Kinda a sad deal. (Omaha, Lincoln: rentals, theater, tornado)

[tpabes]

Kearney lost their drive in theater today. Guess the tornado was the end of it. Lots of people have lots of memories there.
Omaha.com Metro/Region Section

Any of our members ever been to the Kearney Drive-in?

[bluejeanbaby]

No, but we used to go all the time at the one in Long Pine. Fun times- I wish my children could experience that.

Is Neligh the only drive-in left in Nebraska?

[tpabes]

There is also one in Alliance, but only two left now.

[star_gazer]

Omaha-Council Bluffs (just across the Veterans Bridge in CB) lost it's last one a couple of years ago... to make way for Google.

The owner supposedly said he had plans to open another one in the metro... but I've seen nothing supporting this lately.


Is the one in Alliance... right nearby the town? Is it really open... I can't seem to find any active links for it on the web. My family and I are going to be driving by Alliance towards the Black Hills... if the timing is right... we might just stop for a flick Saturday night.

[Dave1215]

Well these days you could just pile a bunch of people into one of the newer fancy mini-vans, go out to a field at night, roll down the windows, then flip down the dcd screens from the ceiling, pop in the dvd of your choice and watch it...

[tpabes]

Originally Posted by star_gazer

Omaha-Council Bluffs (just across the Veterans Bridge in CB) lost it's last one a couple of years ago... to make way for Google.

The owner supposedly said he had plans to open another one in the metro... but I've seen nothing supporting this lately.


Is the one in Alliance... right nearby the town? Is it really open... I can't seem to find any active links for it on the web. My family and I are going to be driving by Alliance towards the Black Hills... if the timing is right... we might just stop for a flick Saturday night.

Its called the Sandhills Drive In, and the newspaper said it was still operating, but the website says closed for the season.
GEJU Theatres | Alliance, Nebraska | Chadron, Nebraska | Hot Springs, South Dakota | Newcastle, Wyoming

[Victor 13]

In El Paso Texas, where I was raised, we would go to the drive in at least once a month. Fond memories.

We used to drive to the Council Bluffs drive in when my kids were young. My grown son would take his children there as well.

Thinking about this now though, would a drive in actually be realistic? If I had my choice of watching a movie in my car in the hot sultry night spraying myself with OFF and wishing the family in the car next to me would be a bit more respectful of others around them or in a climate controlled theatre, I would opt for being inside, and keeping my car clean .

I must admit, I do miss the cheeseburgers we used to bring with us to enjoy an outdoor movie.

It does have its atvantages as well as down sides.

[aerahrtlu]

I barely even remember the drive-in here in Lincoln. I think it was on 84th street but I could be mistaken. Man, I was only a few years old when they closed it. Now, years later I'm kinda bitter they did. I have never been to a drive-in. I hope that someday I can go to one, that is, if they're still around.

[star_gazer]

People who haven't lived in Omaha that long may be interested to know that there were once drive-ins located at:

1. 84th and West Center
2. 120th and Q
3. 76th and Dodge
4. 114th and Dodge
5. 72nd and Hartman (up towards Immanuel Hospital)

There may have been another one (or two?)...but these are the only ones I can recall.

[Gretchen B]

That is sad about the Kearney Drive-In. I do remember loading our four kids in the car for a movie at the Kearney Drive-In. It was great - you paid by the "carload" so that saved us a bundle with the 6 of us. Plus we'd just put the kids in their p.j.'s, grab the snacks, and we were set for a cheap evening out.

I've always wondered why drive-in's ended up closing. I guess it was the VCR, DVD, movie rentals, etc. Plus people have gotten so they demand theater seats and surround sound. And then the land became valuable, so the theaters probably made more money by selling the land. . . . But it is sad.