Starlite Drive-In

34 Tunnel Road,
Asheville, NC 28805

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Starlite Drive-In | Asheville, NC

The Starlite Drive-In was opened May 14, 1953 with a triple feature program:Robert Newton in “Blackbeard the Pirate”, Yvonne De Carlo in “Salome Where She Danced” & Claire Trevor in “Allegheny Uprising”. In 1961, Asheville, North Carolina had a population of just 53,000 people and only two drive-ins. The Starlite Drive-In was only one of a very few screens operating in town during the late-1950’s and early-1960’s.

The Starlite Drive-In parked 500 cars and was owned by W.C. Macon.

Contributed by MikeRogers

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on July 16, 2010 at 9:10 pm

I found it was on Highway 1, but I can’t find a Highway 1 in Asheville??

Open 1955-1985?

Open for sure in 1967.

Sure could use an address, more info and photos.

BillNix
BillNix on June 23, 2011 at 7:40 pm

If my memory searves me right, the Starlite was located on Tunnel Road just to the left as you came out of the tunnel from town. This was US70. The sign sat close to the road and you had to drive back a distance to get to the ticket booth. Today there is a Cracker Barrel and several other restaurants on the property. The open cut also took much of the property. Hope this helps.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on June 24, 2011 at 5:14 pm

Thanks Billnix It helps.

jwmovies
jwmovies on September 27, 2012 at 5:11 am

Approx. address for this drive-in was 34 Tunnel Road.

blueridgegal
blueridgegal on August 20, 2013 at 10:53 am

That stretch of I-240 was not started until 1977. I believe the drive-in closed around that time along with several other businesses on that side of Tunnel Road. It was a great piece of Americana, hate to see it gone.

Ed_Ledford
Ed_Ledford on December 17, 2013 at 4:58 pm

Indeed, was exactly where you all indicate. I saw my first drive in here — Billy Jack. I must have been 7 or 8 when my mom took me and my brother to see that film. Of course, she didn’t know what it was about and was really disappointed that she’d taken us to it (the ONE nudity scene, you know, where the young Indian gets out of bed with Bernard and walks out of the scene … you see her butt). Anyway, I have loved that movie since, and still do. Will never forget the Starlight. Now, it’s an expressway.

rivest266
rivest266 on August 21, 2016 at 11:56 am

This opened on May 14th, 1953. Grand opening ad in the photo section

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 16, 2017 at 9:06 pm

Ticket stub added courtesy of Jennifer Smith Carter‎.

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on November 17, 2017 at 12:49 pm

Did they ever add a new scope screen?

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on August 23, 2019 at 11:24 pm

Opened with “Blackbeard the pirate”, “Salome, when she danced” and “Allegheny uprising”.

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