Drive-In Theaters in Burton MI Miracle Twin Drive-In Theatre

Info Updates:

8/29/2013 - MLive.com

Buildings at Burton's Miracle Twin Drive-In torn down as neighbors wonder about next move at location BURTON, MI -- Once home to a bustling hangout for children and adults alike, Burton’s Miracle Twin Drive-In Theater now sits vacant with broken glass littering the ground, silent speakers hanging on poles and blank screens as a backdrop for neighbors next door. Burton resident Dawn Reyes, whose backyard view from her home at Centennial Farms is one of uneven pavement and weeds seeping through cracks at the former East Court Street movie house, frequented the business in its heyday while growing up in Davison. “That was what we did in high school,” she said. “Go to the movies every Friday and Saturday night. That was a staple for Davison kids because we were so close. ” A concession standing at the back of the property was recently torn down, Reyes said, along with ticket booths. The demolished materials were taken away last week. Rachel Lulay, a spokesperson for National Amusements, Inc. , confirmed the company has paid for demolition of buildings on the site, but there was no response as to why the action took place. The location closed in 2008. A representative for Realty company Lee & Associates, which is also handling the sale of the shuttered Showcase Cinemas building on East Court Street, said the 60-acre drive-in property listed online for $1. 6 million has not been sold. Reyes has seen vehicles coming back and forth out of the site and hopes for further movement on the property. “This is not very pretty back here,” she said. “I know it’s for sale. I hope they take those screens down. ” Burton police Lt. Brian Warden said with demolition taking place scrappers may have been in the area, but he noted “I have not heard of anything pressing or an issue over there or anything at this point. ” Ron Kaiser took his family to the drive-in when it was still in operation, taking in movies as often as possible. “Me and my family and kids grew up in there,” he said of spending summer evenings at the facility. “It’d been there for quite a few years. Kaiser would like to see a green space or something else take the place of the current facility, and he was sad about the closure of drive-ins in the area. Of the previous drive-ins in Genesee County - which included the Dort Drive-In, Flint Drive-In, Northland Drive-In, Silver Drive-In, South Dort Drive-In and Westside Drive-In - the lone remaining operation is the U. S. 23 Drive-In off Fenton Road in Mundy Township. “I hate to see a thing dying like that,” he said.

4/25/2012 - Clint

BURTON, MI - Once home to a bustling hangout for children and adults alike, Burton’s Miracle Twin Drive-In Theater now sits vacant with broken glass littering the ground, silent speakers hanging on poles and blank screens as a backdrop for neighbors next door. Burton resident Dawn Reyes, whose backyard view from her home at Centennial Farms is one of uneven pavement and weeds seeping through cracks at the former East Court Street movie house, frequented the business in its heyday while growing up in Davison. “That was what we did in high school,” she said. “Go to the movies every Friday and Saturday night. That was a staple for Davison kids because we were so close. ” A concession standing at the back of the property was recently torn down, Reyes said, along with ticket booths. The demolished materials were taken away last week. Rachel Lulay, a spokesperson for National Amusements, Inc. , confirmed the company has paid for demolition of buildings on the site, but there was no response as to why the action took place. The location closed in 2008. A representative for Realty company Lee & Associates, which is also handling the sale of the shuttered Showcase Cinemas building on East Court Street, said the 60-acre drive-in property listed online for $1. 6 million has not been sold. Reyes has seen vehicles coming back and forth out of the site and hopes for further movement on the property. “This is not very pretty back here,” she said. “I know it’s for sale. I hope they take those screens down. ” Burton police Lt. Brian Warden said with demolition taking place scrappers may have been in the area, but he noted “I have not heard of anything pressing or an issue over there or anything at this point. ” Ron Kaiser took his family to the drive-in when it was still in operation, taking in movies as often as possible. “Me and my family and kids grew up in there,” he said of spending summer evenings at the facility. “It’d been there for quite a few years. Kaiser would like to see a green space or something else take the place of the current facility, and he was sad about the closure of drive-ins in the area. Of the previous drive-ins in Genesee County - which included the Dort Drive-In, Flint Drive-In, Northland Drive-In, Silver Drive-In, South Dort Drive-In and Westside Drive-In - the lone remaining operation is the U. S. 23 Drive-In off Fenton Road in Mundy Township. “I hate to see a thing dying like that,” he said.

3/6/2009 - Flint Journal

BURTON, Michigan -- Throngs of people have enjoyed the drive-in movie experience: Parents who brought their young children who fell asleep halfway through the second movie. Young lovebirds smooching in the back seat. Teenagers goofing off outside the car. Now all these memories may be just that -- memories. Drive-in movie theaters in Genesee County may soon be a thing of the past. The owners of the Miracle Twin Drive-in in Burton said Tuesday it will not reopen. The announcement by National Amusements comes on the heels of U.S. 23 Twin Drive-In Theatre in Mundy Township being put up for sale. "We wish to thank our loyal patrons who have shared great movies and memories with us over the years, and hope to see them at our other area theaters," a National Amusements statement said. Spokeswoman Wanda Whitson did not give a reason why it was closing, but drive-ins nationwide have been dwindling for a long time. Only about 10 remain in Michigan. "When I was younger, it was fun to go watch two movies," said Randy McCallister, 40, of Burton. "We used to take Hamady (Bros.) grocery bags and fill them with buttery popcorn. We took out the lawn chairs and sat and watched the movie." The Miracle Drive-in is literally in McCallister's backyard, and he was shocked to hear that the 2008 season was its last. "Last summer, there were people lining up," he said. "It was so busy." Tina Pilarski, 37, of Burton took her teenage children to the drive-in for the first time last summer to see "Iron Man." "It rained the whole time, the weather was awful," she said. "But (the kids) really liked it. They thought it was cool." Bonnie Rogers, who has lived in the modular home park behind the theater for 12 years, could barely contain her excitement. "(The management) didn't know how to control the people," she said. "There was a lot of riffraff. Some people didn't even watch the movie, they just played their radio loud." The theater opened in 1972. In 1975, the theater's previous owners got into some trouble by showing "Bambi" and "The Happy Hooker" at the same time. The Burton City Council was not amused, sending the owners a letter protesting the combination, according to Journal files. These days the theater is showing its age. Weeds are strewn throughout the property and the sign that overlooks I-69 is weathered and worn. The Miracle Twin is one of a slew of outdoor and indoor movie theaters to close recently. Courtland Cinemas in Burton closed in January, Fenton Cinemas closed in December and Showcase Cinemas East in Burton and Cinema 10 in Flint Township closed in 2007. A for sale sign also went up at U.S. 23 Twin on Sunday after nearly 60 years in business. The theater is expected to be open this summer, but it's unclear what will happen after that. The owner died last month, and the remaining family members live out of state most of the year, so they plan to sell the 35-acre property. It is also unclear what will happen to the Miracle Drive-in property, said Burton Councilwoman Laurie Tinnin. She said she would like to advertise the area for commercial use. Tinnin, who grew up in Flint's west side, said she has many fond memories of the Miracle Twin. "As a child I went there with my family all the time," she said. "It was a way for our family to take us and not hire a baby sitter. We used to be able to wear pajamas and have a great time. It was a wonderful place for families."

HomeDrive-In TheatersMiracle Twin Drive-In Theatre - Burton, MI

Miracle Twin Drive-In Theatre - Burton MI