Anybody ever hunt old Drive-in Theater sites?

[phxmark123]

I know of a old drive in movie theater site that has been cleared, no buildings or screen or even fences. I thought it might be a good place to hunt. People are always losing things getting in and out of cars in the dark. Has anybody ever done this? I am sure there would be lots of clad but you never know what you will find.

 

[truckinbutch]

I tried one years ago that had closed prior to 1954.Unfortunately,all of the drives and berms had been constructed from cinders from an early coal fired power plant.Highly mineralized.Unfortunatly,md tech at the time could not cross the barrier.
Should be a lucrative site with today's technology.I lost many things,including my virginity,in those old drive-ins.

 

[sniffer]

I did, once. lots of pulltabs and real tuff to dig through

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I did. Got hundreds of clad coins, basically as fast as I could dig them. A few wheaties too. Nothing exciting, but others may be older stuff.

 

[sniffer]

bad thing is most of them were built in the 50's, so, it could be a problem finding the "old" coins, but
you could probably still find silver

 

[Coin Digger]

Around here they have paved them over and turned them into strip malls.

I think they call that progress

 

[ClonedSIM]

Almost all of them in this part of the country have been turned into cow pastures. Never even once did I have an inkling to try and dig through that mess.....

One of them has been converted into a paint-ball arena. That one has all kinds of possiblities. Waiting for a lull in the action, though.

 

[sniffer]

The old one just south of here is now the new Walmart super center LOL

 

[pookie-princess of rust]

i haven't yet, but i'm hoping to. ironically, the ONLY drive-in theater thats still operating in RI is right in my town... there is an abandoned one that i know of, but it looks kinda shady... definitely deserted and kinda creepy looking... maybe i'll go there sometime... with one of my parents of course...

 

[ClonedSIM]

i haven't yet, but i'm hoping to. ironically, the ONLY drive-in theater thats still operating in RI is right in my town... there is an abandoned one that i know of, but it looks kinda shady... definitely deserted and kinda creepy looking... maybe i'll go there sometime... with one of my parents of course...

Just make sure you get permission, and go to town. The older the better, you know!

But, you're right it making sure you have another set of eyes to go along with you. You never can be too safe.

 

[kane23]

I searched several back in the 80's found all kinds of coins especially wheat pennies and silver dimes, quite a few other silver coins also. When they tore up the dirt a few years ago at the local drive in I found another 25 silver coins along with a couple of silver rings. I say go for it!...Kane 23

 

[bazinga]

I hit one a couple years ago. Dug out 24 silver dimes and 46 wheats from the whiterock. It was a fun day. The Explorer made plucking out the silver dimes pretty easy. I also only found 12 clad dimes. Thankfully there is a different tone between silver and clad and you can tell the difference most of the time. Sadly, I did not find a silver quarter there. Somebody got there first and dug out the easy pickings.

 

[phxmark123]

Sounds like a good idea then. Because it has been graded over so I don't think it will be all that hard of ground. I'll give it a try soon and post the results

 

[sniffer]

if possible try after a light rain, depth will be better, and digging should be easier

Sniffer

 

[littletwig]

Oh man would I ever love to hunt one. Just think of all the toys that are spending their after life under the big screen, not to mention the coins.

 

[truckinbutch]

Oh man would I ever love to hunt one. Just think of all the toys that are spending their after life under the big screen, not to mention the coins.

I may have to start another thread on this.Like 'Who has kid memories of going to drive-ins in the late '40's- early '50's ?'

 

[Rd2nowr]

I say give it a try. I went to the old one here in my home town. It closed in the '70s. I sent my story and pics into White's and got a $100 gift certificate! Tim

 

[Jagdpanther]

A lot of Drive-in Theaters has tot lots/play grounds located at the base of the screen. A good place to get started looking.

 

[littletwig]

Talk about bringing back the past. We would go early so my sister and I could play under the screen. I lost no telling how many little car and toys after the lights went out. The one I went to is now a MALL. Bummer