Georgetown Drive-In, Georgetown, IN

A slice of Americana at a beloved roadside attraction

by Carrie Daut | July 24, 2011

The city of Louisville borders Indiana, so there are a handful of attractions we like to “borrow” from our more northern sister state. One such site Louisvillians treasure as their own is the Georgetown Drive-In, located in Georgetown, Indiana. This classic drive-in is one of less than 400 still in operation in the entire U.S., and it takes less than 20 minutes to get there following Interstate 64 West out of town.

The Georgetown Drive-In opened in 1951 and celebrates its 60^th anniversary this year. For the past 47 years, it has been owned and operated by Bill and Karen Powell, and before that it belonged to Bill’s parents.

This “twin” drive-in (two different screens) plays a total of four movies each night. Beginning around 9:30 p.m., two different films are shown on Screen 1 and Screen 2. At midnight, two more films are shown. So choose accordingly and park your car (or your lawn chair, or your blanket) in front of your preferred screen. Then feel free to switch screens during intermission before the second movies start.

Films shown at the drive-in are new releases currently in theaters. (This Insider recently saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 and Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon during her night at the Georgetown Drive-In. Cars 2 and Zookeeper were the other two films playing.) Adult admission is only $9, and that gets you two movies.

(Insider Tip: Admission is cash-only. However, debit cards may be used at the concession stand.)

Patrons can still listen to the movies from classic metal speakers perched on stands between their cars (or, tune your car radio to the appropriate station). And like a scene right out of Grease, this drive-in also features a playground underneath Screen 1, as well as those nostalgic drive-in commercials (think: dancing hot dogs).

Georgetown Drive-In’s season runs from roughly April to October. They are open seven nights a week during the summer, weekends only in the fall. On weekends, arrive early, as the lot will sell out. Bring: lawn chairs, blankets, coolers, snacks (or buy your own there). Don’t bring: pets, alcohol.

For directions, admission prices, special events and more, visit georgetowndrivein.com. To hear their daily recorded show clock, call 812-951-2616.

Comment below and let me know: have you been to the Georgetown Drive-In?