Hull's Drive In facts for kids
Hull's Drive-In, September 2002
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| Former names | Lee Drive-In |
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| Address | 2367 N. Lee Highway Lexington, Virginia |
| Location |  United States |
| Coordinates | 37°49′45″N 79°22′57″W / 37.829085°N 79.382471°W |
| Owner | Hull’s Angels, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) membership organization) |
| Type | Not-for-profit drive-in theatre |
| Opened | August 6, 1950 |
Hull's Drive In is a special outdoor movie theater located in Lexington, Virginia. It's a place where you can watch movies from the comfort of your car! It has space for 319 cars. Hull's is one of only seven drive-in theaters still open in Virginia.
What makes it even more unique is that it's one of just two non-profit drive-in theaters in the entire United States. This means it's run by a group that wants to keep it open for the community, not just to make money. Hull's Drive In shows new, family-friendly movies every weekend, from Friday to Sunday, usually between March and October.
Contents
History of Hull's Drive In
Early Years and New Owners
The drive-in theater first opened its doors on August 6, 1950. Back then, it was known as the Lee Drive-In. Mr. Waddey C. Watkins from Roanoke was its first owner.
In August 1957, Mr. Sebert Hull took over the theater. He was from Buena Vista. Mr. Hull and his wife then ran the drive-in for about 40 years. They changed its name to Hull's Drive-In.
A Time of Change
Mr. Hull passed away before the 1998 movie season. His wife then sold the business to Mr. W.D. Goad. Mr. Goad owned an auto body shop right next to the drive-in. Movie fans were very happy when Mr. Goad decided to keep the drive-in open that summer. He ran it much like Mr. Hull had for many years.
However, the next year, in 1999, the theater needed a lot of expensive technical upgrades. These costs were too high for Mr. Goad, so he decided not to open the theater that summer. The big screen stayed dark while Mr. Goad looked for someone new to buy it. This new owner would need to pay for the upgrades and run the business.
Hull's Angels Save the Day
During that dark summer of 1999, a local non-profit group formed. They called themselves Hull's Angels. Their goal was to save Hull's Drive-In Theatre. By the fall, they decided they should try to buy the business themselves.
The group officially became a non-profit organization. By the spring of 2000, they signed a special agreement. This agreement allowed them to lease the drive-in with an option to buy it within the next two years.
They started a big fundraising effort to collect $75,000. By July, the Angels had raised enough money. About six hundred people donated to help. This money allowed them to make the urgent upgrades and repairs. The theater was able to reopen for the rest of that summer!
A New Beginning
The year 2000 was the first full summer season for the "saved" Hull's Drive-In. In 2010, the drive-in celebrated its tenth year as one of America's only non-profit drive-in theaters.
On July 30, 2014, TripAdvisor.com recognized Hull's Drive-In. It was voted as the #7 top drive-in in the entire country based on reviews.
See also
- List of drive-in theaters
