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Was North Carolina once a major state for drive-in theaters?
- At one time in history, the state of North Carolina was one of the country’s top ten states for drive-in theaters, with its number of drive-ins exceeding two hundred.
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What happened to many of North Carolina’s drive-in theaters?
- In addition to once being one of the states with the highest number of outdoor movie theaters, it is also one of the states with the highest number of drive-in closings.
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How many drive-in theaters remain in North Carolina today?
- Today, there are only a handful of drive-in movie theaters that remain in operation throughout North Carolina.
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What is the future of drive-in theaters in North Carolina?
- The hope is that these surviving five drive-in theaters will continue to remain open for many years to come.
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1. Badin Road Drive-in
The Badin Road Drive-in theater was originally constructed back in the year 1948. It was closed many years later during the 1980’s, however, the historic drive-in was restored and reopened again in 1994. The Badin Road is open on a seasonal basis and show double features of first-run films. Originally featuring just a single large outdoor movie screen, an additional movie screen was added when the drive-in was reopened. Located in Albemarle, the drive-in is a cash-only theater, however, there is an ATM available. The outdoor movie theater is a great place for the entire family to have some outdoor fun.
2411 Badin Rd, Albemarle, NC 28001, Phone: 704-983-2900
2. Eden Drive-in Theater
The Eden Drive-in Theater first opened back in 1949 in Eden, North Carolina and has been in operation ever since. The outdoor movie venue features a single large outdoor screen and can accommodate up to two hundred vehicles for a showing. Sound for the films the drive-in screens is provided through FM radio broadcasting. Triple features of first-run films are shown at the Eden Drive-in during the weekends, with the drive-in theater open seasonally beginning in the month of March. The outdoor movie theater also includes a snack bar where customers can get all their favorite movie snacks.
106 Fireman Club Rd, Eden, NC 27288, Phone: 336-623-9669
3. Raleigh Road Outdoor Theater
The Raleigh Road Outdoor Theater originally opened in the year 1949, and like the Eden Drive-in, it has been operating ever since its opening. The outdoor movie theater is a single screen drive-in with a maximum car capacity of 265 vehicles. Dogs are allowed on the property, provided they are leashed and well behaved at all times. FM radio is used to broadcast the sound for the films shown at the Raleigh Road Outdoor Theater.
3336 Raleigh Rd, Henderson, NC 27537, Phone: 252-438-6959
4. StateLine Movie Time Drive-In Theatre
Enjoy a great night under the stars while tuning in to the newest movies and even some old-time favorites at the StateLine Movie Time Drive-In Theatre of Tabor City. Opened in 2019, this beloved local entertainment area is a single-screen drive-in and is just a short 30-minute drive from Myrtle Beach. Built specifically for families with young children to enjoy a family night out together, the StateLine Movie Time Drive-in Theatre allows visitors to bring their pets and offers a tasty menu of movie snacks via various concessions.
3835 Dothan Road, Tabor City, North Carolina 28463, Phone: 910-499-1756
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