Gordon Twin Drive-In
4040 War Eagle Drive,
Sioux City,
IA
51109
4040 War Eagle Drive,
Sioux City,
IA
51109
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The Gordon Twin Drive-In opened its gates on September 2, 1952 with Howard Hill in “Tembo” and Robert Young in “Half Breed” with no extra short subjects. What’s really unique despite being a twin drive-in is that there is no grand opening advertisement at all.
The Gordon Twin became local headlines following a stabbing incident that took place there an hour after midnight during its final year of operation. At around 1:00 AM on June 8, 1985, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the stomach by an unknown suspect at the theater property. Police identified the victim which he survives from his wounds, and the suspect hasn’t been captured at all.
The Gordon Twin closed its screens separately for the final time. Screen 2 closed it first on August 27, 1985 with “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “Witness”, while Screen 1 closed on September 2, 1985 with “Rambo” and “Beverly Hills Cop”.
Speaking of Screen 1 throughout most of the 1985 season, the Gordon Twin Drive-In ran “Beverly Hills Cop” throughout its final three long months of operation, even during the unexpected stabbing incident as shown above.
The “sliver” of the drive-in that was removed because of new exit road included the west screen. So, it’s not like the loss was negligible.
I have no doubt that declining business contributed to the drive-in closing, but given the significant reduction of space because of the exit road it would be difficult to stay open regardless.
The above address is incorrect. The entrance was further SE of this location and almost all of the theater was south of this.
A more accurate address for this theater is 4040 War Eagle Dr, Sioux City, IA 51109. The entrance road is now Fareway supermarket. The parking lot behind this and the empty field west of that were the 2 drive in theaters. The freeway only took out a sliver of the drive in. I suspect declining business was what doomed this enterprise.
Please update.
TomMc11 is correct. The theater closed as a result of Interstate 29 being redone and some of the land was needed for the redesigned Riverside exit. That and declining business.
I think the land would be a good spot for a new movie theater, but with 26 screens in Sioux City as if today, there probably isn’t a need for more.
No it is not. With street realignments and name changes the address listed above is no longer correct. What was once Gordon Drive West at the point of the drive in is now War Eagle Drive. The correct address is now 4130 War Eagle Dr, Sioux City, IA 51109. This puts you at the Jehovah Witness church which is on the property that once housed the Twin. There are other businesses there as well. Historic Aerials from 1955 and 1971 show a functioning twin drive in. After that point it is slowly taken over by various businesses, but even in today’s current Google aerial you can still make out faint outlines of the ramps.