49'er Drive-in

675 N. Calumet Avenue,
Valparaiso, IN 46383

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rivest266
rivest266 on July 25, 2020 at 7:04 pm

Grand opening ad: 49er drive-in opening49er drive-in opening Thu, May 3, 1956 – 20 · Vidette-Messenger of Porter County (Valparaiso, Indiana) · Newspapers.com

zipperiffic
zipperiffic on September 1, 2017 at 2:33 am

The name “The 49'er” comes from the name of the former highway it was located on, although Indiana 49 has been relocated just a bit to the east.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on June 28, 2017 at 5:07 pm

Why the name 49'er?

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 27, 2017 at 8:34 pm

The current owners say that Opening Day was May 3, 1956. It was sold around 1985 to Bruce Shinabarger, and then to Steve and Mike Cotton in 2000.

A December 2010 blizzard knocked down the screen, but they got it back up in May to open for the 2011 season. (Photo here.) The owners said the original wooden screen had blown done years earlier “while a film was being shown.”

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on December 29, 2009 at 11:14 pm

Drive-ins are nice not much overhead.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 25, 2009 at 1:56 am

Here is a view of the marquee and the screen:
http://tinyurl.com/y86vtal

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 25, 2009 at 1:54 am

Here are some additional photos:
http://tinyurl.com/y9gmzeq

minya123
minya123 on January 22, 2006 at 1:24 am

I have been there a long time ago. I was thinking of going back to see it some time this year. I liked it back in the 70’s When they put on some b movies.

John Woodcox

msrodrig
msrodrig on July 7, 2005 at 11:23 pm

This place shows weekend double features and is a good bet for summer residents who live or vacation near the Indiana Dunes State Park/National Lakeshore. A blast from the past.