A Saskatchewan resident who sold his hot dog truck ten years ago is making a comeback in the food business, thanks to a fortuitous encounter with a photographer in the province. Kenny Chaplin originally purchased the Diggity Dawgs truck in 2008 from a film production team and operated it as a food truck until 2015 when he opted to sell it to spend more time with his young daughter. After selling the truck, Chaplin lost track of its whereabouts, assuming it had moved to Manitoba.
The unexpected reunion with his old truck happened when someone recognized him as the former hot dog vendor at the Ness Creek Music Festival this summer. Chaplin’s 14-year-old daughter found a photo of the truck posted by Grant Miller, a photographer from rural Colorado, who stumbled upon it during a drive through Saskatchewan.
Miller described coming across the distinctive truck by chance, recalling the unique design with sesame seeds on the bun and relish on the hot dog. After Chaplin’s daughter identified the truck in Miller’s photo on Instagram, Chaplin reached out to the photographer, who managed to locate the truck’s site through satellite view on Google maps.
Overjoyed at the discovery, Chaplin and his daughter embarked on a road trip to reclaim the truck. Despite its neglected condition, Chaplin successfully acquired the truck from its current owner and is now in the process of refurbishing it. He has ambitious plans to set up the food truck in Chamberlain, Sask., at a prime location near the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 11, where he aims to serve hot dogs to passing drivers.
Chaplin expressed his excitement about the upcoming venture, highlighting the joy that customers will experience when approaching the window of his truck due to the sheer size and novelty of the hot dog display. The reunion with his beloved food truck has come at a perfect time in his life, bringing back cherished memories and offering new opportunities for the future.