Hey there, buddies! Have you ever been to Sedona, AZ? If you’ve been there, you may have noticed that the McDonald’s is considerably different from the others.
This McDonald’s has turquoise arches instead of the typical golden ones. You won’t find this color on any other McDonald’s in the world.
You could be asking yourself, “Why change the color at all?” Actually, there is a really fascinating reason for that.
People recognize Sedona for its beautiful natural scenery, notably the red rock formations that surround it. The big red rocks in this location make it one of the most picturesque places in the country.
The city works hard to keep its natural beauty since it is so beautiful. They have rigorous restrictions to make sure that buildings and signs don’t block the view or look unpleasant.
In 1993, McDonald’s sought to open a restaurant in Sedona. But there was a problem: the city’s rules didn’t allow for their bright yellow “M.” City officials thought the yellow would be too bright next to the red rocks, which are calm.
They wanted something that would look more natural in the area. So, after talking it over, they decided to modify the color of the arches.
Turquoise was chosen because it is a delicate blue-green color that appears much better against the red rocks. In addition, this color is often used in Southwest-style art and design, so it seemed quite at home in Sedona.
The McDonald’s in Sedona chose turquoise arches instead of the normal yellow ones. And just like that, the first McDonald’s with blue arches opened.
You could be thinking, “It’s just a color; what’s the big deal?”
In fact, it was a really important option. It proved that McDonald’s and the city were both eager to work together to keep the area’s natural beauty. Despite being a global enterprise, McDonald’s remains committed to adhering to and adapting to local regulations.
This action also showed other businesses how to do things. It showed that you don’t have to look the same everywhere; sometimes it’s preferable to adjust things to fit the place.
There was no opposition to this modification, which was a surprise. People really liked it! People who lived there and people who were just visiting both felt the turquoise arches were beautiful and helped the restaurant stand out.
It became a popular place to take pictures, and people from all over the world started talking about the “blue McDonald’s in Sedona.” It became a landmark in the area all by itself.
Other McDonald’s in scenic places even thought about putting up turquoise arches when they saw how well they worked. Once people found out, some lovely cities and tourist destinations started looking for methods to change their designs so that they fit in better with the natural world.
This indicates that doing something different from what everyone else does, especially if it improves the environment, can have good and surprising effects.
When you’re in Sedona next, be sure to swing by the McDonald’s. You’ll get to eat your favorite dish and view a cool piece of history at the same time: the only McDonald’s with turquoise arches.
It’s a good reminder that we can still have what we love, but in a better, more deliberate way, if we take care of our environment and respect its beauty.
The Sedona McDonald’s tells us something simple but powerful: it’s better to fit in with nature than to stick out.
This simple tweak made a great effect and helped Sedona stay as gorgeous and unique as ever. Let’s use that as a model and endeavor to value and protect the unique locations around us.
Maybe turquoise is the new gold!