Texan Drive-In
5800 W. Highway 80,
Midland,
TX
79706
5800 W. Highway 80,
Midland,
TX
79706
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It seems that the Texan Drive-In moved at some point from its original location to winding up next to where the Big Sky Drive-In is today. A 1955 and 1963 aerials shows nothing but open fields where the Big Sky Drive-In would be located.
By 1974, a single screen drive-in is present where San Angelo’s RV is today. That drive-in was still intact in 1995, but had been demolished by 2004.
A closer address is 4120 W Wall St, Midland, TX.
A 1955 aerial shows a drive-in at that location. By 1963, the drive-in had been demolished.
Today, a Titan Factory Direct and La Quinta Inn sit on the property with no trace of the drive-in remaining.
Closed on November 30th, 1986. Also not open for the 1983 season.
The Texan held its grand opening on Thursday, March 18, 1948, per an ad in the previous day’s Midland Reporter-Telegram. The opening program was “The Jolson Story.”
It was described as one mile west of Ranch House (which I can’t find) on the north side of Highway 80. That matches a drive-in shown on a 1963 aerial photo at present-day 4200 W Wall St.
Looking at that 1963 aerial, there are no other likely candidates for a drive-in on the north side of 80 between Midland and Odessa. In particular, whatever was later next to the Big Sky was an empty field in that 1963 aerial. A drive-in there was outlined in a 1975 topo map and was visible in a 1995 photo.
This was reopened for a little while as an independent theater then closed again and sold to a Lumber company
I believe the original location was about one mile east where All American Chevrolet is now located.
Above address does not map properly. Use 5800 West Highway 80. The screen is to the east of the open drive-in & west of Midland Powersports.
Was owned by Video Independent.