Skyway Drive-In

3522 US-41,
Palmetto, FL 34221

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Floyd Theaters, Holiday Amusement Co.

Previous Names: Palmetto Drive-In

Nearby Theaters

Skyway Drive-In

Opened as the Palmetto Drive-In by 1952 when it was operated by Roy Jones. Initially it had space for 300-cars and by 1955 it had increased this to 390-cars. On March 25, 1970 it became the Skyway Drive-In. It was closed in 1984.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

rivest266
rivest266 on April 29, 2021 at 9:44 am

This opened as the Palmetto Drive-In on December 15th, 1962, and closed in 1962. It reopened by Floyd Theatres as the Skyway Drive-In on March 25th, 1970, and closed in 1984. Grand opening ads posted.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on April 29, 2021 at 1:06 pm

Opened as the Palmetto Drive-in on 15/12/1962 with a colour cartoon(not named), “The barefoot mailman” and “A day with the FBI”. Opened as Skyway Drive-in on 25/3/1970 with “Rosemary’s baby”, “Romeo & Juliet” and “Riot”

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on May 28, 2024 at 10:37 pm

Boxoffice, March 9, 1970: “Holiday Amusements Co. has acquired the Skyway Drive-In, Palmetto, Fla., from Ron Jones”

Kenmore
Kenmore on May 28, 2024 at 11:27 pm

A closer address is 3522 US-41, Palmetto, FL.

There was never a drive-in at the church location, aerial photos confirm that. The drive-in was further south at the junction of US-41 & US-19, putting it closer to Palmetto.

However, this drive-in was built before 1957 as it appears in the aerial. It is located behind the Little Palm Inn which existed at that time. So, perhaps this drive-in was under previous ownership, maybe part of the inn?

What’s interesting is that the 1969 aerial may show the drive-in closed, but I cannot be sure.

The drive-in was intact in 1984, but was demolished by 1995. Today, it is North Manatee RV & Storage with no trace of the drive-in remaining. Save perhaps for the pillars of the marquee which appears to have once held the sign for the drive-in on top.

https://tinyurl.com/5n7vbk6e

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