Moonlite Theatre

The Moonlite Theatre, also known as the Moonlite Drive-In, is a historic drive-in theater located near Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia. It was built in 1949. Remaining original building and structures include the 65-foot-tall screen tower and office wing, the ticket booth, the concession stand/projector booth building, and the neon-illuminated attraction board at the edge of the highway. The theatre includes 454 parking/viewing spaces designed as reverse-incline ramps.[3][4]

Moonlite Theatre
Moonlight Theatre, July 2013
Location17555 Lee Highway, near Abingdon, Virginia
Coordinates36°40′26″N 82°03′00″W
Area13.3 acres (5.4 ha)
Built1949
Architectural styleDrive-in theatre
NRHP reference No.07000802[1]
VLR No.095-5256
Significant dates
Added to NRHPAugust 8, 2007
Designated VLRJune 6, 2007[2]

Background

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007, and was one of few drive-in theaters nationwide to be awarded that distinction.[1][note 1]

The Moonlite closed in 2013 and was in danger of being lost due to neglect. Some renovation work was begun in late 2016 under an agreement establishing joint ownership of the theater and through monetary and labor contributions from private individuals. Although these were not yet complete, it re-opened and began showing its traditional week-end double features in October 2016.

As of March, 2017, the agreement that led to the renovations has come under dispute and a lawsuit has been filed. (Dark Side of the Moonlite: Lawsuit filed against owner of Moonlite Drive-in, BRISTOL HERALD COURIER Mar 24, 2017) [5]

The future of the theater is in unclear and the owner has it listed for sale with an asking price of $1.25 million.

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See also

Notes
  1. NRHP-listed drive-ins include 66 Drive-In, Beverly Drive-In Theatre, Moonlite Theatre, and Spud Drive-In Theater.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. Michael J. Pulice (April 2007). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Moonlite Theatre" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
  4. "Accompanying four photo". dhr.virginia.gov.
  5. "Dark Side of the Moonlite: Lawsuit filed against owner of Moonlite Drive-in". BRISTOL HERALD COURIER. 2017-03-24.
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