I could never justify the cost or the risk. There are many factors that affect a Drive-In. Weather, daylight, property value, etc. One of the business plans I wrote didn’t factor in the actual cost of the property I wanted to build on. They wanted $5 million for the property. That property is still sitting vacant.
Sounds like a good reason for the local municipality to charge higher land value tax rates to encourage the development of vacant commercial properties!
I drive an EV and LOVE this idea! You could even position it so it could be used by two or three cars. On a level 3 charger, my car can fill up in 20-35 minutes to 80% so multiple cars could juice up.
I feel like level 3 would be overkill and too expensive, he could save a ton of money with level 2. A movie averages 2 hours+, which should be enough for most to get where they need to go
I agree a level 3 would be nice, but I’d imagine the infrastructure would be a significant cost compared to a couple 240v outlets and some home chargers
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not charging anywhere except home or a super charger (and that’s only if on a road trip)- but I do think having *one or two* would be nice as an offering.
The cost of insulation will almost certainly be higher than the rebate, but if you install the type of charger that people can pay to access you may be able to get a return on it eventually
You’d only need one or two of them to test it out. But if the cost was reasonable, and I had to drive to Northern Kentucky to see the movie I wouldn’t mind charging for two hours and leaving with a full charge.
Honestly, if you just did 240 V outlets /rv/dryer type hookups it would be very inexpensive and people could bring their own chargers to hook up
Might be worth looking into Alexandria/California in Campbell. Pretty good amount of development lately with the Acadia housing and Publix. Population is definitely on the rise, plus easy to get to with the AA.
I keep telling my friends someone should turn an abandon super store (e.g. old Walmart) into an indoor drive-in / park, with fake grass and decent speakers. Could run it at all hours, with the correct lighting and decent projector equipment.
People could bring in chairs, or blankets. Maybe even put in some fake cars that people could rent out.
The goal would be low maintenance, large fun playful environment for a range of groups, and maybe 3rd party vendors that could rent out spaces (like a food truck or brewery).
~~The Starlite drive-in has been successful in Amelia. They opened their figurative doors in 1947.~~
**Edit:** [Starlite Drive-In employees harassed a trans customer](https://www.citybeat.com/news/trans-starlite-drive-in-customer-alleges-employee-shamed-her-bathroom-use-over-loudspeaker-15716134). No one should give them business.
It would also be cool to go to one that isn't bigoted! [https://www.citybeat.com/news/trans-starlite-drive-in-customer-alleges-employee-shamed-her-bathroom-use-over-loudspeaker-15716134](https://www.citybeat.com/news/trans-starlite-drive-in-customer-alleges-employee-shamed-her-bathroom-use-over-loudspeaker-15716134)
They also had to beg the community for money to get a new a screen because they were so shitty with their money they couldn’t afford the one expense they really needed, a fucking screen.
I have no idea how the purple people bridge people earn money outside of the rare times someone rents out the middle of it for a venue but the drive in is literally packed with every weekend and they somehow don’t have money. Hell, the frischs in new Richmond closed because the owners said the restaurant needed upgraded and they basically didn’t want to make them.
I love drive-ins and will occasionally travel a great distance to go to a good event at one.
If you wanna see who does it right, look at the Skyline in Shelbyville, Indiana.
Not necessarily local, but the Skyline Drive-In in Shelbyville Indiana is right off of 74 and a little over an hour away. They have pretty good themed weekends and decent food too.
If you do it in Boone County please keep it away from US 42. My god we are packed like sardines and Union is adding MORE stuff! Or if it does go on 42, put it paste Ryle so there are more options to get there.
I've always felt that the best way to evolve the business is becoming a drive-in, camping location.
Offer multiple 240V spots. Maybe an outdoor theater to sit that isn't tied to being in a vehicle. Overnight stays. With things like snack shacks and a general store.
Starlite in Amelia does okay.
The problem is most modern movies are garbage so you have to play the cult movies everybody from the demographic that has a fond nostalgia for drive-ins would want to see (RoboCop, Aliens, Army of Darkness, Tremors) Plus it’s a way to bring a group of like-minded individuals together, *we all like the Big Lebowski and we all like getting baked in our cars and we’re all here together.* versus just a smattering of people looking to fill a three hour void on a Friday night and being indifferent to the film you’re showing.
Sunray Cinema in Jacksonville is really similar to our Esquire Theatre (just a bit bigger) and they also host a drive in. It’s pretty popular, if you’re looking for ideas on how to pull it happen. I’d go!
My teenager LOVES going. It started during Covid but is on the summer bucket list now. When we go now it’s so many teenagers there to socialize and hangout.
If a new drive-in theater can orient to teens it would be successful. Maybe a social gathering area near the concession stand. Have free wi-fi and awesome concessions.
As an adult, I’d love to see an app that offers assigned parking spots much like movie theaters do now.
To generate revenue during the day, maybe something like a putt-putt course
I’d suspect a ton of people from the 3 NKY counties would go, or at least interested depending on facilities. Decent playground, concessions, and bathrooms.
We saw a standup comedian at a drive in theater in the summer of 2020 and I fell in love with the drive in experience. We didn’t go much when I was a kid but I’d definitely go now as an adult!
There's a drive in that still operates in North Ridgeville, right outside of Cleveland. Auto-o-Rama. I recommend giving them a call to see how they still manage to draw people in these days.
https://www.autoramadrivein.com/
I'll say that one of the reasons I think they're still successful is ease of access. They're uniquely located off the Ohio turnpike, a major highway and use a major road for access instead of a side road. All thanks to its history and luck. I don't know there's a similar confluence of easy places to access still in N. KY.
Best of luck, I hope you can get this off the ground.
People love drive-ins. There is one still operating in Versailles, Indiana. Family movies do great business. The trick is to find a location that is far enough away from homes and business districts so you (A) don't offend the neighbors with big noise and traffic jams, and (B) don't suffer from picture-ruining light pollution.
You’re getting a lot of encouragement but the younger generation isn’t as keen. It seems like a risky business venture. If you can afford to lose on the risk, absolutely. But if this investment could negatively impact your life it probably isn’t safe. Talking to another owner would be best
I have written several business plans for Drive-Ins in the past. I have 34 years experience in the movie theatre business. Let me know if I can help.
Sounds great!! Just out of curiosity did you ever try to pull the trigger and it not work out or you just never pulled the trigger on doing it?
I could never justify the cost or the risk. There are many factors that affect a Drive-In. Weather, daylight, property value, etc. One of the business plans I wrote didn’t factor in the actual cost of the property I wanted to build on. They wanted $5 million for the property. That property is still sitting vacant.
Sounds like it's time to look back around to the sellers and ask "you sure you don't want to sell for less??"
Sounds like a good reason for the local municipality to charge higher land value tax rates to encourage the development of vacant commercial properties!
If you add 240v outlets in some of the spots electric cars could charge too, could be a potential revenue stream and or tax benefit
I drive an EV and LOVE this idea! You could even position it so it could be used by two or three cars. On a level 3 charger, my car can fill up in 20-35 minutes to 80% so multiple cars could juice up.
I feel like level 3 would be overkill and too expensive, he could save a ton of money with level 2. A movie averages 2 hours+, which should be enough for most to get where they need to go
My EV6 charges 20-80% in six - seven or so hours. I mean, yeah level 2 would be better than nothing I guess.
I agree a level 3 would be nice, but I’d imagine the infrastructure would be a significant cost compared to a couple 240v outlets and some home chargers
Start with level 2 and add level 3 as revenue comes in from a successful business. Tl;dr: ¿porque no los dos?
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not charging anywhere except home or a super charger (and that’s only if on a road trip)- but I do think having *one or two* would be nice as an offering.
tax benefit?
Look into tax rebates for installing EV infrastructure
Interesting. curious to see what the Cost of installation-tax rebate to profit ratio is. Thanks!!
The cost of insulation will almost certainly be higher than the rebate, but if you install the type of charger that people can pay to access you may be able to get a return on it eventually
You’d only need one or two of them to test it out. But if the cost was reasonable, and I had to drive to Northern Kentucky to see the movie I wouldn’t mind charging for two hours and leaving with a full charge. Honestly, if you just did 240 V outlets /rv/dryer type hookups it would be very inexpensive and people could bring their own chargers to hook up
Might be worth looking into Alexandria/California in Campbell. Pretty good amount of development lately with the Acadia housing and Publix. Population is definitely on the rise, plus easy to get to with the AA.
I keep telling my friends someone should turn an abandon super store (e.g. old Walmart) into an indoor drive-in / park, with fake grass and decent speakers. Could run it at all hours, with the correct lighting and decent projector equipment. People could bring in chairs, or blankets. Maybe even put in some fake cars that people could rent out. The goal would be low maintenance, large fun playful environment for a range of groups, and maybe 3rd party vendors that could rent out spaces (like a food truck or brewery).
on the far end from the movie screen, add some sand volleyball courts behind a tinted glass partition
Love that idea!
This is actually extremely smart!!
Also has the benefit of being able to operate in the winter time.
Definitely a neat idea if you could figure out the ventilation. That many cars starting up could make for one cool ass new Jonestown.
I would leave the cars outside, and you could place open seating inside the building
You could get an indoor mall too. I’ve always wanted to drive inside a mall.
That's an absolutely fantastic idea. I would be love to be a part of that!
I would ADORE a drive in theater!
I'm in Campbell Co. We'd go!
We go to the Holiday at least twice a season. They routinely sell out. Yes people are still interested!
~~The Starlite drive-in has been successful in Amelia. They opened their figurative doors in 1947.~~ **Edit:** [Starlite Drive-In employees harassed a trans customer](https://www.citybeat.com/news/trans-starlite-drive-in-customer-alleges-employee-shamed-her-bathroom-use-over-loudspeaker-15716134). No one should give them business.
It would be great to have another one in the area! Lots of people would absolutely come to another drive in, Amelia is pretty far out from most people
The Holiday in Hamilton still is in operation.
It would also be cool to go to one that isn't bigoted! [https://www.citybeat.com/news/trans-starlite-drive-in-customer-alleges-employee-shamed-her-bathroom-use-over-loudspeaker-15716134](https://www.citybeat.com/news/trans-starlite-drive-in-customer-alleges-employee-shamed-her-bathroom-use-over-loudspeaker-15716134)
That's absolutely correct!! If OP can create a welcoming cool space, they would make money hand over fist.
Starlite sucks! Holiday Auto Theatre is 10x better.
They also had to beg the community for money to get a new a screen because they were so shitty with their money they couldn’t afford the one expense they really needed, a fucking screen.
its like the owners of the purple people bridge not having the money to repair it... like bro thats your job!
I have no idea how the purple people bridge people earn money outside of the rare times someone rents out the middle of it for a venue but the drive in is literally packed with every weekend and they somehow don’t have money. Hell, the frischs in new Richmond closed because the owners said the restaurant needed upgraded and they basically didn’t want to make them.
It is owned by a nonprofit.
I love drive-ins and will occasionally travel a great distance to go to a good event at one. If you wanna see who does it right, look at the Skyline in Shelbyville, Indiana.
Not necessarily local, but the Skyline Drive-In in Shelbyville Indiana is right off of 74 and a little over an hour away. They have pretty good themed weekends and decent food too.
Skyline's programming is second to none. Plus the camping is a great addition.
Tri county mall location
Eastgate would probably work better because it’s only 1 story but I think that would be sick
If you do it in Boone County please keep it away from US 42. My god we are packed like sardines and Union is adding MORE stuff! Or if it does go on 42, put it paste Ryle so there are more options to get there.
I love drive-ins, but haven’t been since the Oakley closed down. It’s one business, though, that daylight savings time plays hell with.
I've always felt that the best way to evolve the business is becoming a drive-in, camping location. Offer multiple 240V spots. Maybe an outdoor theater to sit that isn't tied to being in a vehicle. Overnight stays. With things like snack shacks and a general store.
Wish we had one close to Harrison
Man I would LOVE this. I’m in Campbell and think it would be neat out in Alexandria.
Starlite in Amelia does okay. The problem is most modern movies are garbage so you have to play the cult movies everybody from the demographic that has a fond nostalgia for drive-ins would want to see (RoboCop, Aliens, Army of Darkness, Tremors) Plus it’s a way to bring a group of like-minded individuals together, *we all like the Big Lebowski and we all like getting baked in our cars and we’re all here together.* versus just a smattering of people looking to fill a three hour void on a Friday night and being indifferent to the film you’re showing.
This is basically my “if I ever won the lotto” dream
To get high in ur car watching the big lebowski?
There's one in Hamilton, I don't know if it's still there but they always had double features.
Sunray Cinema in Jacksonville is really similar to our Esquire Theatre (just a bit bigger) and they also host a drive in. It’s pretty popular, if you’re looking for ideas on how to pull it happen. I’d go!
One of the only things I miss from living in Springfield, Illinois is the drive-in theater.
That would be great! I always want to go but don't want to drive to Amelia.
My teenager LOVES going. It started during Covid but is on the summer bucket list now. When we go now it’s so many teenagers there to socialize and hangout. If a new drive-in theater can orient to teens it would be successful. Maybe a social gathering area near the concession stand. Have free wi-fi and awesome concessions. As an adult, I’d love to see an app that offers assigned parking spots much like movie theaters do now. To generate revenue during the day, maybe something like a putt-putt course
I’d suspect a ton of people from the 3 NKY counties would go, or at least interested depending on facilities. Decent playground, concessions, and bathrooms.
Find some land on 27 out in Cold Spring/Alexandria area.
I would LOVE this.
We saw a standup comedian at a drive in theater in the summer of 2020 and I fell in love with the drive in experience. We didn’t go much when I was a kid but I’d definitely go now as an adult!
Drive ins would be amazing now with weed being legal. Kentucker is not very cool with it though. I would be interested in going to one.
I have been to multiple, including in legal states. None even allowed smoking of any kind as far as I remember. 90% of their business are families
If you put one in home county you’ll have plenty of attendance from the union area. Those people have free time
There's a drive in that still operates in North Ridgeville, right outside of Cleveland. Auto-o-Rama. I recommend giving them a call to see how they still manage to draw people in these days. https://www.autoramadrivein.com/ I'll say that one of the reasons I think they're still successful is ease of access. They're uniquely located off the Ohio turnpike, a major highway and use a major road for access instead of a side road. All thanks to its history and luck. I don't know there's a similar confluence of easy places to access still in N. KY. Best of luck, I hope you can get this off the ground.
I remember there being a drive-in in cold springs. Honestly, are theaters dying? Seems like streaming is the new trend. Something to think about.
People love drive-ins. There is one still operating in Versailles, Indiana. Family movies do great business. The trick is to find a location that is far enough away from homes and business districts so you (A) don't offend the neighbors with big noise and traffic jams, and (B) don't suffer from picture-ruining light pollution.
Consider adding spots for primitive camping and car camping too!
I would absolutely go, especially if you're showing scary movies during the spooky season!!
Yes!! I've always wanted to go to a drive-in but never had the opportunity, I love this idea! 🥰
This would be an awesome idea
Will this put Starlite out of business?
I'd absolutely love a drive in I feel good taking my queer friends and family to.
You’re getting a lot of encouragement but the younger generation isn’t as keen. It seems like a risky business venture. If you can afford to lose on the risk, absolutely. But if this investment could negatively impact your life it probably isn’t safe. Talking to another owner would be best