In 1922, Clyde Norman, hoping to hit it big, filed a mining
claim in the middle of the unimproved road serving as a stock-drive
route. He dug a water well, built a log house and then a gas station
with a hand-siphon. He planned to use profits from gas until mining paid
off. Ranchers, miners, homesteaders and others stopped by to chat and to
sample homemade pies Norman baked and to drink from his well. "Norman's
Place" became famous for good food.
Cowboy Harmon L. Craig joined Clyde in 1923 adding chile and bread
to pies. In 1924, Clyde sold out to Craig, whose wife and daughters operated
the restaurant and baked the pies. When townspeople applied for a post
office in 1927, the postal inspector denied the use of "Norman's Place"
so Craig suggested "Pie Town". Craig told the inspector, "It'll either
be Pie Town or you can take your post office and go to hell!"