Sky Hi Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Columbia, MO Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
The Sky-Hi Drive-In Theatre opened in Columbia on June 30, 1965, with room for 700 cars. Children could visit the playground and meet “Happy Hi, the Sky-Hi Clown” before the movies.
Built for $175,000, the theater debuted with The Rounders and Quick, Before It Melts. It also advertised mid-Missouri’s largest air-conditioned snack bar. A nearby tornado the previous evening fortunately spared the new attraction.
UPDATE: Sky-Hi closed in 1985 and was demolished around 1990. A garden center occupies the property, with a few entrance light standards remaining from its movie days. 06-26
Heath Drive-in (Demolished)
Heath, OH Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
The abandoned Heath Drive-In Theatre screen stood above an overgrown field, looking as though the weeds had taken over the audience section.
Opened in 1953 as the Heath Auto Theatre, it accommodated about 600 cars. The Price family operated it alongside Newark’s Valley Drive-In. Early attractions included burro rides for children—quite a different way to spend the time before sunset.
Its closing date remains uncertain. The property sat vacant for years, and road widening eventually claimed the marquee.
UPDATE: The screen, buildings and sign are gone, and the property has been redeveloped for commercial use. 06-26
Hill-Top Drive-in (Demolished)
Joliet, IL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Hill-Top Drive-in Theatre looked like it was ready for another busy night when I stopped by in 2001. The grounds were spotless, the screen tower stood proudly against the sky, and even the speaker posts were neatly lined up across the lot. There wasn't much to suggest this classic drive-in was about to reach the end of its run.
Located along historic U.S. Route 6, the Hill-Top had been entertaining moviegoers since the 1950s and accommodated more than 600 cars. Unfortunately, it closed unexpectedly during the 2001 season, with Shanghai Knights becoming its final feature. Although several preservation efforts tried to bring it back over the following years, none were successful.
Hill-Top Drive-in Speaker posts
Joliet, IL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The abandoned theater remained standing for nearly two decades, becoming a favorite stop for photographers and Route 66 enthusiasts. Then, in August 2020, a powerful derecho toppled most of the massive screen tower. The remaining structures were demolished later that year, bringing the curtain down on one of Illinois' best-known abandoned drive-ins.
UPDATE: The Hill-Top closed down sometime in 2001. 07-04
UPDATE: The Hilltop Drive-in Theatre in Joliet, IL will be re-opening in April 2007 after being closed since 2001. Many thanks to David Hughes for update 03-07
We are open!
Joliet, IL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
UPDATE: The Hilltop Drive-in never re-opened like they said it was going to. Back in March of 2007, the drive-in was only weeks before it was suppose to reopen, but it just never did. As of right now, the drive-in has been closed since the end of the season back in 2001. Many thanks to David Hughes for update. 11-10
UPDATE: The Hill-Top Drive-In Theatre has been demolished. Following storm damage in 2020, the remaining structures were removed and the historic drive-in no longer survives. 06-26
Linden Air Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Columbus, OH Photo and info courtesy Michael Sekeres
The Linden Air Drive-In Theatre had been quiet for years when photographed, but its screen and marquee still waited beside the empty grounds. Weathering only added to the ghost-drive-in atmosphere.
Opened on July 14, 1950, with John Wayne’s Red River, it served Columbus audiences until 1984. The MacDonald family built it, and Bill Queen managed much of its working life.
The abandoned structures lingered long after the last show, becoming familiar subjects for roadside photographers.
UPDATE: The theater has been demolished and the property redeveloped. Only small traces of the original entrance pavement are known to remain. 06-26
Cascade Drive-in Theatre (Closed)
West Chicago, IL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Cascade Drive-In Theatre never needed an elaborate marquee to fill its West Chicago parking field. Opened in 1961, it became a familiar summer destination for generations of moviegoers.
The Kohlberg family ran it for more than thirty years, adding digital projection and FM sound. A lease dispute prevented the 2019 season from opening, and later efforts to revive the theater did not come together.
UPDATE: The theater located in the village of West Chicago is still in great shape and open 7 days a week. Many thanks to David B for update. 06-12
UPDATE: Cascade remains closed. Its screen, concession building and marquee still stand behind locked gates, preserving the outline of the old movie stop. 06-26
Sky Hi Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Heath Drive-in (Demolished)
Hill-Top Drive-in (Demolished)
The 
Hill-Top Drive-in Speaker posts
Linden Air Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Cascade Drive-in Theatre (Closed)
