Trail Drive-In
143 Edwards Drive,
Bowie,
TX
76230
143 Edwards Drive,
Bowie,
TX
76230
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The Trail Drive-In was opened on June 20, 1950 when it was operated by C.E. Campbell. Early in 1987 the Trail Drive-In stood closed and fenced in, but still in good condition. The back of the screen was light blue with “Trail” painted in block letters across the top (the screen was demolished by 2017). A small detached marquee and box office also remain standing in good shape.
Contributed by
Billy Smith / Don Lewis
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
The drive-in is located on the east side of US 81, north of town just past County Road 286.
Photos I took back in September of 2011 can be seen here .. The screen, I believe, was damaged heavily by a storm a few years back. The Ticket booth, Marquee, & snack bar/projection booth remain.. Click on photo to enlarge
Randy A Carlisle – Historical Photographer
From Bowie a photo of the Trail Drive-In.
As of Google Street view in February of 2013 the screen is gone but remnants of the marquee remain as well as the ticket booth and concession/projection stand.
Woody Campbell left his job at Warner Theatres in the booking department to start the Trail Drive-In Theatre in 1950. In 1953, he then purchased the Majestic Theatre in downtown Bowie running both.
Opened on June 20, 1950.
A closer address is 143 Edwards Dr, Bowie, TX.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right on the projection booth/concession stand.
A June 2008 Google Street View shows the screen was gone, so it was removed well before that date.
https://tinyurl.com/5aaf9pd7
The Trail Drive-In appeared that it most likely closed in the mid-1980s. The theater remained abandoned for years, but the screen was removed either in the late-1990s or early-2000s.