Cottage View sign finds a new home

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Maybe this isn’t a full-fledged happy ending, since the drive-in is still going to be replaced by a Walmart, but the Cottage View of Cottage Grove MN will at least be able to preserve its signature marquee sign.

According to a story in the Twin Cities Pioneer Press, the Cottage View’s sign, along with its screen and film projector, will take up residence at the Little Log House Pioneer Village of Hastings. The sign is expected to be moved within a month.

That sign will need extensive repairs, said Cottage Grove city administrator Ryan Schroeder. “It has not had work done on it for some time. You can see right through it in some places, with the rust holes,” Schroeder said.

The former owner, Gerry Herringer, speculated that the Pioneer Village might use the screen and projection equipment to show movies at least occasionally. “He is saving iconic relics that would have been trashed,” Herringer added. “I am more than happy to give him everything.”

The Pioneer Press article has a lot more about the history of the Cottage View, and even a close-up file photo, so go read it!

It’s Drive-In Reopening Season

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Skyview Drive-In marquee and screenWith the last weekend of March upon us, it’s time to welcome the return of several drive-ins to active duty.

The Belleville (IL) News-Democrat reports that the Skyview is scheduled to reopen today. The Essex-Middle River (MD) Patch reports that Bengies will open on or before April 12. And our old friend the Harvest Moon (Gibson City IL) will reopen today, according to WAND, central Illinois’s news leader.

Among Colorado drive-ins, the Mesa reopened last week, and the Holiday Twin joins it today. Isn’t spring wonderful?

AL.com is all about Alabama’s drive-ins

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Blue Moon drive-in screenThe site called AL.com, apparently covering all things Alabama, posted a wonderful round-up of the state of the drive-ins there, complete with big scoops of history and a few photos.

To hit the high points of Kelly Kazek’s fine article, the Hatfield was the probably the state’s first drive-in, opening in March 1949. The King Drive-In of Russellville opened a month later, and is Alabama’s oldest living drive-in. There’s a lot of great anecdotal history about others that came and went, and the article concludes with the list of the remaining active drive-ins in the state. They include the 411 (Centre), Argo (Trussville), Blue Moon (Gu-Win), Cinemagic (Athens), Continental (Wicksburg), Harpersville (Harpersville), Henagar (Henagar), King, Sand Mountain Twin (Mountainboro), and Starlite (Anniston). Now go read it!