Keysville Drive-in Theatre (Closed)
Keysville, VA (Closed)
Photo courtesy Tait Hilliard

Not much remained of the Keysville Drive-In Theatre when this photo was taken, but there was still enough to tell what once stood along Highway 360. The faded entrance, empty field, and weathered theater buildings made this one of those roadside places that seemed to be waiting for the movies to start again. Even after years of silence, it wasn't hard to picture families lining up at the ticket booth on a warm summer evening. 08-08

The Keysville first welcomed moviegoers in 1952 and offered a few touches that helped set it apart. Its reverse-incline parking layout gave everyone a good view of the screen, while the snack bar and children's playground made it easy to spend the whole evening at the drive-in. Local memories even mention a Ferris wheel on the property for a time, making it feel almost like a small amusement park before the movie began.

Like many drive-ins, the Keysville experienced its share of ups and downs. After years of showing first-run movies, the theater closed in 2001, but the story didn't end there. The gates reopened in 2009, giving longtime fans another chance to enjoy movies beneath the stars. For a few more seasons the old drive-in came back to life before finally closing for good after the 2014 season.

Keysville Drive-in Theatre
Keysville, VA (Closed)
Photo courtesy Tait Hilliard

Finding places like this is part of the fun of exploring the back roads. Even after the crowds have disappeared, there's something about an old drive-in that makes you slow down, look around, and imagine another double feature just about to begin.

UPDATE: The Keysville Drive-In has re-opened again since the above photos were taken. The drive-In opened up back in the Spring of 2009. Many thanks to David Hughes for update. 11-10

UPDATE: The drive-in closed down again in 2014. Looks like it tried to make a go of it, but couldn't sustain itself. 12-15

UPDATE: The Keysville Drive-In remains closed, and the property has been vacant for years. The current condition of the screen and roadside marquee is unknown. 08-26