East Bend Drive-In

Highway 67 and Speedway Drive,
East Bend, NC 27018

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East Bend Drive-In

The towns folk of East Bend, North Carolina loved the old East Bend Drive-In. It was the only show in town where families could gather, play bingo, catch a cartoon and a almost new release.

Opened prior to 1955, when an explosion of drive-ins opened in the Tar Heel state, locals could always expect a good Western. According to Bill Kline, Carolina film Booker, westerns were pretty much the demand for pictures. The small East Bend Drive-In held 150 cars, but often more would be packed in. Owned and run by local resident D.W. Holder.

Contributed by Mike Rogers

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on February 18, 2011 at 8:14 pm

It might have been off HWY 67 east of town,Not sure guys.

Silicon Sam
Silicon Sam on February 19, 2011 at 12:45 am

On 67 East of town, at Speedway Drive, there’s still a screen, and what looks to be a ticket booth and projection building still standing. At least as far as the current image n Google Street View.

http://goo.gl/maps/Gvr6

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on February 21, 2011 at 4:47 pm

thanks Silicon Sam.

Drive-In 54
Drive-In 54 on April 29, 2012 at 1:57 pm

Goggle Earth View 2009

jwmovies
jwmovies on September 28, 2012 at 3:21 am

Approx. location around 9299 North Carolina 67. Note: Speedway Dr. was to the LEFT of the drive-in next to the entrance; now to the RIGHT (rear) of where the drive-in is located.

Mmandarano
Mmandarano on November 5, 2013 at 1:36 pm

Property sold this Saturday at absolute auction for $31,000. 6.3 acres, concession stand, ticket booth, dilapidated screen. Land is still nicely graded.

Drive-In 54
Drive-In 54 on November 5, 2013 at 7:51 pm

So what are the new owners going to do with? It’s to bad that it could not be reopened.

Mmandarano
Mmandarano on November 6, 2013 at 12:12 pm

I’m not sure. I actually was going to buy it, but I had promised myself to not go over $30k. I had a pre-qual drawn up to $35k just to have a little overhead. This bid was in and they wanted $33k and I stuck to my guns. I was planning on re-opening if I bought, but the ROI was suspect. I had quotes on screen ($85k), digital projector ($70k), building upfit ($100k) and new appliances in the concession stand (roughly $45k). So, roughly a $330k investment. Unfortunately, I’m not sure with a loan of nearly $3k a month, the location, the seasonal nature of drive-ins, etc. I could have really done that well. I probably could have made a living, and kind of hate I didn’t go a little higher just to have the land and see where it goes, but I am happy I stuck to my guns too. Easy to get auction fever and keep throwing the hand up.

TomMc11
TomMc11 on June 27, 2017 at 12:34 pm

October 2016 Street View still shows what’s left of the screen, the base of the marquee is still there and the ticket booth is still intact.

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