Garden Drive-In
20 State Route 11,
Hunlock Creek,
PA
18621
20 State Route 11,
Hunlock Creek,
PA
18621
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Odd phrasing in Billboard, Nov. 22, 1952: “The Garden Drive-In at Hunlock Creek, Pa., has been completed by N. Cragle. Altho the owner opened the new open-airer for business, regular operations will be started with the new season next spring.”
Based on the 1952 issues of The Mountain Echo, a weekly newspaper in Shickshinny PA, the Gardens Drive-In Theatre (named for Hunlock Gardens) opened between June 27 (an “opening soon” note) and July 11 (its first advertisement). It was said to have room for 325 cars. It became the singular Garden in February 1954.
The drive-in was built by Gardens Amusement Company, but that was apparently Theodore Roosevelt Cragle, who died of a heart attack in December 1955. His son Arthur took over the Garden.
More details emerge from Ronald Hontz’s sweeping History of Sweet Valley PA, written around 2003. Arthur Cragle ran the drive-in until 1986, when he sold it to Nelson and Diane Fey. They operated it until 1990 and passed it down to their daughter, Kimberly Barbacci, and her husband Doug. They’re still the owners in 2017.
Current (2017) manager David Hudzik had been the Garden’s projectionist since 1979, “and he has been the source for most of the info you read herein.” In 1986 the drive-in converted from in-car speakers to AM radio; they added FM in 1990.
Adjacent to the Susquehanna River, the Garden floods frequently. In June 1972, Hurricane Agnes caused extensive damage with water over the roof of the concession stand. “Following that event, Hudzik has gotten the removal of equipment down to a science. A team of five guys can now remove all the valuable items in three hours.”
Hontz continues by noting the Garden added a second screen on the southeastern corner of its property in 2002. “The main screen features parking for approximately 450 cars and another 250 or so can view the second screen.”
I hope they keep going for a long time. I am born, bred and raised in the Cleveland, Ohio area and still live there, but never went to any of the multitude of drive-ins we had growing up. My first ever drive-in was the Garden with my wife, who is from Northeast Pennsylvania where the Garden is, and where she still has family. Since then I have added 4 more drive-ins to my list but the Garden will always have that special place :)
According to their website the drive-in was open for the 2014 season and they have converted to digital projection.
thanks muviebuf.
The Garden’s screen, concession stand and projection booth were destroyed in the flooding which accompanied the remanants of Hurricane Lee in September 2011. This was the third flood for the Garden this year alone.
The Garden’s flea market will reopen this weekend but at this time it is uncertain if movies will ever be shown at the Garden again especially with the digital conversion on the horizon.
In 1992 the Garden Drive-in celebrated its 40th year.Boxoffice July 1992.
In 1956 it parked 406 cars and was owned by TRI-STATE THEATRES.
Nice looking marquee.
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y7cf4l3