Route 66 Drive-In
1700 Knights Recreation Drive,
Springfield,
IL
62711
1700 Knights Recreation Drive,
Springfield,
IL
62711
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Originally opened March 8, 1974 as the Green Meadows Drive-In, when many drive-ins were starting to go out of business, this twin screener had a brief first life, closing on August 16, 1980.
After sitting vacant for almost two decades, the Knight family, who own and operate a nearby theme park, renovated and reopened the theater, as the Route 66 Drive-In (the historic highway runs just blocks from the drive-in’s location).
Though only one of the two screens was lit in 2002, there are plans to have both open for the 2003 season.
The Route 66 screens first-run features from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
I didn’t see that many old theaters on the road. I recall the West and Lux close to each other in New Mexico, and a couple in Oklahoma. I think many of the old places are either demolished or now unrecognizable.
March 8th, 1974 grand opening ad in the photo section as Green Meadows in photo section.
Open for 2017 with first run features!!!
http://www.route66-drivein.com/now-showing
What is the thene park called and is it still operating or even still there?
It’s called Knight’s Action Park and is still operating.
Route 66 Drive-in is listed as being on Route 66 on the website http://www.driveintheater.com/route66.htm . Has the route of Route 66 changed location through Springfield, Illinois?
The two routes of 66 that ran through Springfield were 6th street (Business I-55) and Illinois Route 4. The Route 66 DI is located between these routes along US 36/I-72 frontage road. The original 66 Drive-In was located on 6th Street just off the exit from I-55. Their claim to being on Route 66 is incorrect.
The second screen of the Route 66 opened in Spring 2004.
The last Movie Week listing for the Green Meadows that I could find in the State Journal-Register was on Aug. 16, 1980. That matches a 2009 article in the Illinois Times that said the Green Meadows closed in 1980.
Opened as Green Meadows Drive-in on screen 1 with “Legend of hell house”, The Heartbreak Kid", and “Mash”, and on screen 2 with “Rivers”, “Judge Roy Bean” and “The getway”.