The address is 3550 Main St E, Oak Hill, WV. The road turns into the “Old Fayetteville Road” just to the north of where the drive-in was located. A 1977 topo map shows several businesses on the property, so it closed down sometime between 1970 and 1977.
Today, several businesses occupy the property with no trace of the drive-in remaining.
http://tinyurl.com/ll89aqg
A 1973 aerial photo shows the Trail Drive-In closed and ready for demolition. While the screen is still up, most of the ramps, the projection booth/concession stand are gone in preparation for HWY 288 which now goes through the property.
So, if the year is right, the Trail closed well before 1975.
I posted this on the Sparta Drive-In page, so I apologize if it repeats here.
A 1951 aerial view of Sparta only shows the Sparta Drive-In which is located on the highway between Sparta and Cookeville. There is no indication of another drive-in along that highway between the two towns at that time which I could see.
Given the odd listings in IMPA NeonMichael cited, including the location and similar size in car capacity, it seems that the Sparta and the Park-A-Way may be the same. Or, perhaps a mistake has been made as there is a “Parkaway Drive-In” located in Maryville, TN.
I wonder if the Parkaway and the Sparta are not the same drive-in.
A 1951 aerial photo on NETRonline clearly shows the Sparta Drive-in, but no evidence of any other drive-in along the highway or anywhere I can see near Sparta itself.
Unless someone can come up with an address, it seems quite possible that they are the same drive-in or that a mistake has been made in the Theatre Catalog, perhaps mixing it up with the Parkaway in Maryville, TN.
After further research, the drive-in appeared to have closed after 1990, not 1980 as indicated in the description. The third screen was not added until sometime after 1978 and recently has been fully torn down.
The address appears to be correct. The area around the drive-in has significantly altered since the early 1950s, so the old address would arguably not work.
A closer address is 13020 Co Rd 24, Spearman, TX. The drive-in was located SW of the town. There is no evidence in a 1962 aerial photo of an airstrip nearby (that I can see). However, the back of the drive-in seems to have ramps that can accommodate small aircraft.
Today, a restaurant called the “Hungry Cowboy” occupies the property, although you can still see the ramps on the north side.
http://tinyurl.com/zbefpme
A closer address (at least for Google) is HWY6 and Rd 101, Cisco, TX. The drive-in was located about a quarter-mile to the east of the intersection on the north side.
Today, it is an empty field, but you can still see the faded ramps and outline.
http://tinyurl.com/z6lo4zs
Odd, a 1959 aerial photo from NETR of the drive-in shows that the screen is missing. Although such photos are not the sharpest, there is nothing present where the screen should be standing.
A closer address (at least for Google) is 12649 S 366 5 Rd, Wewoka, OK 74884. Today, the property is a private residence with no trace of the drive-in remaining.
http://tinyurl.com/j2pyb6n
A closer address (at least for Google) is 15329 Twp-36, Nelsonville, OH 45764. This marks what is now Dow’s Roller Arena. The drive-in sat just to the north with the white-roofed building next to the road being where the screen once stood.
Today, there is no evidence of the drive-in remaining.
http://tinyurl.com/jbbubpc
An address that maps better (at least for Google) is 8064 OH-366, Russells Point, OH. A 1959 aerial shows the remains of the drive-in which start from OH-366 and run north to Bell Avenue, and from Waterbury Rd east to Foster Rd.
Today, there is nothing left of the drive-in.
http://tinyurl.com/hgfx98m
The Falls Motor Vu Drive-In was actually located on the east side of town per the opening ad page. Its address is 4300 2nd Ave N, Great Falls, MT.
Today, The Home Place, a business that sells prefabricated homes sits on the property. However, you can still see the ramps, entrance, and foundations of the projection booth/concession stand and screen.
http://tinyurl.com/zxyjmwr
A 1980 aerial photo from NETR Online shows the drive-in still intact. The extension to 3rd Street was not put in until later. Plus, the property today is a shopping mall with several businesses. The area itself still retains the overall unique shape of the drive-in.
Today, the property appears to be a large parking lot. There are a few small structures there which may indicate the remains of retail businesses. Otherwise, it’s just a parking lot.
Based on a 1952 aerial photo from NETR Online, it appears the drive-in was located where two baseball fields currently exist just south of the Habitat for Humanity.
Apart perhaps from the entrance/exit road, no trace of the drive-in remains.
Found It!
The address is 3550 Main St E, Oak Hill, WV. The road turns into the “Old Fayetteville Road” just to the north of where the drive-in was located. A 1977 topo map shows several businesses on the property, so it closed down sometime between 1970 and 1977.
Today, several businesses occupy the property with no trace of the drive-in remaining. http://tinyurl.com/ll89aqg
A 1973 aerial photo shows the Trail Drive-In closed and ready for demolition. While the screen is still up, most of the ramps, the projection booth/concession stand are gone in preparation for HWY 288 which now goes through the property.
So, if the year is right, the Trail closed well before 1975.
Found it!
The drive-in sat just west of US82 and Myers Road on the west side of town.
Today, a cellphone tower sits on the property with no trace of the drive-in remaining. http://tinyurl.com/mnymz9g
If it did close at the end of 1960, it would make this one of the oldest relics of a drive-in that still exists in some fashion.
Most former drive-ins have their land used for other purposes (housing for example) or in a few cases plowed over.
The oldest remains of a dead drive-in I’ve found so far is in Ardmore, OK. The Starlite drive-in closed in 1954 and the ramps are still visible.
The marquee is still standing, but it’s not in the best shape.
Found It!
The address is 3140 Arkansas 10, Booneville, AR. The drive-in was located near the airport east of town.
Today, it is an empty field, but you can still clearly see the outline and ramps of the drive-in. http://tinyurl.com/l2p4exd
I posted this on the Sparta Drive-In page, so I apologize if it repeats here.
A 1951 aerial view of Sparta only shows the Sparta Drive-In which is located on the highway between Sparta and Cookeville. There is no indication of another drive-in along that highway between the two towns at that time which I could see.
Given the odd listings in IMPA NeonMichael cited, including the location and similar size in car capacity, it seems that the Sparta and the Park-A-Way may be the same. Or, perhaps a mistake has been made as there is a “Parkaway Drive-In” located in Maryville, TN.
I wonder if the Parkaway and the Sparta are not the same drive-in.
A 1951 aerial photo on NETRonline clearly shows the Sparta Drive-in, but no evidence of any other drive-in along the highway or anywhere I can see near Sparta itself.
Unless someone can come up with an address, it seems quite possible that they are the same drive-in or that a mistake has been made in the Theatre Catalog, perhaps mixing it up with the Parkaway in Maryville, TN.
After further research, the drive-in appeared to have closed after 1990, not 1980 as indicated in the description. The third screen was not added until sometime after 1978 and recently has been fully torn down.
The address appears to be correct. The area around the drive-in has significantly altered since the early 1950s, so the old address would arguably not work.
Found It! The entrance to the drive-in was located at 689 N Green St, Caldwell, TX. It sat on the south-side of the road.
Today, a Wal-Mart and Brookshire Brothers sits on most of the property. There is no trace of the drive-in remaining. http://tinyurl.com/h33oxkk
A closer address is 13020 Co Rd 24, Spearman, TX. The drive-in was located SW of the town. There is no evidence in a 1962 aerial photo of an airstrip nearby (that I can see). However, the back of the drive-in seems to have ramps that can accommodate small aircraft.
Today, a restaurant called the “Hungry Cowboy” occupies the property, although you can still see the ramps on the north side. http://tinyurl.com/zbefpme
A closer address (at least for Google) is HWY6 and Rd 101, Cisco, TX. The drive-in was located about a quarter-mile to the east of the intersection on the north side.
Today, it is an empty field, but you can still see the faded ramps and outline. http://tinyurl.com/z6lo4zs
The address is 1802 MacArthur Dr, Alexandria, LA. At least that is the location of a twin drive-in from a 1955 aerial.
It is mostly the parking lot for the Metrocenter Mall. There is no trace of the drive-in remaining. http://tinyurl.com/jofmmc5
Odd, a 1959 aerial photo from NETR of the drive-in shows that the screen is missing. Although such photos are not the sharpest, there is nothing present where the screen should be standing.
No, I’m not from Kenmore, NY. However, some people call me the “major appliance”.
A closer address (at least for Google) is 12649 S 366 5 Rd, Wewoka, OK 74884. Today, the property is a private residence with no trace of the drive-in remaining. http://tinyurl.com/j2pyb6n
A closer address (at least for Google) is 15329 Twp-36, Nelsonville, OH 45764. This marks what is now Dow’s Roller Arena. The drive-in sat just to the north with the white-roofed building next to the road being where the screen once stood.
Today, there is no evidence of the drive-in remaining. http://tinyurl.com/jbbubpc
An address that maps better (at least for Google) is 8064 OH-366, Russells Point, OH. A 1959 aerial shows the remains of the drive-in which start from OH-366 and run north to Bell Avenue, and from Waterbury Rd east to Foster Rd.
Today, there is nothing left of the drive-in. http://tinyurl.com/hgfx98m
Apparently, the Pekin Drive-In was destroyed by a tornado in 1954 and never reopened.
Address Correction
The Falls Motor Vu Drive-In was actually located on the east side of town per the opening ad page. Its address is 4300 2nd Ave N, Great Falls, MT.
Today, The Home Place, a business that sells prefabricated homes sits on the property. However, you can still see the ramps, entrance, and foundations of the projection booth/concession stand and screen. http://tinyurl.com/zxyjmwr
A 1980 aerial photo from NETR Online shows the drive-in still intact. The extension to 3rd Street was not put in until later. Plus, the property today is a shopping mall with several businesses. The area itself still retains the overall unique shape of the drive-in.
Today, the property appears to be a large parking lot. There are a few small structures there which may indicate the remains of retail businesses. Otherwise, it’s just a parking lot.
Based on a 1952 aerial photo from NETR Online, it appears the drive-in was located where two baseball fields currently exist just south of the Habitat for Humanity.
Apart perhaps from the entrance/exit road, no trace of the drive-in remains.
Small Correction: The old marquee is still standing. Otherwise, there appears to be nothing left.