November 21, 2009
What's Inside:
Property may become new drive-in theater
St. Joseph may have a new drive-in theater on the way.
Two rezoning applications have been filed for the former Cooke’s Sales and Service property on South U.S. Highway 169 just east of Interstate 29, for a two-screen drive-in theater.
Stephen Johnson, a former employee of Cooke’s, said the deceased owner of Cooke’s Sales and Service’s half-brother, Riley Cooke, plans to renovate the property. Mr. Cooke owns several drive-in theaters in Montana.
Several calls to Mr. Cooke were not returned.
Former Horseshoe Lake Drive-In owner Jay Kerner said he sold his drive-in equipment, including the two screens, to the new owner after he shut down his theater at the end of 2008.
Mr. Kerner said existing buildings on the Cooke’s property will be renovated to include a concession stand, restaurant and, possibly, a video game arcade.
Mr. Kerner expects the new drive-in to be open by next spring, if not sooner, as long as the city allows the zoning changes. The planning commission will hold a public hearing for the rezoning requests on Nov. 19.
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Wonderful ! We love going to the drive in movies.
A POS from one location to a POS at another. I can't imagine that the people that live behind there will want that there.
I hope a drive-in would be a fun place and not a magnet for the trash element and bad driving on 169. "Plan 9" anybody?
I loved the drive ins of the 50s and 60s. A good way for a family to see a movie. We always made it an adventure for the kids. It was a fun outing. We took hot dogs wrapped to stay warm and steam the buns, popcorn, juice and soda, candy treats. We had lots of fun. Sometimes we took the truck and all sit in the back with blankets and just enjoyed the movie and being together.My kids are all adults now with kids of their own but we all still have family day and enjoy each other on family outings. The grandkids will love the drive in movie adventure too.
this is great!!!!! i love the drive in, and wish the new operators well.
Nostalgia is great and all, but unless they get quality 1st run movies this will flop.
If I rember correctly, as a child, going to the drive in was just plain fun. We really didnt care what the movie was, WE WERE GOING TO THE DRIVE IN!. This will be wonderful, the reason we didnt patronize Horseshoe Lake more often was because of the Mosquitoes by the river.
This will be a great central location, and I dont see how it will affect the people who live behind it. They are used to traffic 24/7 anyway, living that close to the belt, and with two screens, they may be able to tune in their radios, and get treated to free movies all the time.
Good to see Winston Bennett's forgivable city loan is treating Jay Kerner well.
I fully support this all the way,It would sure be a boone for people with certain disabilities too, I loved the old drive Ins we had here in the 50s and 60s too,
Hey -- even the "trash element" deserve a little fun now and then.
Sounds GREAT to me !!!!
Good luck, I'm looking forward to taking the family there. Can't wait.
I bet the skeeters won't be as bad there.
what a great idea. when i was a kid (not to sound too old here) the drive in's (yes there were 2), were a great place to meet up, catch a flick, and even a non-threatening place to hook up. thanks for reviving the old.
FUN FUN FUN now I won't have to drive over an hour to KC to go to the drive in. They are fun, safe, and cheep for people on budgets. Most of the drive-ins in KC let you use small grills and bring you own food and drink. Double Feature Fridays would be awesome!!! I hope are able to do this as soon as possible!!! And as far as "the trash element" your not much better if you judge so harshly. I may borrow a big jacked up truck, put in my billy bob teeth and park right next to you, oh yeah and invite my friends to do the same....see you at the drive in!!!!!!