Bon-Air Drive-In

3338 Wrightsboro Road,
Augusta, GA 30909

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Grand opening ad

The Bon-Air Drive-In opened on November 25, 1953 with Yvonne De Carlo in “Sea Devils”. In 1956, ten million Americans were going to the movies weekly. In Augusta the Bon-Air Drive-In was packing them in. Located on Wrightsboro Road above the Forest Hills Drive-In, it could almost pass as a twin drive-in.

The screen of the Forest Hills Drive-In was right on Wrightsboro Road while the Bon-Air’s screen was the opposite – towards the woods and way off the road. The Bon-Air Drive-In parked 675 cars and was owned by Harry Dennis. I never saw a movie there but once I did have a chance to walk over to the old concession/booth area. I remember it being built of bricks.

The screen was larger than Forest Hills. In fact when you think about it, Forest Hills Drive-In was newer but was so close to the road that you’d think the Bon-Air Drive-In would have lasted until the 1970’s, but it didn’t.

The Bon-Air Drive-In was a large drive-in parking over 100 cars more than Forest Hills Drive-In. At one time Augusta had more drive-ins than Atlanta! This must’ve been a drive-in theatre town. I believe it was over-screened, and television certainly did not help. At the time Augusta had two television stations.

The Bon-Air Drive-In is long gone. However, you can go to the old shopping center in the location of the drive-in, and if you walk away from the main road to the neighborhood below, you can still see the base of the screen.

Contributed by Mike Rogers

Recent comments (view all 18 comments)

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on June 9, 2011 at 7:18 pm

“BEAT THE DEVIL” opens June 11,1954.First Augusta Showing,What no Downtown theatres First?Second feature is “REDHEAD AND THE COWBOY”.Color cartoon.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 19, 2012 at 8:02 am

I uploaded an aerial photo of this drive-in and the Forest Hills drive-ins.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on February 25, 2012 at 6:10 am

thanks so much for the great stuff.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 25, 2013 at 5:37 pm

AUGUSTA DRIVE-IN THEATRES now on FACEBOOK.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on August 5, 2013 at 6:40 pm

first a “MODERN” SHOPPING CENTER was built there in the middle 60’s,Now a WALMART is taking the spot…

dansdriveintheater
dansdriveintheater on November 8, 2018 at 10:55 am

i think the screen bases still exist actually!

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on November 8, 2018 at 11:13 am

Opened with “Sea devils”.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 3, 2018 at 7:22 pm

yep, dansdrivein theatre.they were at one time a Walmart sits there now.

Denny Pine
Denny Pine on April 7, 2020 at 9:14 am

What was the grand opening date?

rivest266
rivest266 on April 7, 2020 at 4:01 pm

The Bon Air Drive-In opened on November 25th, 1953.

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