build a new strip mall on the site.