Ranger Drive-In
2521 TX-254,
Loop Strawn,
TX
76475
2521 TX-254,
Loop Strawn,
TX
76475
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Located to the east of Ranger, TX. The Ranger Drive-In was opened on July 16, 1952 with Rod Cameron in “Wagons West”. It was built and operated by Herbert Rapp along with his wife for 32 years. It was sold and remained open until 1986. As of November 2008, its remnants remain visible with the screen fairly intact.
Contributed by
Billy Smith / Don Lewis
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
Views from 2008 of the remains of the Ranger Drive In.
1/6, 2/6, 3/6, 4/6, 5/6 and 6/6.
Apparently things have changed Address wise. Highway 80 does not appear to exist anymore and neither Google nor Historic Aerials like that address. Try 2521 TX-254 Loop Strawn, Texas, this maps right to the same spot.
Rapp opened the Ranger subsequent to operating the Tower in Ranger. It had a Western Town theme that was displayed under the screen. I have uploaded a photo of that. The area for the theatre was reportedly carved out of the side of Ranger Hill which was east of Ranger proper.
Rapp sold the Ranger when he retired in 1978.
Opened July 16, 1952 with “Wagons West”
A May 2023 Google Street View shows the property with a building next to the road and the business apparently closed. The grounds appear to be a dump for dirt. And cinder blocks are being stored there as well.
The only remnant of the drive-in remaining is the screen, which appears in pretty decent shape all things considered.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the Ranger under Ranger TX, owner H. N. Rapp, capacity 200 cars.
The RV park across the highway from the old Ranger site lists a Ranger TX postal address. This drive-in really ought to be listed here too under Ranger TX.
In July 1984, Joe Bob Briggs published a letter describing “an old, broken-down drive-in” on the south side of I-20 between Ranger and Olden at Exit 347. “(I)ts screen has crumbled, and grass and brush grow rampant over the parking lot.” Those are pretty specific details, but I can’t find a drive-in at that exit in old aerial photos.
On the other hand, in October 1984, the Midland Reporter-Telegram reported that the Ranger’s owner, Jackie Thornton, said the drive-in would be converted to radio sound “in about a year.” He also said the Ranger had never shown X-rated movies and wouldn’t as long as he owned it.