Why Sedona's McDonald's Stands Out With Turquoise Arches

Everyone knows McDonald's for their bright yellow arches, chicken nuggets, and their broken ice cream machines. But did you know there is a McDonald's that has turquoise arches instead of the traditional yellow ones? Sedona, Arizona, is home ot the only blue McDonald's in the entire world, but why is that?

Sedona's beautiful landscapes. / Photo by Canva

Sedona

Sedona, Arizona, is one of the most stunning cities in Arizona. It has a vibrant landscape and lots of neat places to stop and visit. Not only is Sedona beautiful, but it is also a major tourist destination. According to the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, tourism brings over 1 billion dollars to Sedona annually. With tourists and a gorgeous ecosystem, local lawmakers have fought hard to ensure the buildings aren't an eyesore.

READ: How Is Living In Arizona Different?

Photo by Canva

What's different about this McDonald's?

In the 1990's, a law was passed in Sedona that created rules on the colors allowed to be used on the outside of the business. Loud colors, like yellow and white, are not allowed on signs or on the outside of a business. The goal of this law was to protect the natural landscape and create buildings that seamlessly blend into the environment.

In 1993, McDonald's decided to set up shop in Sedona, but local officials believed the bright yellow arch would be far too distracting, so McDonald's had to make some changes. They ended up ditching their traditional yellow signs for a muted turquoise color, making it the only blue McDonalds in the entire world.

Blue Mcdoanlds in Sedona, Arizona. / Credit: User Benjamin Kastelic via YouTube

Why turquoise!?

Turquoise was chosen because it stands out a bit from the natural colors around it, without drawing too much attention. The tourquiose arch soaring high above this Mcdoanlds blends beautifully into the earth around it, without being hidden.

The last thing McDonald's expected when they created this location was for it to become its own tourist spot, but it did. Due to its label as the only blue Mcdoanlds in the world, hundreds of people visit every year to get pictures at the blue Mcdoanlds.

The arches aren't the only things that are unusual at this restaurant, either. All of the traditional red and yellow boxes are replaced with turquoise, completing the experience for visitors.