Terrace Theatres 1 & 2

Located on the rear end of the Tunnel Road Shopping Center, the Terrace Theatre was Asheville’s first-ever ‘Ultravision’ Theatre that opened on June 13, 1967. The Terrace Theatre upon its opening was operated by Wilby-Kincey Corporation/North Carolina Theatres, and was designed by the Asheville architectural firm Six Associates, headed by William B. McGehee. In fact Six Associates designed several other theatres like the Terrace Theatre and others throughout the state with its 750-seat auditorium having a round widescreen curve that had a full 180 degree Ultravision screen that was quite impressive and very unique, that was capable of showing bigger movie presentations in either 70mm or 35mm films. The premiere attraction for its grand opening of the Terrace Theatre on June 13, 1967 was “Caprice” starring Doris Day.

On June 24, 1983, its original auditorium was split down into two sections creating two shoebox auditoriums with smaller screens when this theatre was operated by ABC Southeastern Theatres and it was renamed the Terrace Theatres 1 & 2. This was a showplace for great entertainment in the Asheville area and it remained under 1990 when this theatre was closed by Cineplex Odeon/Plitt Southern Theatres, briefly renamed Innsbruck Cinema Plus. It was demolished in 2013.

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Roger Katz on September 18, 2012 at 6:20 pm

Reopened in 1992 as the Innsbruck Cinema Plus before later closing again. It now stands empty behind OfficeMax.

Joe Vogel on August 23, 2013 at 6:00 am

The current street view and the pin icon on the map are too far apart. I think the address should be just 85 Tunnel Road rather than 85 South Tunnel Road. That puts the pin close to street view and apparently right on top of the building. Here’s a corrected map.

Mikeoaklandpark on August 24, 2013 at 3:58 am

The theater still sits boarded up and empty. Wish I had money to do something with it. Asheville could use a good regional or dinner theater.

raysson on May 14, 2015 at 1:28 pm

THEATRE HISTORY:

1967-1971 Wilby-Kincey Theatres

1971-1979 ABC Southeastern Theatres

1979-1986 Plitt Southern Theatres

1986-1991 Cineplex Odeon/Plitt Theatres

1991-1998 Carmike Cinemas

rivest266 on August 21, 2016 at 10:47 am

June 13th grand opening ad in the photo section. It was demolished by the end of 2013 according to Google Earth.

rivest266 on August 21, 2016 at 2:45 pm

June 24th, 1983 grand opening ad as a twin in the photo section.

Mikeoaklandpark on April 3, 2023 at 1:09 pm

It was always the Terrace Theater except very briefly. Name should be changed back to Terrace.