There is one McDonald’s in Arizona that is unlike any other in the world.
The iconic American chain is known for its golden arches, but one store in Sedona has a unique set of teal arches on the exterior instead.
The Sedona location, located on State Route 89A, isn’t the only McDonald’s in the world to deviate from the classic yellow symbol, but this location has good reason.
The burger joint’s location was built in 1993, just a few years after Sedona was annexed into Arizona.
After the Community Development Department adjusted to her role, she decided she wasn’t satisfied with the bright gold against the muted, natural beauty of Sedona’s red rocks.
“Someone suggested that it would be interesting if they did something other than golden arches that would fit the identity that the city wanted to create,” said Cari Meyer, the department’s senior planner. ABC15 until 2022.
The Sedona Community Development Department has asked McDonald’s to change the golden arches to a teal color to avoid clashing with the natural beauty of the area’s red rocks.
The city government urged McDonald’s to switch to teal to avoid clashing with Sedona’s backdrop. The fast food chain agreed, becoming the only location to have the unique color.
“It’s definitely unique,” Meyer told the outlet. “When I first moved here, that’s what people would say. ‘Oh, you’re moving to Sedona? They have turquoise arches!'”
The multi-colored logo has become a real tourist attraction since the change, with many visitors stopping to take pictures as they drive through Sedona.
The store even plays on the special quality by having the drinking cups and hamburger boxes printed in the same blue-green color.
But that’s where the differences end. Once you step inside the establishment, the interior and food choices are the same as any old Mickey D’s.
The multi-colored logo has become a real tourist attraction since the change, with many tourists stopping to take pictures of it as they drive through Sedona.
Only a few other McDonald’s locations have arches of a different color.
Two of them are in California, one on Sunset Boulevard in Rocklin, with red arches, and one in Monterrey, with black arches.
There is also a store on the Champs-Élysées in Paris with neon white arches.