Grove Drive-in

Hillg on April 19, 2016 at 11:53 am

Glenn, most of us Klugs worked at the Grove Drive In, our Dad John Klug managed theatres for your Dad. I also helped with the Bon Ton Potatoe Chip Business as a Route Drive. The Klugs all told pride in working at the Drive In. We met a lot of wonderful people, and some of us ever met our spouses there! Hilary Klug

GlennGardner on March 3, 2015 at 2:27 pm

My father, John B. Gardner, was the owner of the Grove Drive-In. He had a long term lease for the property on which it resided. It sat inside the box created by the dashed lines and the dirt road depicted in the TOPO map. The theater was the flagship of Gardner Theatres, Inc. where my father maintained his office. He also owned the Airport Drive-In (Intersection of Rt.2 and Short Creek Rd. WV), the Riverside Drive-In (Rt.7 Rayland, Ohio), the Strand Theatre in Moundsville, as well as theatres in Weirton, WV and in Morgantown, WV.

Around the bend from the Grove Drive-In at the bridge that crosses Big Wheeling Creek, is the entrance to Glen Holin. This is a development that my father and mother, Dorothea J. Gardner, created on farmland that they had purchased many years ealier. The name reflects portions of the names of their children— Glenn, Holly, and Robin. Streets were given names after the grandchildren at the time— Clay and Jason.

The area was very much a family affair for us. I worked at the Grove Drive-In through high school (Linsly) and was able to get the train ride running again with finacial backing from my father. I enjoyed the various activities, such as the 4th of July firworks show, through the years very much. Does anyone remember the hoola hoop competition?

—– Glenn D. Gardner

Drive-In 54 on October 8, 2012 at 2:32 am

Uploaded 1971 TOPO map, it is at 71 Mil Acres. That drive-in address might have been 85 Mil Acres at one time. The owners of the drive-in might have owned the whole parcel at one time. When it got sold it, they spilt the property up and the old drive-in location address was changed to 71 Mil Acres. I have run into that before. You guys are both right!!

Mike Rogers on November 3, 2010 at 2:36 pm

Thanks Guys.

Mike Rogers on November 2, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Amazing in 1956 no Drive-ins listed in Wheeling.{motion picture almanac}