The Northern Nevada Restaurant Serving Prime Rib And Buffet Favorites With Roots Dating Back To 1961

Arrowheads, ancient stone tools, and hand-woven baskets share a roof with chicken fried steak and homemade pie. Nobody sees that combo coming.

The artifacts come from Nevada’s Northern Paiute tribes, displayed in a small on-site museum. A few steps away sit cozy leather booths, waiting for plates of biscuits and gravy, prime rib dinners, and thick milkshakes.

I appreciate a place that feeds both your stomach and your curiosity. Breakfast is served all day, and the salad and homemade soup bar gives you another reason to linger.

The story behind it starts with a little drive-in and a couple who built something lasting. Then it keeps going, right up to a prime rib plate on the Loneliest Road in America. How does a little drive-in become a Highway 50 legend?

The Whole Story Started With A Humble Ice Cream Cone

Every legend needs a humble first chapter, and this one comes with soft-serve energy. Mary & Moe’s WigWam began in 1961 as a drive-in called The Dainty Cone, owned by Mary.

Three years later, Mary married Moe, and the little drive-in suddenly had a two-person team. Together, they expanded the place not once but twice as Fernley kept showing up hungry.

By 1984, the business had clearly outgrown its dainty name. The couple renamed it Mary & Moe’s Wigwam, and the new title stuck for good.

Mary and Moe retired in 2005 after decades behind the counter. Moe Royel earned a lasting reputation as a respected Fernley resident and restaurateur.

That kind of staying power is rare for any small-town restaurant. Plenty of places open with big dreams, but few keep the lights on for generations.

I love that the roots trace back to something as simple as a cone. Small beginnings have a funny habit of turning into community landmarks.

Today, the menu reaches far beyond soft serve, but the family-built spirit is easy to appreciate. Every booth sits on top of more than sixty years of Northern Nevada roadside history.

Prime Rib Night Is The Reason To Clear Your Schedule

Prime rib sits right on the menu here as a full dinner, not a once-a-year rumor. At Mary & Moe’s WigWam, that plate carries the hearty, old-school spirit the whole place is built on.

Holiday seasons bring something extra. The restaurant has hosted holiday prime rib special buffets, which turn a regular dinner into a full spread.

All-you-can-eat nights have also popped up, including a barbecue buffet and Saturday buffet options. Specials like these can change, so a quick call ahead saves you from showing up on the wrong night.

Timing matters for another reason too. Dinner hours run into the evening, which makes prime rib a realistic plan after a long drive. I can see why people make a special trip for a classic like this. Prime rib feels like a celebration, even on an ordinary Thursday.

Pair it with a trip to the salad and soup bar, and you’ve built a proper feast. Save a corner of your appetite, though, because homemade pie is waiting.

There’s no need to dress up, and comfortable clothes fit right in with the casual mood. Northern Nevada road trips rarely end this deliciously.

Build Your Own Starter At The Salad And Soup Bar

Soup, salad, or both? The salad and homemade soup bar at Mary & Moe’s WigWam makes that choice delightfully easy. Homemade is the key word. Soup made in-house brings a cozy, kitchen-table feeling that canned versions simply can’t match.

The setup works for every kind of eater. Light appetites can make a meal of greens and a bowl, while big appetites treat it as a warm-up lap.

Clam chowder has appeared among the soup offerings, a welcome surprise in the middle of the high desert. Selections can rotate, so ask your server what’s simmering that day.

A build-your-own bar also suits picky kids. Letting them choose their own toppings tends to win a few points at the table. On a hot Nevada afternoon, cool greens hit the spot. On a chilly evening, that soup becomes the main event.

Pairing it with prime rib or chicken fried steak makes the meal feel complete. It adds some color and crunch next to all that comfort food.

I appreciate a starter that lets you pace yourself. You decide how much room to save, which is a small but mighty kind of freedom. Grab a plate and take your time. Nobody’s counting your trips.

Breakfast Never Clocks Out, So Sleep In Without Guilt

Early birds and late risers finally get along at this diner. Breakfast runs all day at Mary & Moe’s WigWam, and the doors open at 6 a.m.

Biscuits and gravy rank among the most popular plates on the menu. Steak and eggs is another favorite for anyone who wants breakfast with serious muscle.

The omelet lineup gives you plenty of room to choose your own adventure. French toast rounds things out for diners with a sweeter morning in mind.

Then there’s the chicken fried steak, one of the restaurant’s best-known dishes. It fits right in at breakfast or dinner, which feels like a fair rule.

I love that nobody has to race the clock for eggs. Road trippers rolling in at 1 p.m. can still order like it’s sunrise. That flexibility matters on a highway where meals depend on mileage. Your stomach doesn’t care what time the clock says.

A comfy booth can make a slow morning feel earned. Families can split the table between breakfast and lunch orders without anyone feeling left out. Craving an omelet at noon? Nobody here will judge.

Save Room, Because Pie And Milkshakes Are Waiting

Burgers, steaks, and towering pasta plates fill out the lunch and dinner side of the menu. The Mushroom Swiss Burger ranks among the most popular items in the house.

Steak lovers have choices, from sirloin to a smothered New York steak to a classic hamburger steak. Deep fried shrimp and fish and chips keep seafood fans covered too.

Sandwich fans can go with a patty melt, a tuna melt, or a hot turkey or roast beef sandwich. Chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings handle the snack-attack crowd.

Now for the sweet part. Pies and milkshakes are listed among the desserts, though availability can vary. Ice cream flavors have included vanilla, chocolate, and mint chocolate chip, served in a cup, cone, or shake. That’s a fitting nod for a business that began as The Dainty Cone.

I can’t decide if pie or a shake makes the better ending. The honest answer might be to bring a friend and split both. Big menus can feel overwhelming, but this one reads like a greatest-hits album of American comfort food. Take your time with it, and plan for leftovers.

A Native American Artifact Collection Became Part Of This Restaurant’s History

Most diners decorate with license plates and old signs. Mary & Moe’s WigWam went much further with a small on-site museum of American Indian artifacts.

The restaurant has a long history of displaying artifacts associated with Nevada’s Northern Paiute tribes, including arrowheads, stone tools, beadwork, and woven baskets.

The historic collection also included Kachina dolls, traditionally associated with Hopi culture. These artifacts reflect the region’s rich Indigenous history.

The detail in the beadwork alone deserves a few extra minutes. Tiny beads, careful patterns, and steady hands add up to true artistry.

Woven baskets tell their own story about skill and patience. Gathering materials and shaping them by hand took knowledge passed down through generations.

I appreciate a restaurant that treats history as more than background decor. It turns a meal stop into a small learning moment.

Kids might get especially curious about the arrowheads and tools. A few questions at the display can spark a great conversation over lunch. Plan a few minutes before or after your meal to browse. Your food tastes even better when you’ve given your brain a snack first.

Slide Into A Leather Booth And Let The Nostalgia Kick In

Cozy leather booths set the tone the moment you sit down. The dining room leans into classic Americana, with a casual feel that suits a business with roots going back to 1961.

Some decor channels a 1950s and 1960s diner vibe. Curved booths make it easy to spread out with family or friends.

The dining room is nonsmoking, which keeps the focus on the food. That’s a welcome detail for families and anyone sensitive to smoke.

Nostalgia here isn’t a theme somebody designed last year. It comes from a building that grew, expanded, and changed names over generations. I can see why the mood feels comfortable for so many travelers. Familiar diner touches make strangers feel like regulars after one meal.

Friendly service is part of the package too. A good server who keeps things moving can make a busy road day feel calmer. The restaurant has handled big parties, including groups of around twenty. Calling ahead is smart if you’re rolling in with the whole family reunion.

Casual clothes fit in perfectly, and nobody needs a blazer to enjoy chicken fried steak. That’s the kind of easygoing comfort a great roadside stop should offer.

You’ll Find It Right On The Loneliest Road In America

Highway 50 earned the nickname the Loneliest Road in America, and it stretches across some wide-open Nevada country. Mary & Moe’s WigWam sits along Fernley’s Main Street, near the western end of that famous route.

The full address is 255 W Main St, Fernley, NV 89408. Main Street placement makes it easy to spot without detours down confusing side roads.

Fernley works as a handy stop for travelers heading east or west. Reno is a short drive away, which makes the restaurant an easy target for a day trip.

Lonely roads call for dependable meals. A full diner menu, a salad bar, and prime rib make a strong case for pulling over.

I love that a road famous for emptiness has a spot this full of character. It’s a fun little irony for anyone collecting Highway 50 memories.

Travelers chasing the route’s scenery can fuel up here before the miles stretch out. Starting with a solid meal beats hoping the next town has an open kitchen. Locals get a convenient Main Street option too. It works just as well for a weekday breakfast as for a weekend road trip.

Northern Nevada road trippers, take note. This is the kind of pit stop that turns into a story.

Planning A Visit Is Refreshingly Easy, Even With Kids In Tow

High chairs and a kids’ menu mean little diners get a real seat at the table. Mary & Moe’s WigWam keeps things simple for families who need a meal without fuss. Payment is easy too. The restaurant accepts credit cards, debit cards, and tap-to-pay mobile options.

Doors open at 6 a.m. daily, and dinner service carries into the evening. Hours can shift, so checking before a long drive is a smart move.

Weekends and holidays may bring special buffets and dinner deals. Those nights are worth planning around if prime rib is on your mind.

The restaurant’s history gives curious kids something to learn about while the food cooks. Grandparents might enjoy the classic diner feel just as much.

I appreciate a place that makes room for every generation. Toddlers, teens, and road-weary adults can all find something on the menu.

Mixed orders work beautifully here, since breakfast never stops. One kid can order French toast while another grabs chicken tenders.

After more than six decades, the hometown spirit still shows in the details. That’s a pretty sweet legacy for a place that started with a cone.