CALIFORNIA STATE – If you’ve ever pulled into an In-N-Out Burger drive-thru, you’ve likely noticed the unmistakable red-and-white neon sign and the classic yellow arrow pointing toward the entrance.
But if you look down at the landscaping right near the drive-thru lane or entrance, you’ll notice another constant feature: two massive palm trees planted in a distinct, crisscrossed “X” shape.
Far from being a random landscaping choice or standard West Coast decor, these crossed palm trees are a living secret symbol woven directly into California pop culture history.
A Movie-Inspired Treasure Hunt
The story behind In-N-Out’s iconic trees dates back to 1972. As the Southern California chain was growing beyond its original Baldwin Park roots, founder Harry Snyder was advised by a fellow restaurateur that his brand needed a unique, instantly recognizable symbol.
Snyder found his inspiration in one of his all-time favorite films: the 1963 slapstick classic It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. In the movie, an ensemble cast races across California to unearth $350,000 in stolen cash hidden beneath “a big W”—which (spoiler alert!) turns out to be four palm trees planted in the shape of a W.
Considering each of his restaurants a “treasure,” Synder decided to mark each one with a set of crossed pine trees.
Instead of a “W,” Snyder opted for the universal (and probably easier to plant) symbol for hidden treasure: an X. The crossed palms became a physical promise to customers that inside waited their own reward—freshly made burgers, hand-cut fries, and thick shakes.
How to Make Trees Grow in an ‘X’
Creating living architecture isn’t easy, and In-N-Out’s landscaping team faced several trial-and-error phases before getting the signature look right:
- Initial Attempts Failed: Planting young saplings at dramatic angles proved unsuccessful, as the trees naturally adjusted themselves upward or failed to thrive.
- The Winning Formula: Landscapers eventually realized they needed mature Mexican Fan Palms (Washingtonia robusta). The winning method involved procuring two 20-foot palms and manually crossing their trunks at around 10 feet high.
- Weathering Colder Climates: As In-N-Out expanded into states like Utah and Colorado where palm trees don’t naturally survive, the company went to extraordinary lengths—installing underground heating cables beneath the soil to keep the iconic palms warm during winter freezes.
Are They at Every Location?
While the crossed palms are standard across the chain, a handful of exceptions exist:
- The Exceptions: Locations with tight urban footprints or strict landlord restrictions—such as the Fisherman’s Wharf location in San Francisco—cannot accommodate full-sized trees.
- The Overachievers: Roughly 15 locations feature not just one, but two sets of crossed palm trees out front.
Next time you’re waiting in line for a Double-Double Animal Style, glance over at the living “X” near the drive-thru—a quiet nod to a 1960s comedy classic and a founder’s belief that every burger joint should feel like finding buried treasure.
