A former drive-in movie theater in Maine is being converted into a manufactured home community that will provide 30 to 40 new homesites.
The Skowhegan Drive-In Theater, which had been in operation since 1954, closed in 2023. Municipal records show the property was purchased and is being redeveloped by A+C Properties, owned by Aaron Crocker. Dirigo Engineering and Randy Butler, of Fairfield, Maine, are listed as an authorized agent on the property.
Crocker said he is working through ideas on how to maintain some of the drive-in’s identity and the former use of the property with the new development he has in mind.
“People in the area are definitely nostalgic about the property,” Crocker said. “I remember going with my family when I was a kid, and I loved it.
“I saw the original Jurrassic Park in 1993,” he said.
A+C Properties also owns and manages a nearby apartment building, and have been working with manufactured homes in small villages on scattered sites.
“We have 18 units right now, including three new homes from Commodore that we were using as kind of an experiment while we decided if we going to buy this land,” Crocker said. “We’ve had a really good experience with them, and our tenants are very pleased.”
Crocker said he will bring a model home near the entry of the new community, and allow residents to design and purchase their own home. The property will be operated on a land-lease model.
“There is a large paper mill nearby, a local hospital is expanding, and New Balance shoes is expanding here, too, so there are a lot of new jobs and not a lot of affordable housing,” Crocker said. “We want to provide something that is nice, well kept, with new, affordable homes.”
The new community was considered and recommended for approval at the Feb. 4 meeting of the Skowhegan Planning Board. The property was purchased in May 2024 through Allied Realty, and will be subdivided for the project.
In addition to the approximately 36 new homes, the 11.23-acre property will provide six RV sites. The community will be connected to city utilities, and will require a stormwater permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The new owner also is required to obtain a community license and a campground license from the state.
Near the main entrance of the property, the movie screen will be pulled down and a new pond and stormwater drainage system is proposed. The entrance to the old theater and new community on Waterville Road is flanked by Skowhegan Tire Center and an American Legion post.
Crocker also will put in a new road, a roadside stormwater buffer, and a water meter building. The property will use existing hydrants for fire protection.
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