Hi-Way Drive-In

The Hi-Way Drive-In is a racetrack-shaped drive-in located east of Covington on Valley Ridge Road, and opened its gates on June 15, 1949 with a one-day showing of Esther Williams in “Fiesta” with no extra short subjects. It was one out of two drive-ins that served Covington, with the other being the Callaghan Drive-In. It was operated by Harry W. Robertson.

The Hi-Way Drive-In in its later years was managed by Jack M. Ramsey, who was also the assistant chief of the Covington Fire Department when he joined on October 14, 1949. Unfortunately he was killed in a motorcycle accident at the age of 37 on June 13, 1962 when his bike collided with a truck driven by 52-year-old Bill Sadden Tucker on U.S. 60-220, located not far from the drive-in. The crash sent Ramsey flying out of his bike. His passenger, 18-year-old David Knighton of Mallow, was also injured in the collision. Virginia State Police said that both vehicles were traveling west on U.S. 60-220 when the motorcycle started to pass the truck as it was making a U-turn. The motorcycle turned to the left to avoid the truck and the truck turned into the path of the motorcycle.

The Hi-Way Drive-In was still open in the 1980’s, but was gone by the 1990’s.

Get Movie Tickets & Showtimes

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.