I do not believe the open field on Honea Path Street was the site of the drive-in.
A 1970 aerial shows a massive textile mill, Reigel Textiles that had been in operation since 1906 in that location. It was closed in 1984 and the buildings left derelict until it was all torn down by the turn of the 21st century.
Unfortunately, the earliest aerial I can access is 1975 and topo map, 1975. I see no indication of any drive-in. Although from the information that has been presented so far, it could have closed by the late 1950s and the property built over for some other purpose by 1970.
A 1964 aerial shows the drive-in intact and perhaps operational.
A 1976 aerial shows trees growing on the property and I cannot make out if the screen has been removed or if it is covered by the trees.
Given the number and height of the trees, I’m guessing this drive-in closed in the late 1960s.
50sSNIPES - This comment from the information MichaelKilgore found which is on the Sparta Drive-In page seems to lean towards a name change.
“How old is it? In 2013, (then-?)owner Tommy Brown told ABC News that the Sparta was built in 1943, so that’s probably it. The 1952 Theatre Catalog lists the Sparta, yet earlier Catalogs showed the Park-A-Way in Sparta but not the Sparta Drive-In. (The IMPAs listed both for a while, so it’s probably not a name change.)”
If the drive-in was built in 1943, it seems likely that it was originally called the “Park-A-Way” and then changed to the “Sparta” Drive-In at some later point, but certainly by 1952.
The IMPA listing both afterwards was more likely confusion on its part. Believing they were different drive-ins for a time. However, given that all other information (location & car capacity) is the same, this to me seems like what happened.
But if you assume the Park-A-Way was a separate drive-in, then the information MichaelKilgore reports makes little sense.
The Sparta Drive-In would’ve had to open in 1943, close in the late 1940s, and re-open again in 1952. Running for decades until appearing to close for much of the 1990s before re-opening after renovation in the early 2000s.
The Park-A-Way would’ve had to open when the Sparta Drive-In closed in the late 1940s, close by 1952. Re-open by 1959 and run until at 1976 until finally being left off in 1982 at least in IMPA.
And all that time there is no evidence of a second drive-in along the highway. So, I’m leaning towards name change.
The drive-in has been completely demolished. The only traces are the general outline, the entrance/exit road, and the base of the marquee which now supports the sign for the Highway Fuel Co.
A 1981 aerial shows the drive-in intact and looking operational.
The 1985 aerial as I mentioned before has at least one trail cutting across the drive-in from the projection booth due north to the road.
Trails like that are a good indication that a drive-in has closed. So, it very well could’ve been open in 1981, but it appears to have closed by 1984, which would give enough time for such a trail to be made.
Far be it from me to dispute Joe Bob Briggs, but the aerial photos at the time differ from the story he told on July 31st 1987.
A 1991 aerial shows the drive-in closed with the screen gone, but also quite empty with no evidence of any large number of wrecked vehicles having been parked on it. Which certainly would be the case if that had happened.
By 2002, the property had become part of the truck driving school.
What I believe happened is that across the road from the drive-in was a large auto salvage yard which appears in the 1981 and 1985 aerials. I think whoever provided Joe Bob with his information mistook the location of the drive-in for the auto salvage yard across the road.
However, by 1991, the auto salvage yard was totally empty.
Today, it is a recycling center, but the property outside the buildings is relatively empty.
Today, Mission Metals MFG occupies the property with no trace of the drive-in remaining.
Today, the property is occupied by building owned by ACDi and Industry Ct runs through the middle of what was once the drive-in.
There is no trace of the drive-in remaining.
I do not believe the open field on Honea Path Street was the site of the drive-in.
A 1970 aerial shows a massive textile mill, Reigel Textiles that had been in operation since 1906 in that location. It was closed in 1984 and the buildings left derelict until it was all torn down by the turn of the 21st century.
Unfortunately, the earliest aerial I can access is 1975 and topo map, 1975. I see no indication of any drive-in. Although from the information that has been presented so far, it could have closed by the late 1950s and the property built over for some other purpose by 1970.
A 1964 aerial shows the drive-in intact and perhaps operational. A 1976 aerial shows trees growing on the property and I cannot make out if the screen has been removed or if it is covered by the trees.
Given the number and height of the trees, I’m guessing this drive-in closed in the late 1960s.
50sSNIPES - This comment from the information MichaelKilgore found which is on the Sparta Drive-In page seems to lean towards a name change.
“How old is it? In 2013, (then-?)owner Tommy Brown told ABC News that the Sparta was built in 1943, so that’s probably it. The 1952 Theatre Catalog lists the Sparta, yet earlier Catalogs showed the Park-A-Way in Sparta but not the Sparta Drive-In. (The IMPAs listed both for a while, so it’s probably not a name change.)”
If the drive-in was built in 1943, it seems likely that it was originally called the “Park-A-Way” and then changed to the “Sparta” Drive-In at some later point, but certainly by 1952.
The IMPA listing both afterwards was more likely confusion on its part. Believing they were different drive-ins for a time. However, given that all other information (location & car capacity) is the same, this to me seems like what happened.
But if you assume the Park-A-Way was a separate drive-in, then the information MichaelKilgore reports makes little sense.
The Sparta Drive-In would’ve had to open in 1943, close in the late 1940s, and re-open again in 1952. Running for decades until appearing to close for much of the 1990s before re-opening after renovation in the early 2000s.
The Park-A-Way would’ve had to open when the Sparta Drive-In closed in the late 1940s, close by 1952. Re-open by 1959 and run until at 1976 until finally being left off in 1982 at least in IMPA.
And all that time there is no evidence of a second drive-in along the highway. So, I’m leaning towards name change.
A closer address is 1814 US-20, Gordon, NE.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right on the property.
Today, Legacy Coop is on the property with no trace of the drive-in remaining.
https://tinyurl.com/5t6h8rtw
A corral has been constructed where the screen once stood. All remaining traces of the drive-in are rapidly fading away.
A rare drive-in indeed. The back half of the ramps crossed into Pennsylvania. Meaning you could watch the movie from another state.
The drive-in has been completely demolished. The only traces are the general outline, the entrance/exit road, and the base of the marquee which now supports the sign for the Highway Fuel Co.
According to their FB page, the marquee is being restored for the 75th anniversary of the drive-in.
Although intact, the 1981 aerial shows considerable clutter around the screen which indicates the drive-in was most likely closed by that time.
The supports of the north screen is still present, although it is down to four poles.
My guess would be the south screen was destroyed by high winds as the north screen’s supports are still standing. But that is just a guess.
A 1981 aerial shows the drive-in intact and looking operational.
The 1985 aerial as I mentioned before has at least one trail cutting across the drive-in from the projection booth due north to the road.
Trails like that are a good indication that a drive-in has closed. So, it very well could’ve been open in 1981, but it appears to have closed by 1984, which would give enough time for such a trail to be made.
Far be it from me to dispute Joe Bob Briggs, but the aerial photos at the time differ from the story he told on July 31st 1987.
A 1991 aerial shows the drive-in closed with the screen gone, but also quite empty with no evidence of any large number of wrecked vehicles having been parked on it. Which certainly would be the case if that had happened.
By 2002, the property had become part of the truck driving school.
What I believe happened is that across the road from the drive-in was a large auto salvage yard which appears in the 1981 and 1985 aerials. I think whoever provided Joe Bob with his information mistook the location of the drive-in for the auto salvage yard across the road.
However, by 1991, the auto salvage yard was totally empty. Today, it is a recycling center, but the property outside the buildings is relatively empty.
A closer address is 102 Loveland, Seymour, MO.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right on the projection booth which is still standing, although in not ideal condition.
https://tinyurl.com/59p4fyak
A better address is 1403 E 11th St, Siler City, NC (as previously mentioned by jwmovies).
This puts it right where the screen once stood. The drive-in was on the east side next to what is now a distribution center.
https://tinyurl.com/mr3kaajw
The land has never been developed. You can easily see the outline, ramps, and foundation of the projector booth.
Most of the drive-in is an open field with parch marks of the ramps still present.
A closer address is 2201 140th Ave, Algona, IA.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right on the property.
Apart from the exit road which is now the driveway to the home, there is no trace of the drive-in remaining.
https://tinyurl.com/y2x2sbxx
A closer address is 11863 Rd W1, Norton, KS.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right on the property. It is now home to Sports Center Storage.
Apart from its general shape and entrance, there is no trace of the drive-in remaining.
https://tinyurl.com/5dxt4f5s
A closer address is 445 E Absecon Blvd, Absecon, NJ.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right on the property.
An August 2025 Google Street View shows what is left of the screen still standing.
https://tinyurl.com/2ttczd9a
A closer address is 4005 Main St, Keokuk, IA.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right where the screen used to be.
https://tinyurl.com/2stjm8jt
A slightly closer address is 506 Union Rd, Herington, KS.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right on the property.
https://tinyurl.com/5n6z76wd
The screen is coming down.
https://tinyurl.com/4yypfstw
A slightly closer address is 1839 AL-87, Samson, AL.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it on a house on the southside of the drive-in.
Today, what’s left of the marquee along with bits of the entrance and exit roads are all that can be seen.
https://tinyurl.com/4b8wjbde