The End of an Era – The Saco Drive-In Theater Has Been Sold

The owners of the Saco Drive-In on Route 1 have announced that they have sold the iconic theater that first opened up in 1939.

In a post on the Saco Drive-In Theater's Facebook page, the owners announced the sale saying that it has been a challenge to keep things going over the past two years since the Covid pandemic began.

People turned to the drive-ins when indoor theaters had to close due to social distancing. However, that wasn't enough to keep the Saco Drive-In afloat and with it sitting on a prime piece of land on the Route 1 corridor in Saco, it was ripe for a sale.

According to Saco Bay News, the drive-in was purchased by Hale Trailer Brake and Wheel, a commercial trailer dealership with 13 locations in the country, one of which is on Pinetree Industrial Parkway in Portland. The location will be moved to the 33-acre site of the current drive-in.

This is sad news to see this beloved drive-in that was one of the longest, continuously operating drive-in theaters in the country, behind only two others that opened in 1934 and 1937. It was even able to survive the digital transition of movies when the theater was one of five drive-ins to be awarded a prohibitively expensive digital projector thanks to Honda's Project Drive-In. Honda was the perfect company to step up and help out drive-in theaters since you can't see a movie at the drive-in without a car.

There's no word on when the trailer dealership will move in, but sadly, it's very likely that the screen will come down, signaling the end of an amazing 82 year run for The Saco Drive-In.

However, it's not the end of an era for all of Maine's drive-ins. Pride's Corner Drive-In in Westbrook is just 12 miles from the Saco Drive-In and the Bridgton Twin Drive-In is 42 miles away but offers two screens with more movie choices.