Grease flies with the sound of a constant sizzle as dozens of corn dogs are dropped into the deep fryers. Lines of drooling people shoot out from the Fletcher’s Corny Dog stands. Everyone is waiting for what is known as the State Fair of Texas’ signature food item. While corny dogs may seem simple, the Fletcher family has perfected their recipe and stolen the hearts and taste buds of thousands of State Fair-goers.

 

“I’m most excited for the corn dogs,” said avid State Fair attendee Preston Ray. “I am conviced they’re the best corn dogs on Earth.”

 

The first Fletcher's Corny Dog was sold at Fair Park by brothers Carl and Neil Fletcher in 1942. The legacy has lived on as Neil's sons, Skip and Bill, took over the family business when the original Fletcher brothers passed away in the 1980s. The brothers have worked tirelessly to make sure the business is run just like their father and uncle had planned.

 

The delicacy that is the Fletcher’s Corny Dog has become a tradition for many State Fair attendees over the years. Many go to the fair just to get their yearly dose of corn dogs. According to Fletcher's, during an average 24-day fair season, their stands sell nearly 630,000 corny dogs.

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“I’ve been standing in the line forever for a Fletcher’s Corn Dog,” said corny dog lover Jim Kimberlin. “I’ve been down here 50 years and it’s the same every year. Gotta have my corn dog.”

 

While each year brings a different wide array of fried foods to the State Fair of Texas, the Fletcher’s Corny Dog remains the same. The original Corny Dog recipe has not changed much over the years, but there have been some other options added to the menu. About ten years ago, Skip and Bill Fletcher decided to add jalapeño cheese Corny Dogs and vegetarian Corny Dogs made with turkey to the menu.

 

"Man, the jalapeño dog — that sucker rivals the original corny dog,” Bill Fletcher spilled in an interview with The Dallas Eater.

 

“Every single year you gotta come to Fletcher’s,” said Ben Saul on his State Fair routine.

 

Fletcher employee, Brenda Davis says she is overwhelmed by the amount of people constantly in line for a taste of history.

 

“I will see the same people come up for seconds, I guess they’re that good” Davis says.  

 

While the family recipe is heavily guarded, the original Fletcher’s Corny Dog is made primarily with yellow cornmeal, flour, salt, baking soda, sugar, eggs, milk, peanut oil and custom-made and hand-picked frankfurters.

 

The original family recipe is kept tucked away in the Morrison Milling Company in Denton, Texas.

 

This year, Fletcher’s will cook their corny dogs with heavy hearts. Skip Fletcher, known as the “Corny Dog King” and son of Neil Fletcher, passed away from a battle with pneumonia on January 31, 2017 at age 82. This year Fletcher’s Corny Dog’s celebrates their 75th anniversary at the fair and “the patriarch’s” legacy will undoubtedly be remembered.