June 22: 61 Drive In Theatre, Delmar IA

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It’s Day 173 of my virtual Drive-In-a-Day Odyssey. I left Wisconsin behind, driving a bit less than two hours via the fastest route, through Dubuque, to reach the 61 Drive In Theatre about a mile west of Delmar IA. The much larger town of Maquoketa is just about four miles north of the 61.

The 61 Drive-In opened around 1950 and has been in operation ever since, taking time out to repair screens destroyed by storms in 1960 and 1995. It’s a small, narrow drive-in surrounded by farmland and has a capacity of 180 cars.

According to an article last year in The Gazette of Cedar Rapids, owner Dennis Voy bought the 61 in 1972 “over a cup of coffee.” That’s when he started the free “train rides” for kids, as shown in the Gazette’s YouTube video embedded above.

Voy also told the Gazette something that I’ve noticed over the past decade or two. “People always ask me if they still come in the trunks — to my knowledge, no one does anymore,” he said.

I should buy some shares of Disney. After seven paid viewings, mostly last month, of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, this was my fifth round with Cars 3. Even in those GotG days, I never saw the movie four nights in a row as I just did here. It kept me thinking about the Cars universe – we see a few children, but do they grow? Are they manufactured (as in 2005’s Robots) or created organically? I’ll keep watching for clues.

Miles Today / Total:  95 / 22258 (rounded to the nearest mile)

Movie Showing / Total Active Nights: Cars 3 / 89

Nearby Restaurant: Of course I was attracted to Flapjacks Family Restaurant in Maquoketa. On one hand, it’s got a great salad bar. On the other, it serves breakfast all day. Breakfast is healthy, right? I chose the Maquoketa Meal Deal with bacon, eggs, sausage, and flapjacks of course. Maybe my next meal will just be salad.

Where I Virtually Stayed: After staying in one chain hotel or another so many nights, I was able to spend the night somewhere historic. The Decker Hotel in downtown Maquoketa has been around since 1875, but it still works. There was no fridge this time, but there was a flat-screen TV and wifi, plus I got a pass to the nearby YMCA if I wanted to work out. There was coffee in the morning, and I saved enough cash by staying here that finding breakfast was no problem.

Only in Delmar Maquoketa: There are any number of museums, sideshows, and tourist traps with two-headed critters, but the Jackson County Museum is the first I’ve heard of with a two-butted lamb. There are 22,000 square feet of exhibits over two floors, but the player pianos won’t stick in your head the same way. If you can’t make it in person, Roadside America has a photo.

Next stop: Midway Drive In Theatre, Sterling IL.

Video: Big Mo Zapped By Lightning

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The Monetta Drive In Theatre, typically called “The Big Mo,” in Monetta SC was hit by a lightning strike Sunday night, knocking out two of its three screens. WJBF, Augusta’s News Leader, ran a story last night talking about owner Richard Boaz’s work to get everything running again.

The power surge disabled the air conditioner and two projectors, and Boaz has been tracking down digital projector parts. He’s also waiting for a technician from Virginia to do a complete inspection of the equipment, hopeful that no more damages are discovered.

Insurance might cover some of the damage. In any event, the plan is to fix the air conditioner so at least the main screen will be available tonight. Although I wish the occasion was happier, it’s always nice to share some video to see what the drive-in looks like today.

June 21: Sky-Vu Drive-In, Monroe WI

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It’s Day 172 of my virtual Drive-In-a-Day Odyssey. It took me less than an hour and a half to drive an assortment of two-lane highways from Jefferson WI to the Sky-Vu Drive-In just south of Monroe WI.

According to Isthmus.com, the Sky-Vu opened in 1954 and has been operating ever since. It boasts “The Largest High Reflective screen” in the Midwest since it was replaced in 1976. The Sky-Vu installed FM stereo sound in 1986, although the folks at Cinema Treasures say that any claims that it was the first drive-in to switch to FM are exaggerated. The Sky-Vu installed digital projectors in time to start the 2012 season.

Isthmus wrote that the Sky-Vu brings in a lot of drive-in faithful from neighboring Iowa and Illinois. “We’ve had people come in motorcycles,” sais owner Duke Goetz. “I’ve had the highest-quality Mercedes-Benz and Lexus roll in there. I’ve had other cars that should have been part of the cash-for-clunkers program. I’ve had the semi tractor-trailer guys come in. It’s everybody.”

I was sure to save room for the famous Sky-Vu pizza, and if I brought in any cold water in my car, I was discreet about drinking it. This night, I had my fourth viewing of Cars 3, including my third night in a row. The more I watch, the more I wonder why there would be a school bus in the Cars universe.

Miles Today / Total:  70 / 22163 (rounded to the nearest mile)

Movie Showing / Total Active Nights: Cars 3 / 88

Nearby Restaurant: For a great little restaurant facing the courthouse, Pancho & Lefty’s Outlaw Grill is a great choice. Since I ate healthy the day before, I had the Pig on Pig sandwich with pulled port and two thick slices of bacon. A seriously large margarita might not have been necessary to accompany the meal, but I enjoyed it anyway.

Where I Virtually Stayed: All right! After a few nights of hobnobbing with more upscale lodging, I returned to another familar face, the Super 8. I was fortunate that this is another of those really good “Pride of Super 8” locations with a fridge and good wifi in the room and the standard “Superstart” continental breakfast with hot entrees if you count the waffle iron and the toaster. It was all I needed at a great price.

Only in Monroe: According to the Insiders’ Guide to Madison WI, Monroe has hosted Green County Cheese Days every September of even-numbered years since 1914. The festival can draw over 100,000 visitors and includes “a parade, tractor pull, arts and crafts fair, polka music, yodeling, and absurd amounts of cheese and beer.”

Next stop: 61 Drive In Theatre, Delmar IA.