This is the second location. The name changed to Forest Drive-in when it was moved north from its original location which is under the Cliff Benson Beltline, just north of Yonkers Rd.
It probably was moved to make way for the Beltline construction.
I believe this started out as the “Capital Drive-in” and was located on the east side of what was then Downtown Blvd just north of Yonkers Rd. The Beltline hadn’t been built yet.
The UNC Chapel Hill Library has a collection of “USDA Historical Aerial Photos” and the 1959 image 7W-20 shows the location.
The name was changed to “Forest Drive-In” when it moved to its second location on the west side of North Blvd (now Capital Blvd).
As far as I remember Chapel Hill Rd became “Old” Chapel Hill Rd. when Chapel Hill Blvd was built. I don’t think this drive-in was located on Chapel Hill Blvd. The information I have on “Carolina-Duke Drive-In” shows it operating from 1949 to 1952.
I also have information a “Valley Drive-In” was open on Durham-Chapel Hill Rd in 1954. The June 3, 1948 Durham Morning-Herald has an advertisement for “Drive-In Chapel Hill Rd” showing “The Michigan Kid” starring John Hall & Rita Johnson.
I downloaded USDA Historical Aerial Photos from the UNC Library and there’s a drive-in at the intersection of Old Chapel Hill Rd and Garrett drive. It’s image 12P_26.
The location is completely overgrown by trees in the 1972 set, image 172_88.
“4161 Old Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707” will get you there on Google Maps. There’s a Family Fare Supermarket and a Four Seasons Auto Care there now.
The location the map shows would put it closer to 4414 Wake Forest Hwy. I have some 1955 aerial photos I downloaded from the UNC Library and there is no theater that far out on Wake Forest Hwy. The only Drive-In shown is the one at approx 3416 Holloway St.
It’s still there in the 1972 aerial photo set, and still the only one shown on Wake Forest Highway
I think the names overlap with it being the Skyview Drive-In from 1950 until some time in the mid-60s, and re-opening as the Forest Drive-In in 1967.
This is the second location. The name changed to Forest Drive-in when it was moved north from its original location which is under the Cliff Benson Beltline, just north of Yonkers Rd.
It probably was moved to make way for the Beltline construction.
I believe this started out as the “Capital Drive-in” and was located on the east side of what was then Downtown Blvd just north of Yonkers Rd. The Beltline hadn’t been built yet.
The UNC Chapel Hill Library has a collection of “USDA Historical Aerial Photos” and the 1959 image 7W-20 shows the location.
The name was changed to “Forest Drive-In” when it moved to its second location on the west side of North Blvd (now Capital Blvd).
As far as I remember Chapel Hill Rd became “Old” Chapel Hill Rd. when Chapel Hill Blvd was built. I don’t think this drive-in was located on Chapel Hill Blvd. The information I have on “Carolina-Duke Drive-In” shows it operating from 1949 to 1952.
I also have information a “Valley Drive-In” was open on Durham-Chapel Hill Rd in 1954. The June 3, 1948 Durham Morning-Herald has an advertisement for “Drive-In Chapel Hill Rd” showing “The Michigan Kid” starring John Hall & Rita Johnson.
I downloaded USDA Historical Aerial Photos from the UNC Library and there’s a drive-in at the intersection of Old Chapel Hill Rd and Garrett drive. It’s image 12P_26.
The location is completely overgrown by trees in the 1972 set, image 172_88.
“4161 Old Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707” will get you there on Google Maps. There’s a Family Fare Supermarket and a Four Seasons Auto Care there now.
The location the map shows would put it closer to 4414 Wake Forest Hwy. I have some 1955 aerial photos I downloaded from the UNC Library and there is no theater that far out on Wake Forest Hwy. The only Drive-In shown is the one at approx 3416 Holloway St.
It’s still there in the 1972 aerial photo set, and still the only one shown on Wake Forest Highway
I think the names overlap with it being the Skyview Drive-In from 1950 until some time in the mid-60s, and re-opening as the Forest Drive-In in 1967.
This theater closed some time in the late 50s or early 60s and the building was used as a pentecostal church until some time in the late 90s.
I’m not sure when the building was demolished. I think the building was still there in 2005.