Multi-use Historical Restoration of the Cactus Drive-In Movie Theater
The Cactus (later known as the DeAnza) Drive-In Movie Theater served Tucson, Arizona between 1951 and 2009. Drive-in theaters have been going extinct since their heyday in the 1950’s when, of over 4000 across the US, Tucson had eight. Tucson’s Cactus Drive-In boasted a 600 car capacity and plenty of dry clear nights. The original 1951 screen, that thrilled audiences for over fifty years, has been dismantled, stored, and awaits reconstruction. The innovative concept for this treasured relic is to serve the local community not only as a drive-in, walk in, bike in theater, but also as an outdoor evening music venue and a daytime space for antique sellers, farmer’s markets, classic car shows, and community festivals. The Cactus Drive-In fundraising program, guided by a visionary board of directors, is underway. The first step is to secure 4-6 acres of space to re-establish the Cactus Drive-In screen and venue. The new Cactus Drive-In will become an economic anchor and encourage re investment in the area, become a home for community interaction, and a showcase for creative multi use historical restoration.
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