(Lander, WY) – A few years ago, County 10 shared a Facebook post asking 10’rs which Fremont County restaurant they would want to make a comeback. Of the four options we gave readers, one of the clear favorites was Judd’s Grub, and more specifically, a Whimpie Burger from Judd’s Grub.
Whether you spell it Whimpy, Wimpy or Whimpie, the Whimpie Burger is an iconic Lander/Fremont County food item that many have fond memories of, and thanks to a current fundraiser at the Senior Center, folks may be able to relive those tasty burger memories.
Back in early 2024, the Lander Senior Center resurrected the Whimpie Burger as a fundraising effort for the center, and it was such a popular fundraiser they decided to do it again this year.
“We sold out in just a few days,” Senior Center Executive Director Jane Nolde said of the 2024 fundraiser, which started out with 250 burger tickets to sell, but soon had to bump it up to 300 when organizers realized how many people wanted to taste a Whimpie again.
This year, they are starting out with 350 burgers/tickets. To get a ticket, folks will need to go to the Senior Center in person to buy one. (The Lander Senior Center is located at 205 S 10th Street, and can be reached by calling (307) 332-2746.)
Burgers will be served on March 22 at the Center, where tickets will be traded for the legendary Whimpies drive-up-style. (There may even be some old car-hop speakers and memorabilia from the original Judd’s Grub on display for pick-up day!)
One thing is for certain, the man behind the burger, Judd McDonald, will be there to make sure things go smooth.
The Birth of a Burger Joint
County 10 was able to sit down with Judd late last week after his weekly poker game at the Senior Center wrapped up, and he provided us with some Whimpie history.
“The Whimpie Burger actually started over at the Big T Drive-in in Thermopolis when Ed Van Dusen started it,” Judd said of the burger’s origin.
After the Big T later shut down, Frank Gunsaullus brought the Whimpie Burger to Lander where he worked with Judd, and in 1979 Judd’s Grub was officially opened.
“We just inherited it,” Judd humbly shared. “I got the biggest name for it because we were in business longer than the rest.”
Judd explained that he didn’t have much experience as a cook, but he opened the business when he decided he needed to do something less physically demanding after sustaining a mining injury at his previous job.
“We didn’t even know how to cook a hamburger,” Judd joked. “A lot of prayers went into that place. But we just dove into it.”
The prayers were soon answered in the form of the Whimpie Burger, a 3/4-pound burger patty with three slices of melted cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and Thousand Island dressing, served on an eight-inch homemade bun.
“It was a lip smacker.”
The buns are what truly make the Whimpie special, Judd added, and explained they were originally made at Woodward’s in Riverton for about 20 years before Judd’s Grub started making them in-house, up until they closed on Decemeber 31, 2022.
“We Raised Every Kid in Town”
In that time, Judd made a number of memories while running the restaurant, including helping whip the young kids who worked there into shape in preparation for adulthood.
“We raised every kid in town,” Judd explained, smiling at the recollection.
One employee in particular, whom Judd described as a “ringleader” among the other young workers, touched his heart later in life. She had been a student who needed the work hours at Judd’s for a high school credit in order to graduate.
“Boy, she came in and just worked like heck,” Judd beamed, but added that after a while, he noticed an attitude change that built to a breaking point over two or three especially busy/difficult days.
“What I did, I finished cooking, and as soon as we closed, I tore off my apron and said ‘Clean it up. It’s all yours,'” Judd shared, and said that the threat of her not getting that credit to graduate and seeing him react like that helped her snap back into her normal, hard-working self.
“I poured the pressure on that girl,” Judd continued.
Judd went on to share that the girl later graduated as “the most improved student in high school,” became vice-president of two banks later in life, and even came to visit him and his late wife Marilyn as an adult.
“I get a tear every time I think about it.”
It’s All in the Buns
Years later, when the Senior Center was trying to think of ways to raise funds, Judd, who is on the Executive Board of Directors for the Senior Center, suggested bringing back the Whimpie.
He knew that for it to be a success, they would need to re-create the famous homemade Whimpie buns just right.
Judd said that his daughter Kelly, Nolde, and the Senior Center head cook Judy Dickinson hashed everything out and got to work on recreating the recipe.
“They should be getting all the credit.”
“We pulled his leg and pulled his ears and everything to get him to agree to give us the secret ingredients for the buns,” Nolde joked. (Judd and Nolde did not disclose the secret recipe to County 10, and we were sworn to secrecy either way, so don’t bother asking…)
The buns must have been made just right because last year’s Whimpie fundraiser went on to be a huge success, and the Senior Center was able to use the money raised to help buy a transportation vehicle.
“The lines went clear out to Main Street,” Judd recollected, another smile beaming across his face.
2025 Fundraiser
As shared above, Whimpie tickets are currently still on sale at the Senior Center, but they are going fast.
Even though there is a 350 burger/ticket cap, Nolde told County 10 that they may be able to work with folks who missed their chance, so be sure to reach out to the Senior Center to see if accommodations can be made.
This year, funds raised will go toward a new BINGO machine, another transportation vehicle, and/or kitchen supplies.
“We do 120 home-delivered meals a day, plus 60 to 100 in here at the center,” said of the need for fundraisers like this. “Plus we have public transportation and exercise programs and stuff, so this is what helps take care of that.”
Nolde had one last compliment for Judd before the interview wrapped up, and shared that he even makes/donates jewelry to sell at the Senior Center’s other fundraisers.
“Judd’s been a huge supporter. He had 52 of these that he made and then donated to us,” Nolde shared while showing off a rainbow obsidian piece he had crafted.
“You might say, ‘What a person can do with an 8th grade education,'” Judd said with a wink and another smile as he got one last joke in.