Sunset Drive-In
1620 W. Highway 40,
Vernal,
UT
84078
1620 W. Highway 40,
Vernal,
UT
84078
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This is Utah’s oldest drive-in and was originally knows as the Starlight Drive-In. It can accomadate 400 cars. It originally had a wooden screen that was destroyed by fire in 1955. After the fire new ownership constructed a new steel framed screen and renamed the drive-in to the Sunset Drive-In. It is open seasonally, Memorial Day through Labor Day on weekends only. Audio is provided through FM radio. It screens double features.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Here is a photo of the Sunset Drive-In.
The address is 1620 West Highway 40. Here is a website for this drive-In.
The Sunset Drive-In in July 1998:
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An Article from the Vernal Express about the new screen,
21-ton, 60-foot Drive-In Movie Screen Friday Proves Ticklish Task to Erect
Vernal Express, 27 June 1957, Page 1
The ticklish task of erecting the 21-ton, $10,000 galvanized steel movie screen at Sunset Drive-In, formerly the Starlite, west of Vernal, was completed Friday.
The new giant is 60 feet high and 100 feet wide and will handle both wide-screen and cinemascope projections, according to Alson and Deward Shiner, joint operators of the Sunset and Main and Vernal theatres.
In addition to the new screen, a building is being erected to house the new projection and sound equipment. Garn Swain and Eldon Perry are constructing the building. The number of speakers will be increased from 300 to 400.
A special feature will be attractive landscaping around the car area and building a roof garden on the projection building equipped with speakers, where patrons may enjoy refreshments and watch the movie at the same time.
New wiring is being installed to insure effective sound reproduction.
No definite date has been set for completion of the new drive-in but the owners said they hoped to open shortly. The construction began May 14, shortly after a fire had destroyed the old screen.
Contractor for the new screen is Intermountain Theatre Supply of Salt Lake City who sub-contracted the work to W. D. Fredrickson of Roosevelt and Carl Clark of Salt Lake City. Turner Construction Co. participated in the task.
After the screen was constructed, Mr. Clark lay on his back under it, as it was propped up and sprayed it white. The legs of the screen have been welded onto a steel and concrete base ten feet deep, with 12 feet wide abutments underground.
Two huge derricks were employed to hoist the new screen. Crane operators were B. M. (Red) Stewart of Vernal and Paul Bethers of Heber City. Behind the cranes two big caterpillars aided in the big pull.
A recent contest determined the new name of the large, brand new movie drive-in. The winning entries were submitted by Phillip Brewer and Elaine Humphreys.