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Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre & Diner facts for kids

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Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre
Cherry Bowl-Honor, MI.jpg
Cherry Bowl Theatre, October 2018
Location 9812 Honor Hwy, Honor, Michigan
Built 1953
Website http://cherrybowldrivein.com
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The Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre & Diner is a special place in Honor, Michigan. It's a historic drive-in theater where you can watch movies from your car! It also has a diner for snacks. You can find it on US Highway 31.

The Cherry Bowl opened a long time ago, on July 4, 1953. It was one of only eight drive-in theaters left in Michigan in 2024. This fun spot offers more than just movies. It has a snack bar, play areas for kids, putt-putt golf, and even beach volleyball. There's also a rest area for dogs!

The Cherry Bowl is the only drive-in theater left in Northern Michigan. Its sound system is really cool. It uses original old-fashioned vacuum tube motiograph amplifiers. These power speakers at each car's post. You can also listen to the movie sound on your car's FM radio. The drive-in theater is open during the summer months. It now uses modern digital HD projectors for a clear picture.

In 2009, then-governor Jennifer Granholm said great things about the Cherry Bowl. She told the Detroit Free Press that visiting it was a true Michigan experience. She mentioned sitting in a truck, eating the best popcorn and chicken fingers, and watching a summer movie. In 2013, Honda gave the theater a new digital projector. This was part of their "Project Drive-In" social media contest. The theater is located at 9812 Honor Highway (US 31).

History of the Cherry Bowl

Cherry Bowl Drive-In Movie Theater
The marquee sign, seen in 2018

The Cherry Bowl first opened its doors on July 4, 1953. A woman named Jean Griffin owned the business for many years. She took over after her husband passed away in 1959. Jean was known for working hard, even in high heels!

In 1996, Laura and Harry Clark bought the Cherry Bowl from Jean. Harry Clark passed away in 2012. Laura continued to run the theater and snack bar by herself. In February 2024, Laura Clark decided to retire. So, the Cherry Bowl was put up for sale. In September 2024, Mindi Jarman bought it. She plans to keep the theater open and make some updates.

Fun Features and Art

The Cherry Bowl offers more than just movies. You can play mini-golf there. They often show two movies in a row, called a double feature. These movies are usually rated PG-13 or below.

Harry Clark added some unique sculptures around the theater. These are next to the old-style speakers and a big 14-foot neon hot dog sign. One sculpture is a pink and blue Volkswagen car with a clown head on it. Another is a pink cow with cherries for spots. There's also a classic Chevy car that looks like it's crashing through a fence.

Snacks and Treats

When you visit the Cherry Bowl, you can enjoy tasty food. Sometimes they offer Messy Marvin's chili cheese fries. They also make fresh caramel apples every day.

See also