Ivan and Carol Slain

Ivan and Carol Slain started Ivanhoe's in 1965, building on family roots in Upland that stretched back to the 1880s, when Carol's grandfather came to town during the gas boom, later became the town's police officer, and whose son worked as a baker in downtown Upland, where Carol learned many of her baking skills. Ivan grew up in Matthews in a farming family and learned persistence and dedication at a young age, then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After returning from the war, Ivan and Carol saved enough money to buy Wiley's Drive In and rename it Ivanhoe's Drive In. What began as a small business with only outdoor seating grew through their hard work into an iconic local business. Since 1983, they have hosted the Ivanhoe Classic Basketball Tournament, and for years Ivanhoe's has given free sundaes to community children for good report cards. Their kindness, hard work, and love for the community became a lasting part of Upland.

Upland, Indiana · United States