Fun-Lan Drive-in (Closed)
Tampa, FL
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

The bright neon marquee along Hillsborough Avenue promised another night at the movies long before you reached the ticket booth. Beyond it stretched rows of parked cars, a towering movie screen, and the familiar sounds of families settling in for an evening under the stars. Fun-Lan Drive-In was more than a theater. It was one of those roadside places that became part of growing up in Tampa.

When the drive-in opened in 1950, it could accommodate nearly 700 cars and offered all the extras that made outdoor movies so memorable. There was the Kidde-Lan playground where children could burn off some energy before the show, while parents visited the concession stand or simply relaxed with the windows down waiting for darkness to arrive. In the early years, dinner could even be brought right to your car, turning a movie into an evening-long outing.

The entrance and ticket booth
Tampa, FL
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

Like many successful drive-ins, Fun-Lan found ways to change with the times without losing its personality. Additional screens were added over the years, allowing several first-run movies to play at once, while the popular swap shop transformed the property into a bustling destination long before the sun went down. On weekends, shoppers wandered the flea market during the day, then returned that evening to watch the latest Hollywood releases from the comfort of their cars.

For many Tampa residents, the marquee became every bit as memorable as the movies themselves. Its colorful neon greeted generations of first dates, family outings, and summer vacations. Countless children experienced their first drive-in movie here, and plenty of adults later brought their own kids back to continue the tradition. Even people who weren't headed to the theater recognized the sign as one of Tampa's familiar roadside landmarks.

Screen 2
Tampa, FL
Photo courtesy Andy Callahan

As multiplexes spread across the city and drive-ins disappeared one by one, Fun-Lan kept rolling the projectors. It survived changing movie habits, new technology, and decades of development surrounding the property. By the time the final movies played in December 2021, it had become the last operating drive-in within the Tampa city limits and one of Florida's longest-running outdoor theaters.

The closure came as a surprise to many longtime patrons, but one piece of Fun-Lan's roadside identity escaped the wrecking ball. Recognizing how much the vintage marquee meant to the community, a group of local artists stepped in and carefully dismantled the neon sign, preserving a landmark that had welcomed moviegoers for more than seventy years. It was a fitting tribute to one of Tampa's best-known roadside attractions.

Terraserver Image of Fun-Lan
Tampa, FL
Courtesy Andy Callahan

UPDATE : The Fun-Lan, which opened January 10, 1950 is celebrating it's 50th year! Many thanks to Andy Callahan for information.

UPDATE: Fun-Lan closed in 2021 after entertaining generations of Tampa moviegoers. The property has since been redeveloped as Marquee Square, while the theater's landmark marquee was rescued before demolition. 07-26

Silver Moon Drive-in
Lakeland, FL
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

The giant screen tower is impossible to miss as you travel along the highway. Instead of a plain wall facing the road, you'll find a colorful mural of palm trees, blue water, and a glowing silver moon that has welcomed motorists for generations. Even if you aren't planning to see a movie, Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre is the kind of roadside attraction that makes you glance over your shoulder for one more look. The Silver Moon originally opened up on April 14, 1948. Today, the Silver Moon frequently shows first run movies on its two screens. More info can be found at the Silver Moon website.

When the drive-in opened in 1948, it became Lakeland's first outdoor theater and quickly gave local families a new way to spend a warm Florida evening. Admission was just 35 cents, and moviegoers pulled their cars beneath the giant screen to enjoy Hollywood's latest releases under an open sky. The original opening feature was Up Goes Maizie, but for many people the real attraction was simply the experience of watching a movie outdoors with the windows rolled down and a box of popcorn close at hand.

Silver Moon Drive-in
Lakeland, FL
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

Like most classic drive-ins, the Silver Moon offered more than just a movie. It became a gathering place where families returned week after week, teenagers came for dates, and children eventually brought their own kids back to experience something that had changed very little over the years. The concession stand, rebuilt after the early years, has remained at the heart of the theater ever since, serving generations of moviegoers making one more stop before the previews began.

The Silver Moon has survived challenges that would have ended many other drive-ins. Just two years after opening, a powerful tornado swept through Lakeland and completely destroyed the original screen tower. Rather than giving up, the owners rebuilt, and before long another giant screen stood in its place. The replacement tower became just as recognizable as the first, especially with its colorful mural facing the highway. It's one of those unusual roadside touches that gives the theater its own personality and makes it instantly recognizable.

Silver Moon Drive-in
Lakeland, FL
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

As the decades passed, the drive-in continued to evolve without losing the atmosphere that made it special. A second screen was added in the 1980s, allowing more movies to be shown each night, while weekend mornings brought an entirely different crowd as the grounds filled with vendors and bargain hunters during the popular swap meet. By sunset, the booths disappeared, cars rolled back onto the lot, and the familiar routine of another night at the movies began all over again.

While countless drive-ins across Florida faded into shopping centers and subdivisions, the Silver Moon simply kept going. It adapted to new projection systems, welcomed new generations of movie fans, and continued offering the same simple experience that made drive-ins so popular in the first place. Sitting in your own car beneath the stars while the giant screen comes to life is something that has become increasingly rare, and the Silver Moon continues to do it as well as ever.

Silver Moon Drive-in screen lettering
Lakeland, FL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Today, the mural on the back of the screen tower remains one of the theater's most memorable features. It has greeted travelers for decades and serves as a reminder that some roadside attractions don't need flashing lights or giant gimmicks to leave an impression. Sometimes all it takes is a painted moon, a towering movie screen, and another evening waiting for darkness to fall.

UPDATE: Here's a close up look at the Silver Moon Drive-in lettering that's located at the top of the screen tower. Check out the neon moon character on the sign. Many thanks to Alan Culley for photo update. 11-08

UPDATE: The Silver Moon Drive-In remains open today and is one of only a few historic drive-ins still operating in Florida. The familiar screen tower, colorful mural, and vintage atmosphere continue to make it one of the state's great roadside movie experiences. 07-26