Sauk Trail Drive-In
South Chicago Heights, Illinois
Shop Sauk Trail Drive-In tees, long sleeve tees and hoodies. The South Chicago Heights, Illinois, drive-in sat on West Sauk Trail, an old Native American path between Illinois and Indiana. A 1965 night photo shows SAUK TRAIL and DRIVE IN in blue-green neon, a long arrow of amber bulbs underneath and a red neon profile of a Native American head at the left end. Pick a style below, then read the full Sauk Trail history further down. Every shirt is printed to order in the USA and carries the memories of bygone places and teams.
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Sauk Trail Drive-In History
The Sauk Trail Drive-In in South Chicago Heights, Illinois, was open by 1955 on West Sauk Trail. The road follows an old Native American path between Illinois and Indiana, and part of it later served as a stretch of the Lincoln Highway. In 1956 the theater was listed as parking 830 cars, owned by the Sauk Trail Drive-in Theatre Corporation. Other listings say 500.
A night photo from 1965 shows what you saw from the road. SAUK TRAIL and DRIVE IN glowed in blue-green neon, THEATRE in red, and a long arrow of amber bulbs ran underneath to a big point at the right, above a white board announcing next attractions. A profile of a Native American head, also in red neon, stood at the left end of the sign.
A nephew of the owner, who says he spent his youth there, gives 1977 as its last year open. Listings give a later date, around 1980 or the early 1980s, without naming a last show. The land was later sold, and homes and a senior center were built on it, with some acreage left open. Ramps could be made out for more than 20 years after it came down.