Grove Drive-in
85 Mil Acres Road,
Wheeling,
WV
26003
85 Mil Acres Road,
Wheeling,
WV
26003
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The Grove Drive-In was one of at least two drive-ins operating in Wheeling. Located in the Elm Grove neighborhood, the Grove was located off the main streets and back in the neighborhood. It was opened on May 28, 1949 with Ronald Reagan in “Stallion Road.
There seems to be some dispute on where the theater was located. Some claim that a warehouse was built in its place, while others claim that the theater was located just south of the factory, the current home of Elm Grove Elementary. The school’s lot resembles a drive-in lot and there is definitely a tree line between the school and the warehouse. It was closed in 1982.
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Andy
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Amazing in 1956 no Drive-ins listed in Wheeling.{motion picture almanac}
Try Elm Grove? That’s what this side of town is called. Maybe it wasn’t considered part of Wheeling at the time.
Thanks Guys.
Approx. address for this drive-in was 71 Mil Acres Rd.
Uploaded 1971 TOPO map, it is at 71 Mil Acres. That drive-in address might have been 85 Mil Acres at one time. The owners of the drive-in might have owned the whole parcel at one time. When it got sold it, they spilt the property up and the old drive-in location address was changed to 71 Mil Acres. I have run into that before. You guys are both right!!
the drive in was located at the site where Cardinal Health is now. just to the right of Elm Grove Elementary School. I grew up in Elm Grove and my parents took us there a lot for movies. It was a great place. I still miss it after all these years.
My father, John B. Gardner, was the owner of the Grove Drive-In. He had a long term lease for the property on which it resided. It sat inside the box created by the dashed lines and the dirt road depicted in the TOPO map. The theater was the flagship of Gardner Theatres, Inc. where my father maintained his office. He also owned the Airport Drive-In (Intersection of Rt.2 and Short Creek Rd. WV), the Riverside Drive-In (Rt.7 Rayland, Ohio), the Strand Theatre in Moundsville, as well as theatres in Weirton, WV and in Morgantown, WV.
Around the bend from the Grove Drive-In at the bridge that crosses Big Wheeling Creek, is the entrance to Glen Holin. This is a development that my father and mother, Dorothea J. Gardner, created on farmland that they had purchased many years ealier. The name reflects portions of the names of their children— Glenn, Holly, and Robin. Streets were given names after the grandchildren at the time— Clay and Jason.
The area was very much a family affair for us. I worked at the Grove Drive-In through high school (Linsly) and was able to get the train ride running again with finacial backing from my father. I enjoyed the various activities, such as the 4th of July firworks show, through the years very much. Does anyone remember the hoola hoop competition?
—– Glenn D. Gardner
Have pictures to share Glenn D. Gardner?
Glenn, most of us Klugs worked at the Grove Drive In, our Dad John Klug managed theatres for your Dad. I also helped with the Bon Ton Potatoe Chip Business as a Route Drive. The Klugs all told pride in working at the Drive In. We met a lot of wonderful people, and some of us ever met our spouses there! Hilary Klug
Opened on May 28, 1949 with Ronald Reagan in “Stallion Road” along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel. The Grove closed after the 1982 season.