Former Location Of The Gemini Drive In Theatre

 

 

This was the home of the Gemini Drive In Theatre 

Eau Claire since August of 1973. When it was originally built, this area was mostly 

farmland. The theatre was located at the US Highway 12 and I 94 interchange. A couple 

restaurants and a very small gas station were also in the area.  The drive in was also built

 adjacent  to main railroad tracks.  At the time the drive in enjoyed many years of

peace and  quiet, except for the occasional train or thunderstorms.  Over the years many 

elements of noise and extra lighting slowly came closer to this drive in theatre.  The Gemini enjoyed

many years, even the final year providing the Chippewa Valley a night of entertainment under the stars

they even did the expensive digital projection upgrade. 

The land had been for sale for several years by the current and previous owners. The current owners

were trying to sell off the extra land available adjacent to the theatre. Late last summer, a local company made an offer for all the land including the Gemini.  In Wisconsin, a drive in theatre is lucky to be open even 

half of a year. The land sits idle the other half. A new location is still  being looked into. 

 The Tower Lights Still Remain.

They Will Possibly Be A Part Of The New Owners Plans.

A few final Gemini Drive In Photos

The Gemini Drive In property is now officially sold. These photos are of
what remains. The main building will likely be gone too. A new drive in location is in the works.
Still it will not be quite the same. I need to say, the current owners found it very difficult to sell the
land the Gemini was located on since 1973. I look at the area around the now closed Gemini.
It is highly industrial and commercial. That whole area has too much lighting and noise for a
drive in theatre.

The Day The Gemini Screen Tower Came Down.

Sign and Marquee Removal at the Gemini

The photos I put on here are free to download. They may cause  many different feelings, sadness, anger etc. If you choose to share a link to this blog, please be dignified about it. Please do not criticize the sellers or buyers.  These photos are posted to share history.

The photos I put on here are free to download. They may cause  many different feelings, sadness, anger etc. If you choose to share a link to this blog, please be dignified about it. Please do not criticize the sellers or buyers.  These photos are posted to share history. 

The Gemini Box Office Removal

The photos I put on here are free to download. They may cause  many different feelings, sadness, anger etc. If you choose to share a link to this blog, please be dignified about it. Please do not criticize the sellers or buyers.  These photos are posted to share history.

 This is the second box office used at the  Gemini.  The first one was much larger and had a roof that matched the marquee. That original box office was destroyed when a delivery truck caught the corner of it
and twisted the entire structure. The builder of the new box office really wanted the roof  of that for a project at his home. With the cooperation of the contractors working on other things, they came together and helped him get the top portion of the box office.

Removing The Gemini Drive In Screen