Mansfield Drive-In
228 Stafford Road,
Mansfield Center,
CT
06250
228 Stafford Road,
Mansfield Center,
CT
06250
1 person
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This is the largest of the remaining operating drive-ins in Connecticut. It opened in 1954 and has a capacity of 950 cars. The original screen is 110' wide. The drive-in plays double bills on each screen with at least one screen devoted to family entertainment. It is open seasonally from April through October, on weekends only during spring and fall and daily during the summer months.
Admission is $6.50 for adults and $3.00 for children 3-12. Wednesdays is bargain night during the summer months with a carload for $12.00. The sound is provided by both FM and conventional speakers.
The drive-in also features one of the largest flea markets in Connecticut during operational months from 8AM until 3PM.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Actually, the Mansfield’s season runs only through September. It is the other CT drive-in, the Pleasant Valley, that runs through October.
http://www.mansfielddrivein.com/
Mansfield does sometimes stay open until October – it simply depends on the season. Also, ticket prices are now, as of 2005, $8 for adults and $4 for children (Children 3 and under are free, while 12 and up is considered an adult.) Carload night is Wednesday, and is $16. Check out the website at www.mansfielddrivein.com for recently updated info, such as the movies currently showing.
(I heart my drive in.)
I went to Mansfield Drive-In this past summer. Being a virgin to theatre drive-ins it was an interesting experience. I love the fact that they have double features. One tip is to get there early to get a good front row spot. The concession stand offers hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, ice cream, popcorn, soda, headache pills, and mosquito spray. The restrooms though clean look like they came out of the 1960’s. They have a playground for the kids open until dark and the FM reception is really good. Bring a blanket because even in the summer at night it gets cool outside. Intermission time is a good time to get refreshments between the movies and watch the dancing popcorn. I look forward to going back in the summer.
There was a great piece on this theatre as well as Pleasant Valley Drive-in in last week’s Play magazine (weekly) in the New Haven, CT area. View link
Excellent piece in the NYTimes CT Section on this and the other drive-in.
http://tinyurl.com/6ogwv4
One of the darker features to the Mansfield Drive-In was in the early ‘80’s. They did show X-Rated fare. This was in the late fall and early winter months. There were several wrecks on Rt. 32 caused by people seeing the screen from the road. At that time there was only one screen and was clearly (yet dimly) seen at all times of the year! I left Willimantic in 1983 for Florida, but remember seeing dozens of great movies in the 70’s and early 80’s. The playground was always nicely maintained. The only gripe I had was that back then, the speakers were frequently non-operational. Cars were always jockeying for a speaker that worked!
Thanks Sandy R.I never liked radio sound.