Hiway Drive-In
21036 National Pike,
Boonsboro,
MD
21713
21036 National Pike,
Boonsboro,
MD
21713
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The Hiway Drive-In formerly located on National Pike (U.S. Route 40) opened in 1949 with a capacity for 500 cars. This drive-in closed around 1984.
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Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
National Pike & Stottlemeyer Rd, Boonsboro, MD 21713
The above address will accurately map to the location of the drive-in, which is visible on Google Earth using historical aerial imagery from 1988.
Now Family Recreation. Approx. address for this drive-in was 21036 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD 21713
1959 aerial posted.
During its operation, the drive-in had a rather elongated entrance road that was more like an exit ramp. That feature was essentially gone by 2005 when the property was razed and the Family Recreation Park was put in.
Today, there is no trace of the drive-in and only hints of the old entrance road remaining.
The Hiway Drive-In project was announced by Daniel Weinberger, nephew of the late Henry Weinberger of Henry’s Theatre in Hagerstown, in February of 1948. The 676-car ozoner was designed by Cleveland-based architect George M. Peterson. The original screen tower was 37.5'x50' and supported by 70' Douglas Fir poles.
Marva Theatres launched on May 12, 1949 grand opening ad in photos with “Relentless.” Following its season in November of 1954, the Hiway got a new 90' wide screen to present VistaVision, SuperScope and CinemaScope titles. They also got an improved concession stand operated by Sporservice Corp. at its reopening on March 31, 1955.
Marva sold the venue in August of 1960 to Elwood Grimm’s Melwood Corp. He also operated the neighboring drag strip and the auto salvage yard. It must have been doing great business as it and cashier Louise F. Houpt was robbed of $1,387 on August 30, 1963.
The venue found new operators in 1964 in th Lookabuagh family operating on a new 20-year leasing agreement. They took it to the expiry on October 14, 1984 with “Ghostbusters” and “Police Academy.” (The nearby Hancock Drive-In had closed the previous weekend also with “Ghostbusters” but paired with “Christine.”) The Hiway property was offered for sale for $192,500 in 1985. The Drive-In was sold in 1987 and demolished for a family entertainment center. That was most recently called Adkins Mini-Golf.