With fondness, I remember my pajama-clad family loading up in the station wagon to head out to our local drive-in movie theater.  Back in the days when I grew up, there was no “pajama day” at the schools, so the drive-in was a rare place that you could actually go in your jammies.  And THAT was exciting, especially as we played on the playground while waiting for the show, and then we ate a pizza and popcorn dinner in the car.  When all the pre-movie excitement was over, we snuggled up with our parents in the front seat and settled in for a movie that we would inevitably….fall asleep on.  Thus giving my parents, a quiet night out at the movies!  Win, win!  They just cuddled up with their happy, angelic-when-they’re-sleeping children.  But, as with everything, times change and many drive-in theaters closed throughout the country, so I had little hope of re-living that great childhood memory with my kids.

However, now that my little family is a new generation (sans the station wagon), we were extremely pumped to discover a drive-in theater in proximity to our home!  My kids couldn’t quite wrap their minds around how we were going to watch a movie outside, but much like me, they were ready to try anything that included the three p’s:  pj’s, pizza, and playground.  Of course, the chance to stay up late was also a good draw for them.

So we arrived early at the newly-found drive-in to see “How to Train Your Dragon 2.”  Meeting friends there, we parked our two vehicles next to one another near the playground, and the kids had a heyday.  They tailgated back and forth between the two cars, ate the infamous “macaroni and cheese hot dogs” from the concessions’ house, and were introduced to tetherball.  All this AND the movie hadn’t even started yet!

Where did we find this wonderful piece of nostalgic entertainment?

The Goochland Drive-In Theater (GDIT), located just off of Exit 152 in Hadensville, Virginia, is a family-owned and family-friendly establishment started by The Heidels in 2009.  They, as parents of young children, realized the need for a place that families could go to see a new-release movie without spending an arm and a leg on dinner, movie, and babysitters.  John Heidel, the founder/owner and self-proclaimed Chief Executive Dreamer, said that he and his wife took a huge gamble in opening the drive-in seven years ago.  “This was a ‘pie in the sky’ dream for us,” John said.  “We had a lot of naysayers who were concerned about it being a potential nightmare.” People were worried that drive-ins had closed for a reason and that nobody would want to attend an outdoor movie theater anymore.  They suggested that perhaps its day had come and gone.  But the naysayers couldn’t have been more wrong.  On August 28, 2009, the GDIT opened to a full-capacity crowd with a double-feature of G Force and GI Joe.  “We were slammed. It was crazy,” John remembers.  Approval to open had only been received two days prior to this opening date, which left them with little time to properly train staff.  John admits, “We opened on a wing and a prayer.  Only by the grace of God did we get through that first night.  People were very patient and understanding with our opening night mistakes, and we were quick-learners.”  The Heidels and their staff have continued that attitude of constantly learning and constantly improving, saying, “We are always trying to make things better.  Sometimes things evolve naturally and sometimes it comes through suggestions from a patron or a staff member.”  They are committed to seeing ways to make their guests comfortable, satisfied, and happy.

Each season, from March until November, the Drive-In shows new-release movies on Friday and Saturday evenings to a 340+-car-capacity audience.  (In the summer, they extend the schedule to include Sundays and sometimes other random days).  Whether they were on a date, or trying to entertain the kids, or seeking nostalgia, patrons made it quickly clear that there is definitely still a desire to go to the drive-in.  John is not only surprised by the broad age range of those who visit, he also marvels at their reason for coming: “People come for the experience.  The movie becomes secondary.  They come early to play and hangout..  It appeals to people because they can forget about the stress in their lives for a while and just dial back.  It’s about much more than just seeing a movie – it’s an event in itself.”

As with any movie-goer, one needs concessions, and the GDIT doesn’t disappoint with their menu of chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, 100% beef hotdogs, pretzels, pizza sticks, chicken nuggets, and of course, popcorn.  (The aforementioned “macaroni and cheese hotdog” is known as the “Gooch Dog” which is a true novelty for kids….and um, yes…adults too.)   They tried several hotdog prototypes that they taste-tested among friends and relatives, but this wiener was the winner:  all-beef hot dog, covered in macaroni and cheese, and drizzled with a top secret sauce.  Since concessions are the life-blood of the business, they do adamantly require that there be no outside food or drinks; however, none of their main menu items exceed $3.95, so it is quite affordable for a family night out.  (If you are watching your gluten intake, they also offer an additional gluten-free menu with items that range from $1.30 to $6.00.)

While I am all for reliving childhood memories, I am very thankful that the GDIT did not duplicate the undesired, filthy bathrooms of the drive-in that I remember in days of old.  Still in keeping with the retro atmosphere with things like vintage cartoon ads, GDIT has enhanced and improved the experience with CLEAN facilities and modern upgrades that give a crystal clear picture and sound. No clunky audio box hanging on your window anymore!  You need only your FM radio.

Periodically, the Goochland Drive-In offers special events with themed movies and activities.  As a holiday celebration in December, the GDIT offered the classic “The Sound of Music” in all of its original, musical glory.  With the chilly winter weather, it was a perfect time to add warm fire pits, hot chocolate and fun, Christmas contests. (The Ugly Sweaters are getting “better” each year, as do the elaborate decorations on the patrons’ festive vehicles.) At Halloween, the GDIT also opens for an evening of Trunk or Treat.  Grown-up Only events and/or Retro Weekends allow for some no-kid fun as we adults can listen to music from a local band, sample a winery’s offerings, or jump back a few decades for 1980’s themed flicks.  In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the “Back to the Future” movie, the GDIT showed the full trilogy on October 21, 2015 – the exact date that Marty McFly and Doc Brown landed in the future.  (Generation X readers will appreciate that reference.)

This spring, the Drive-In will begin the first phase of an expansion by opening “The Grove” which is a second screen (on the same property) with its own separate concessions and restrooms.  This smaller-scale screening area will allow an equivalent of 100-vehicle capacity and will open the GDIT to show different types of movies simultaneously. John’s plan is that, “If we’re showing a kids’ movie and action film on one screen, we could maybe show a romantic comedy paired with a drama on the other screen.  Couples on a date night can come see a grown-up movie without having to see the latest Pixar kid-movie first.”

The Goochland Drive-In is truly a dream come true for its owners, and they want to share that dream by offering a wholesome, affordable, entertaining place to enjoy and make memories.  With faith in themselves, faith in above, faith in their loyal patrons, the Heidels have succeeded in creating the family-friendly place they set out to create.  The family has been amazed at the respectful and supportive customers and at their loyal and hard-working staff.  The top three compliments they receive are due to the affordability, friendliness, and family atmosphere, but their favorite compliment is that people are thankful and grateful that they are here.  I echo that sentiment.  Thanks to the Heidels’ dream, due diligence, hard work, and attitude, our 21st century kids will be introduced to the memorable experience of attending a drive-in.  Parents can have a date night without traveling an hour away or paying the high-price of babysitting.  A couple or individual can relive the old days when drive-ins were a part of mainstream society.

So check their website at  (Goochlanddriveintheater.com) and follow their Facebook page to check for the upcoming schedule, frequently asked questions, and tips.  Then come as you are (or get into your jammies, if you wish), and arrive early for a good parking space, some playtime, and a car dinner.  And as dusk falls on a spring/summer weekend night, get settled in to snuggle up for a double-feature under the night sky.  As John says in his nightly announcements, “Thanks for sharing the dream with us.  We’ll see you under the stars.”