UNDATED - Are drive-in theatres making a comeback in Northeast Georgia? One opened recently in Rabun County, and now comes word of plans for one in Forsyth County.
County officials have cleared the way for the Rocket 400 Drive-In and a 3,200-square-foot screen between Georgia 400 and Georgia 9 near Cumming.
The Tiger Drive-In reopened in Rabun County in April, after closing almost 20 years ago.
Before owner Gary Thompson secured the site for his Forsyth County operation, he lost two sites in Alpharetta.
In Forsyth County, commissioners approved a conditional use permit last month. Afterwards, Commissioner Charlie Laughinghouse said he would ask the board to rescind approval because of a rumor that a drive-in would show R-rated movies.
Thompson says he always meant for the drive-in to be family-oriented. He got the idea of opening a drive-in on August 13th, 2003, when he took his two young daughters to a movie in Alpharetta for a birthday outing. The matinee set him back almost 60 dollars.
At Rocket, tickets for the double features will be about six dollars for adults and less for children under age 12.
Sound for the first-run movies will be broadcast to cars on FM radio.
Georgia has only five drive-ins now, according to a Web site devoted to the theatres. In 1955, there were almost 130.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
Sunday
October 20th, 2024
4:05PM
