Starlite Drive-In
34 Tunnel Road,
Asheville,
NC
28805
34 Tunnel Road,
Asheville,
NC
28805
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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
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
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.
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.
Thanks Billnix It helps.
Approx. address for this drive-in was 34 Tunnel Road.
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.
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.
This opened on May 14th, 1953. Grand opening ad in the photo section
Ticket stub added courtesy of Jennifer Smith Carter‎.
Did they ever add a new scope screen?
Opened with “Blackbeard the pirate”, “Salome, when she danced” and “Allegheny uprising”.