Goochland Drive-In Theater is up for sale

The Goochland Drive-In Theater is seeking new ownership after 16 years. (Courtesy Goochland Drive-In Theater)

The region’s only drive-in movie theater is officially up for sale.  

The Goochland Drive-In Theater announced this week that it is looking for new owners after 16 years in business at 4344 Old Fredericksburg Road in the county’s Hadensville area. 

John Heidel, who owns the theater with his wife, Kristina, told BizSense that though the theater has continued to be successful, the two are thinking about the next chapter in their lives, particularly as their kids have begun moving out of state. 

The Heidels opened the theater in August 2009 to a sold-out crowd, according to the theater’s Facebook page, with a double feature of “G-Force” and “G.I. Joe.” With Kristina being a CPA and John being on the marketing, sales and “dreaming” side of things, the partnership and theater brought them success, he said.  

The company noted in a Facebook post Tuesday that the couple’s had many offers over the years from interested parties looking to buy the theater. 

“The answer has always been no. However, as life goes on, plans can change. So after much thought, consultation, and prayer, our family is now open to the possibility for new ownership of the Goochland Drive-In Theater,” reads the Facebook announcement. 

John Heidel said it wasn’t until the past year or so that the couple decided to seek new ownership for the theater. And in the past few weeks, they felt it was the right time to put out the announcement. Both the business and its 10 acres of land, recently assessed by the county at around $1 million, are for sale. 

The theater posted a Google Form along with the Facebook announcement for prospective buyers to send in their inquiries. The form asks interested parties if they’ve ever owned a business and if they’ve ever been to the theater, along with what their interest is in owning a drive-in. 

The form, John Heidel said, has gotten “unbelievable” interest. The theater will continue to remain open for business as usual while the Heidels parse through inquiries.

“We don’t know how long the process will take; 90 days, three years, we don’t know. I hope whoever takes it over loves it as much as we have,” John Heidel said. 

Over the 16 years since its opening, the theater has grown to two screens, hosts various special events and private shows, and has made its way onto several national lists of best drive-in theaters across the U.S. 

While a drive-thru theater is a nostalgic concept, the Heidels have made upgrades over the years to keep up with the times, adding things like digitized film, online ticketing and kiosk ordering at its snack bar. 

“There’s a lot to learn with a drive-in,” John Heidel said. “It’s not just popping popcorn and firing up the projector. We’ve tried to take the drive-in and make it something modern audiences would really like.” 

The theater has also long been known for its cheap food prices. Most options are around $5 or less, with staples like $3 hot dogs and nachos around $5. 

When the Heidels planned on opening the theater back in the late 2000s, John Heidel recalled it was an uphill climb getting Goochland County and other parties to believe that a drive-in movie theater could be successful in the modern age.

“No land broker, no bank, no vendor, no one would take us seriously initially,” he said. 

Now, after 16 years of success, he believes the couple is handing off a legacy. 

“New owners will inherit what we didn’t have. They will have a proven business plan, built-in customers. … When we started, we had none of that,” he said. “Given drive-ins are such a rare breed these days, we’d like to see it live on.” 

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