Marfa Drive-In
1602 US-90,
Marfa,
TX
79843
1602 US-90,
Marfa,
TX
79843
1 person
favorited this theater
The Marfa Drive-In was located west of town on Highway 90 and S. Tenison Street, next to the Marfa Cemeteries. It opened in May 1953 and was operated by Theatre Enterprises. It was still open in 1979, but has since been demolished. The ramps still remain.
Contributed by
daniel
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
Billboard, May 23, 1953: “Theater Enterprises, Inc., has opened three new drive-ins in Texas. … Clifton Durham opened the Marfa Drive-In, Marfa.”
Looks like it was still operating in the early 80’s, seems intact in a 1982 aerial photo.
I’m not sure the drive-in was still open by the 1980s. Although it is clearly intact, there is trail that is on the right or east side of the drive-in entrance in the 1982 aerial which is not present in the 1974 aerial.
Normally, the addition of new trails outside of the entrance/exit is an indication that a drive-in is closed. Especially since the new trail makes no sense in terms of traffic into or out of the drive-in.
I know it’s not proof, but the drive-in does not look as well-kept in the ‘82 photo. So, it may have closed by the late 1970s.
The Marfa Drive-In was operating at least as late as late 1979 because that’s when I saw “Apocalypse Now” there - I should say I saw most of the picture, as the upper right corner of the screen was missing. Dry rot?