About KK

In 1956, Earl and Annetta Balmer purchased the Jacob Gress farm located just east of the village of Blainsport.  Earl Balmer was known by many as a good salesman and businessman. He sold kitchenware (pots and pans), Amway products, and sold Polaris snowmobiles. In the early 1960's, Earl built a drive-in restaurant at the corner of Route 897 and Windy Mansion Road. The locals thought he was crazy building a drive-in "out in the middle of nowhere" and "out in the boonies." The drive-in was constructed of white stone, including the oval fountain along the highway. At night, customers enjoyed looking at the multi-colored lights shining on the fountain from the stools by the front window. On the left side of the building was a cement slab with tables and patio umbrellas. Later this area would be enclosed to make the current dining room. 

In August of 1973, Earl began hosting snowmobile races for the Reinholds Snowmobile Club on Sunday afternoons in the field next to the drive-in. The large crowds that gathered to watch the races helped boost snowmobile sales, and brought more business to the drive-in. Racing continued over the next several years and additional entertainment eventually included Bluegrass concerts during the summer months.  Bluegrass bands performed on the flat rooftop of the restaurant and entertained onlookers below. 

In 1985 the Balmer's sold the drive-in to Robert "Bobby" and Sharon Weitzel. The Weitzel's committed to keeping the drive-in much as it was when first built. In August of 2019, after 34 years of ownership, Bobby and Sharon sold Kountry Korner to the current owners, Alex & Melissa "Missy" Van Zant. Missy first fell in love with Kountry Korner in the early 1990's when she was an employee of Bobby and Sharon. 

The Van Zant's continue to maintain the drive-in and are dedicated to providing a place for customers to enjoy delicious food "in the middle of nowhere".  Since the change in ownership, KK has undergone changes and upgrades including a "drive-up" window and the option to pay with credit cards! Future plans for Kountry Korner include a complete remodel of the dining room to reflect a 1960's era drive-in.