Tawas Drive-In

The Tawas Drive-In opened probably in the 1950's, east of East Tawas, MI, in what is known as Baldwin Township. Even though it was often plagued with mosquitoes in the summer months, it managed to do good business until its last summer in 1991. When I was about four years old, my mom took my cousins and me to this drive-in to see some movie, though I recall very little about that experience.

After the drive-in closed, a sign was erected on the site, proclaiming "Future Site Of Meijer". The store was never built, for some unknown reason. After Meijer's plans fell through, a religious retreat was planned on the site, but that never happened either.

Finally, sometime around 1996, a very nice-looking Presbyterian church was built just behind the drive-in. They used the drive-in's entrance drive, and used part of the field for a parking lot. Originally, the church also used the drive-in's marquee, but eventually built their own marquee. Around the same time, a Citgo station with a Taco Bell was built where the screen and exit drive used to be. (Oddly, this Taco Bell was a full-scale location and not an Express; it closed in 2001 and remains vacant.) Part of the lot is still unused; this vacant section comprises the rotting snack bar and a couple of moonbeam lights. I am told that the church owns the remaining section of the drive-in's lot.

Shot of the field.

More of the field.

In front of the snack bar, there used to be some seats for patrons to sit and watch the movie if they desired. I have part of one of those seats somewhere.

Snack bar.

More snack bar.

Another shot of the field. That truck is parked approximately where the screen was.

A different perspective.

The menu at the drive-thru of the old Taco Bell. This Taco Bell closed abruptly around the end of 2001, and still has all of the fixtures inside!

Quickie shot of the Citgo station.

Annotated Terraserver image of the site.

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