Airport Drive-In

So sad... I had always assumed that the Airport hadn't made enough money to stay open, not that a stubborn landlord had done it in. What a great vibe this drive-in had - lots of families out on lawnchairs and blankets at the front. My boyfriend at the time and I would bring in a pizza or chicken pasta salad made up in massive quantities and chow down. I had a 70 Caddy Sedan deVille, and the ramps were perfect to make this the very height of luxury viewing. Sometimes there were lots of beautiful classic cars lined up in the back. Nothing but good memories....

I seem to very vaguely remember that there was a very small kiddieland amusement park near the Airport Drive-In. Does anyone know when this was closed down?

I believe the amusement park closed sometime in the late 60's-early 70's. The building that served as the ticket and refreshment stand is still there, as are some train tracks laying in the overgrown grass. From what I've been able to gather, there was a small carousel, ferris wheel, tea cups, chair swing, and the train, as well as a miniature golf course.

I seem to remember a ride colored red. Must have been the teacups.

I worked at AIRPORT KIDDIELAND in the summer of 1966, the summer before my senior year in high school. There were no teacups. The rides were almost all completely from the Herschell Carousel Company in North Tonawanda, NY (yes, the same company which made all 6 of the Triple Cities Carousels donated by the Endicott Johnsons in the 1930s -- the company had an entire division CALLED Kiddieland with all these small kiddie-size rides) Airport Kiddieland was owned & operated by Dr. Naim N. Khuri. He built & opened it in the 1950's simply because he loved children. I had myself ridden all those rides there as a child !! Airport Kiddieland did a booming business in the 50's & early 60's but by the late 60s & early 70's business had fallen off. Dr. Khuri also started the Airport Drive-In with, I believe, 2 other partners in the early 60s & soon the 2 businesses complemented & bosltered each other's business. Airport Kiddieland started out & maintained 8 rides: a small carousel, a rocketships ride (they went around in a circle & there was a lever I used to raise & lower the altitude of the circle path & they had guns on the front for the kids to shoot), boats (they went around in a circle on real water & had bells on the fronts the kids could ring with a little rope), a cars ride & a tanks(also with guns on the front to shoot) ride (both of which went around in a circle), a small ferris wheel, a small roller coaster, and the TRAIN. All of which I ran for the kids during the summer of 1966. I also helped maintain the rides & the train tracks. It was just like a miniature railroad with real tracks & ties & spikes!! There was also a small 9 hole miniature golf course in the train's tracks front loop. In about 1965, the Kolba family added a bumper cars unit into the park. I have absolutely no pictures of Airport Kiddieland or the Airport Drive-In & wish that I did. (Anyone out there have any ??) Many many fond memories of Airport Kiddieland (and Dr. Khuri) as a child AND as a teenager entertaining a new generation of kids myself. Jim Macumber, Binghamton, NY

Does anyone know if the land is for sale? I read that the landlord demolished the lot but does anyone know if there is anything left? I've been considering re opening it.

i enjoyed the airport drive in for many years. i wish i had taken some pictures, at the time, i thought it would be there forever. late summer early fall of the drive ins last season open, which i think was 92 or 93, i took my 69 impala convertible with the top down on a cold night, i kept the top down for the entire movie in spite of the crazy looks i was getting and the pleas of my then girlfriend to put the top up. im glad i went. as far as landlords, what a fickle greedy bunch. i guess they figure its better to let a place sit idle and tear it down than rent it. if it was still open and functional, what a great place to host a cruise in instead of that rotten town square mall.

This site has some information. Address given is 2260 Airport Road.