email: roadarch@outlook.com

Missouri Drive-ins

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Sunset Drive-in
Aurora, MO
The Sunset Drive-in opened in 1951. The original wood screen was destroyed by a fire in 1979. In 1980, a new steel screen was built. The drive-in is still operating. For more, see this website. [map]

66 Drive-in Theatre
Carthage, MO
2010: 2024:
The 66 Drive-in Theatre, located on Route 66, opened in 1949. Sometime after 1953, the screen was widened and the metal support structure was added to both sides of the screentower. It closed in 1985 for renovations as then used as a junkyard. It reopened in 1998. By 2018, either a new screentower was built or the metal supports were sided up. It was the first drive-in listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Columbia:
Sky Hi Theatre [gone]

Twin Drive-in
Independence, MO
The Twin Drive-in opened in 1965. It closed in 2024. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

I-70 Drive-in [gone]
Kansas City, MO
The I-70 Drive-in, adjacent to the highway of the same name, opened in 1964. Three screens were added in the late 1980s making it the largest drive-in in Missouri. The marquee, like that of the Twin Drive-in described above, appeared to have been inspired by the Gateway Arch. In 2018, the drive-in closed and the signs were removed. The sign at the top of the arch is now in a private collection. It may be displayed by the LUMI Neon Museum. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

Barco Drive-in Theatre
Lamar, MO
The Barco Drive-in Theatre opened in 1950 as the Barco Star Vue Drive-in. It is still operating. [map]

Macon Drive-in [gone]
Macon, MO
Pine Hill Drive-in
Piedmont, MO
The Macon Drive-in opened in 1952. It was destroyed by a tornado in 2004 but this sign remained when this photo was taken in 2010. By 2014, the sign was gone. The top text panel is now located inside the Pear Tree restaurant in Macon. For more, see this website.

The Pine Hill Drive-in opened in 1953 and operated until 2015. For more, see this website. [map]

Airway Drive-in
St. Ann, MO
The Airway Drive-in opened in 1948 and closed in 1986. In 1991, the drive-in was replaced with the Airway Center shopping center. The sign featuring a drum majorette was restored and adapted for the shopping center. In addition to the twirling baton, the majorette has moving legs. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

Drive-ins Main Page

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Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.