Route 66 Drive-In
1700 Knights Recreation Drive,
Springfield,
IL
62711
1700 Knights Recreation Drive,
Springfield,
IL
62711
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Daily Illinois State Journal, March 11, 1973: “A new twin-screen, drive-in theatre will open in Green Meadows Recreation Park this summer, according to Louis Jablonow, president of Mid-America Theatres. The new drive-in will be located adjacent to Skateland and International Health Spa in Green Meadows Recreation Park, now under development at Chatham Road and the South Bypass. Construction on the new 875 automobile theatre facility is underway and plans call for a two-story concession and projection building with facilities that will serve two screens showing two separate movies at the same time. Two large playground areas will be provided and all parking spaces will be equipped with in-car speaker and heater units. Cedar fencing on the perimeter of the theatre grounds will be accented by landscaping.”
The Green Meadows' final ad in the State Journal-Register was on Aug. 8, 1980, when it was showing “Oh Heavenly Dog” + “Scavenger Hunt” / “Love at First Bite” + “Old Dracula”.
That issue’s Movie Week roundup repeated (probably inaccurately) the drive-in’s movies from the week before. A week later, on Aug. 16, it repeated them again, but the final shows were likely to have been on the weekend of Aug. 8.
NOTE to webmaster: This entry causes confusion to some readers as there was a prior “66 Drive In” in this city. Adding to this confusion is that this entry has an incorrect photo showing the grounds of the “66 Drive In”, not this Route 66 Drive In. I suggest the webmaster please re-name this entry “Route 66 Drive-In (Green Meadows Drive-In)” as this would help clear the confusion between the two 66 theaters.
Opened as Green Meadows Drive-in on screen 1 with “Legend of hell house”, The Heartbreak Kid", and “Mash”, and on screen 2 with “Rivers”, “Judge Roy Bean” and “The getway”.
The second screen of the Route 66 opened in Spring 2004.
The two routes of 66 that ran through Springfield were 6th street (Business I-55) and Illinois Route 4. The Route 66 DI is located between these routes along US 36/I-72 frontage road. The original 66 Drive-In was located on 6th Street just off the exit from I-55. Their claim to being on Route 66 is incorrect.
Route 66 Drive-in is listed as being on Route 66 on the website http://www.driveintheater.com/route66.htm . Has the route of Route 66 changed location through Springfield, Illinois?
It’s called Knight’s Action Park and is still operating.
What is the thene park called and is it still operating or even still there?
Open for 2017 with first run features!!!
http://www.route66-drivein.com/now-showing
March 8th, 1974 grand opening ad in the photo section as Green Meadows in photo section.
I didn’t see that many old theaters on the road. I recall the West and Lux close to each other in New Mexico, and a couple in Oklahoma. I think many of the old places are either demolished or now unrecognizable.
I didn’t see this one on my Route 66 tour last year. We followed the old road faithfully all the way from Los Angeles to St. Louis, but then had to take the freeway to Chicago due to time problems. I will finish Missouri and Illinois someday.
The original Route 66 Drive-In was a single screen located at about 3500 South Sixth Street. This was and is Route 66. The Knight Family gave new life to the Route 66 name after it took over the Green Meadows. A couple memories about the original Route 66: One, they had flea markets there on Saturday mornings, and two, every Easter Sunday, it hosted an interdenominational sunrise church service.
http://www.route66-drivein.com/
I am seriously considering taking a trip out there..as i have never been to a drive-in ever!