A 1963 aerial shows the property almost fully razed with only a hint of a few ramps remaining. The large concrete base for the screen that was present in a 1958 aerial was removed as well.
Normally, a property that is razed like that is being prepped for a large structure. And while a building was constructed on the south edge, most of the property remained vacant or just used for parking a few trailers until about a decade ago.
MichaelKilgore Maybe. There is nothing to disprove the drive-in being the Rainbow. And the other photos of the drive-in are close when comparing them to the 1984 aerial.
The sign however still seems problematic to me.
The 1984 aerial shows the road being the first one in town when coming in from the west. Why name the road when “next right” or “first right” is simpler for out-of-towners?
The marquee indicates that there had to be a parking area near the sign, probably where the picture was taken.
The only candidate I see is the old auto repair shop about 200 feet to the SW of the intersection. The 1984 aerial doesn’t show anything resembling a sign of that size in that location.
And when you go further west, the railroad runs next to the highway with no safe parking visible for miles.
Having said all that, I do believe it is the Rainbow Drive-In. It’s just that the sign does seem off to me.
The marquee is no longer at the corner of Sykes Mountain Avenue and North Main Street. The intersection was transformed and expanded to include a roundabout. The result was that the sign was removed. Where it is now I do not know.
There is a drive-in about ¼ mile east of Pacific Street Northwest & 422nd Place, Aitkin Township, Aitkin, Minnesota.
It sat on the north side of the road and appears in a 1984 aerial intact. By 1992 it had been demolished. Currently, a business sits on the property, but I cannot map the address correctly, so the intersection will have to do for now.
However, if the picture of the Rainbow Drive-In sign is correct, then this is probably not the drive-in. I cannot find a “Cemetery Road” in Aitkin.
It’s not exact, but it does have the old drive-in on the north side.
In addition, the blue and white pillar at the entrance with “Storage” written on each side may have held the sign of the drive-in at the top. A sign that is now gone, but the pillar remains. It is in the exact location of the old drive-in sign in historic aerials.
I’m not sure the drive-in was still open by the 1980s. Although it is clearly intact, there is trail that is on the right or east side of the drive-in entrance in the 1982 aerial which is not present in the 1974 aerial.
Normally, the addition of new trails outside of the entrance/exit is an indication that a drive-in is closed. Especially since the new trail makes no sense in terms of traffic into or out of the drive-in.
I know it’s not proof, but the drive-in does not look as well-kept in the ‘82 photo. So, it may have closed by the late 1970s.
A 1955 aerial shows the school looking to be newly constructed at the location. The field behind the school is empty. There is no drive-in at that intersection or in the surrounding area that I can see.
You can still see traces of the original entrance road which connected close to the current intersection of North Shore Drive and County HWY C, which was built well after the drive-in closed.
Another entrance road to the property was placed well after the drive-in closed to the east of the original entrance road.
The exit road existed until at least 2010, but that was partially obliterated by the construction of a dentist office. Which today uses its entrance road on the same location as the old exit road of the drive-in.
There is a drive-in at 3465 U.S. Hwy 301 N, Wilson, NC.
It is not the Starlite, which was closer to Wilson.
You can clearly see it open in a 1957 aerial. By 1974, it was closed and demolished. Today, it is the Kamper’s Lodge Campground with only the general shape along with the entrance/exit roads being present.
This address is right next to the entrance road. You can still make out the outline, a few ramps, and what’s left of the concession stand/projection booth.
The Buccaneer Drive-In is located about 3 miles north of Richmond on HWY 25. And while a 1965 aerial clearly shows the drive-in, a 1956 aerial doesn’t show any drive-in that I can see along HWY 25 in the vicinity.
Now, maybe my eyes are deceiving me, but with all that open farmland north of Richmond on HWY 25, a drive-in no matter its shape should stand out.
The building in front appear to be a “Home Decor …” something and not a radio station. The building behind it I do not know.
But nothing remains of the drive-in save for a few ramps. The drive-in was intact in 1981. By 1992 it had been demolished and was overgrown until some of the land was cleared by 2013.
A closer address is 3178 20, Richfield, NY.
The property is mostly empty with a propane company occupying a small area. There is no trace of the drive-in remaining.
https://tinyurl.com/5n8sfnwp
A closer address is 1882 New Scotland Rd, Slingerlands, NY.
The property is now a housing edition. There is no trace of the drive-in remaining.
https://tinyurl.com/yzsh9rhn
A 1963 aerial shows the property almost fully razed with only a hint of a few ramps remaining. The large concrete base for the screen that was present in a 1958 aerial was removed as well.
Normally, a property that is razed like that is being prepped for a large structure. And while a building was constructed on the south edge, most of the property remained vacant or just used for parking a few trailers until about a decade ago.
A closer address is 245 U.S. Hwy 190, Eldorado, TX.
This places it around where the screen and entrance road use to be.
A June 2022 Google Street View shows what’s left of the concession stand/projector booth which is a big pile of wood.
https://tinyurl.com/2u858yjt
A closer address is 411 South Amherst Road, Earth, TX.
Google Maps has recently added the address, which sits right on the property.
https://tinyurl.com/ym8jcx6c
Looks like the foundation of the ticket booth is still present on what’s left of the entrance road.
MichaelKilgore Maybe. There is nothing to disprove the drive-in being the Rainbow. And the other photos of the drive-in are close when comparing them to the 1984 aerial.
The sign however still seems problematic to me.
The 1984 aerial shows the road being the first one in town when coming in from the west. Why name the road when “next right” or “first right” is simpler for out-of-towners?
The marquee indicates that there had to be a parking area near the sign, probably where the picture was taken.
The only candidate I see is the old auto repair shop about 200 feet to the SW of the intersection. The 1984 aerial doesn’t show anything resembling a sign of that size in that location. And when you go further west, the railroad runs next to the highway with no safe parking visible for miles.
Having said all that, I do believe it is the Rainbow Drive-In. It’s just that the sign does seem off to me.
The marquee is no longer at the corner of Sykes Mountain Avenue and North Main Street. The intersection was transformed and expanded to include a roundabout. The result was that the sign was removed. Where it is now I do not know.
There is a drive-in about ¼ mile east of Pacific Street Northwest & 422nd Place, Aitkin Township, Aitkin, Minnesota.
It sat on the north side of the road and appears in a 1984 aerial intact. By 1992 it had been demolished. Currently, a business sits on the property, but I cannot map the address correctly, so the intersection will have to do for now.
However, if the picture of the Rainbow Drive-In sign is correct, then this is probably not the drive-in. I cannot find a “Cemetery Road” in Aitkin.
https://tinyurl.com/3c62wbe4
A May 2022 Google Street View shows the property to be empty save for the screens. All structures have been removed.
A closer address is 1100 W 4th Ave, Holdrege, NE.
It’s not exact, but it does have the old drive-in on the north side.
In addition, the blue and white pillar at the entrance with “Storage” written on each side may have held the sign of the drive-in at the top. A sign that is now gone, but the pillar remains. It is in the exact location of the old drive-in sign in historic aerials.
https://tinyurl.com/fhcaasn2
I’m not sure the drive-in was still open by the 1980s. Although it is clearly intact, there is trail that is on the right or east side of the drive-in entrance in the 1982 aerial which is not present in the 1974 aerial.
Normally, the addition of new trails outside of the entrance/exit is an indication that a drive-in is closed. Especially since the new trail makes no sense in terms of traffic into or out of the drive-in.
I know it’s not proof, but the drive-in does not look as well-kept in the ‘82 photo. So, it may have closed by the late 1970s.
That makes a lot more sense as the address currently listed in the description is four miles off.
The correct address is, as MichaelKilgore states, 8614 E US Hwy 64, Thomasville, NC.
A 1955 aerial shows the school looking to be newly constructed at the location. The field behind the school is empty. There is no drive-in at that intersection or in the surrounding area that I can see.
A house now sits on the property about where the screen was located. You can still see the outline of the ramps.
https://tinyurl.com/28j8k8vs
kennerado is correct about the address which is 1000 W Washington St, Mt Pleasant, IA.
This places it right in the center of the drive-in. The previous address is the building just to the west.
https://tinyurl.com/42c3cdck
You can still see traces of the original entrance road which connected close to the current intersection of North Shore Drive and County HWY C, which was built well after the drive-in closed.
Another entrance road to the property was placed well after the drive-in closed to the east of the original entrance road.
The exit road existed until at least 2010, but that was partially obliterated by the construction of a dentist office. Which today uses its entrance road on the same location as the old exit road of the drive-in.
A better address is 1723 Goldsboro St S, Wilson, NC as this is right next to the entrance.
The entrance road still exists along with part of the ramps, but it is otherwise demolished.
https://tinyurl.com/55m2vmzz
There is a drive-in at 3465 U.S. Hwy 301 N, Wilson, NC.
It is not the Starlite, which was closer to Wilson.
You can clearly see it open in a 1957 aerial. By 1974, it was closed and demolished. Today, it is the Kamper’s Lodge Campground with only the general shape along with the entrance/exit roads being present.
https://tinyurl.com/4v7rmtkc
A closer address is 286 Elm St, Milo, ME.
This address is right next to the entrance road. You can still make out the outline, a few ramps, and what’s left of the concession stand/projection booth.
https://tinyurl.com/mrynxy47
Today, the property is an open field with only the faintest outline remaining.
The Buccaneer Drive-In is located about 3 miles north of Richmond on HWY 25. And while a 1965 aerial clearly shows the drive-in, a 1956 aerial doesn’t show any drive-in that I can see along HWY 25 in the vicinity.
Now, maybe my eyes are deceiving me, but with all that open farmland north of Richmond on HWY 25, a drive-in no matter its shape should stand out.
A November 2021 Google Street View shows the drive-in to be totally demolished. The marquee and screen (which was falling apart) are gone.
A closer address is 7380 U.S. 51, Minocqua, WI.
The building in front appear to be a “Home Decor …” something and not a radio station. The building behind it I do not know.
But nothing remains of the drive-in save for a few ramps. The drive-in was intact in 1981. By 1992 it had been demolished and was overgrown until some of the land was cleared by 2013.
A 1985 aerial shows the drive-in intact, but overgrown. It looks like it had closed years earlier.