Lonesome Pine Drive-In
10397 Norton-Coeburn Road,
Coeburn,
VA
24230
10397 Norton-Coeburn Road,
Coeburn,
VA
24230
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Sometimes listed as being located in Norton. The Lonesome Pine Drive-In was opened in 1946 and was operated by P.O. Datson. He was still the operator in 1955. It was closed in 1994 after several years screening X-Rated movies. A long abandoned drive-in from the looks of it.
Contributed by
Bill Eichelberger
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There are additional pictures on the theater’s galley page at Drive-ins.com: http://www.drive-ins.com/gallery/vatlone
PLEASE ADD TO ADDRESS:
10397 NORTON COEBURN ROAD
Built 1949
Closed ~1975? Anyone care to verify the exact dates?
Can always use more info and photos.
https://abandonedplaces.livejournal.com/2721805.html
A Blog with lots of photos from 2016 about this place, seems it was an X rated theater that lasted until the early 90’s.
Google Street View from June, 2016 still shows the screen, ticket booth, and marquee up. A small house sits where the concession stand/projector booth was located.
Is the lomesome pine tree still there?
I visited on a rainy day in July 2022. It’s derelict and overgrown with “no trespassing” signs prominently placed. Still, it’s easy to imagine what a nice mountain drive-in this once was.
On December 26, 1958, 62-year-old Charlie Palmer, one of the first employees of the Lonesome Pine Drive-In since its opening in 1949, was struck and killed in a hit-and-run by 28-year-old Rufus V. McCoy of Nora. Charlie received a fractured skull and hip before being announced dead before arriving in Norton Hospital.
More photos from 2016 here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hextrovert/albums/72157669540711812
Two clues on the closing date.
Kingsport (TN) Times-News, March 9, 1984: “The Lonesome Pine Drive-In in Tacoma, Va., switched to X-rated films several years ago after operating many years as a family drive-in. The Lonesome Pine opened in 1948.”
Joe Bob Briggs' column, Jan. 23, 1994 (found in the San Francisco Examiner): “The Lonesome Pine Drive-In in Coburn, Va., held on as long as it could, mostly by showing X-rated stuff, but now it’s gone forever. Without eternal vigilance, it could happen here.”