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HomeDrive-In TheatersPortage Drive-In Theatre - Kalamazoo, MI

Portage Drive-In Theatre

Address: 5528 Portage Rd

City: Kalamazoo

State: MI

Zip: 49001

County: Kalamazoo

Open: 1948 (7-8-48) AD

Closed: 1983

Capacity: 400

Owner History: Albert Ochs (1948-61) Butterfield Theatres (1961-83)

Number of visits to this page: 9607

Notes: AKA Kalamazoo Auto Theatre

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Info Updates:

7/2/2007 - TB

This Drive-In did indeed have "stepped" ramps, where one was slightly higher than the one in front of it. It closed after the 1983 season due to a combination of declining attendance, light pollution problems from the growing area around the Drive-In, plus the fact the property it sat on was more valuable the the income from the theatre itself. It was then torn down a couple of years later and a Sam''s Club store was built on the site. It would eventually move to another location and State Farm Insurance later moved into the building.

6/6/2005 - Jeff Kline

I remember going to this drive in the year before it closed. It was located right across the street from the Kalamazoo airport and I think was one of the coolest drive in ever. If I remember right, it had tiered parking ,(like the stadium seating in the new modern theaters of today.)

1/6/2003 - Drive-Ins.com

Site is now home to a State Farm Insurance building.

Photos:5

AUTO AERIAL 10-27-56 COURTESY TBR757 & PORTAGE DISTRICT LIBRARY

NOW - PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND

AD - PHOTO FROM RG

AERIAL - PHOTO FROM TERRASERVER