Downs Drive-In
114 Dipaolo Hill Drive,
Ruidoso Downs,
NM
88346
114 Dipaolo Hill Drive,
Ruidoso Downs,
NM
88346
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The Downs Drive-In was opened on May 7, 1959 with Audie Murphy in “The Wild and the Innocent”. It was closed on August 30, 1976.
Contributed by
A. L. Vazquez-Hernandez
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Sorry, Kenmore, but that’s the Mountain View Drive-In on Mechem Drive.
The Downs Drive-In, as its name suggests, was across the highway south of the Ruidoso Downs race track. The Ladera Apartments are there now, though you can see the old entrance and exit paths between the apartments and US 70.
114 Dipaolo Hill Dr, Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346 is the Ladera’s address, and that’s the closest I can find that works on Google Maps.
I was in Ruidoso in 1973 and 1974. The Drive in was operating then. I remember the sign on the highway was for the Robert Blake Action movie Electraglide In Blue. We stayed (my family) in the Holiday House motel for a week and I played miniature golf next door in what I think was called The 19th Hole. It was a miniature golf course and arcade with pinball machines and a great Juke Box. I was there the week after Jim Croce was killed in the plane crash and remember playing his songs on that juke box with a beautiful teenage girl there as the staff. I was 14-15. There was not so much advertising in the paper but a handout flyer at the motel Lobby for the Drive in with the booked films that September into October. Hope that helps someone. I know I still have that flyer somewhere and pictures I took from the miniature golf course.
Are the Holiday House Motel and The 29th Hole miniature golf course still there?
I mean the 19th hole miniature golf course.
Based on news stories and ads in the Ruidoso News, the Downs opened on May 7, 1959 with “The Wild and the Innocent,” and closed on August 30, 1976.
Sorry, davidcoppock, but the buildings that were on either side of the Downs in 1982 (per aerial photo) are all gone now.