A recent incident in Powell, Wyoming, where farmer Allen Hatch was initially denied service at a McDonald’s drive-thru for arriving in a horse-drawn wagon, sparked a media stir and led to a policy change. The local franchise, Yellowstone McDonald’s, apologized and rescinded the ban, assuring that any legal form of transportation is now allowed through their drive-thrus. Hatch was also offered a free meal for his family, and employees are being retrained to accommodate diverse vehicles.

While what counts as legal transportation varies by state, this change opens the door for unconventional vehicles like snowmobiles, golf carts, and ATVs to use drive-thrus where permitted. However, pedestrians are still not allowed to walk through drive-thrus for safety reasons. This update reflects McDonald’s willingness to adapt policies to customer needs and local laws, ensuring a more inclusive and flexible service experience.