Goochland Drive-In Theater sold to owners pledged to preserve it
The Goochland Drive-In Theater changed hands for $1.1 million, but its new owners say the carload price, snack bar and family-only feel will stay.
John and Kristina Heidel sold the Goochland Drive-In Theater to James and Kathryn Munsey for $1.1 million, a deal that closed the week before the March 17 announcement and included the business assets and 10 acres at 4344 Old Fredericksburg Road in Hadensville. The sale came just ahead of the theater’s planned March 27 opening for the 2026 season.
The transaction keeps one of Goochland County’s best-known attractions in operation at the same site off Interstate 64 between Richmond and Charlottesville. The drive-in opened in 2009 and has become a regular stop for first dates, family nights and special events, with Goochland County tourism materials pointing visitors to it as one of the county’s signature experiences.
The Heidels said they looked for buyers who would preserve the business, not just buy the land. That condition shaped the handoff to the Munseys, who said they intend to keep the core experience intact, including the price point and the familiar atmosphere long-time customers expect. In June 2025, WTVR reported that a car of seven people cost $28, a price point that helps explain why the drive-in has held onto a loyal audience in a county where many entertainment options require higher per-person spending.
The Munseys also plan to keep the snack bar broad enough to cover the menu that regulars already know, with popcorn, hamburgers, vegan options and ice cream remaining part of the draw. They have also signaled possible additions, including more events, more pre-movie activities and expanded dessert offerings, giving the business room to grow without changing its identity.
The theater has added capacity over time. Third-party drive-in history sources say it first opened on Aug. 28, 2009 with a 90-foot screen, then added a second screen, The Grove, in April 2018. Those same listings put the main screen’s capacity at about 340 cars, while The Grove uses a lawn-style viewing area.
Virginia Tourism says the theater shows two movies each weekend seasonally, and the venue’s own promotion emphasizes current-release films, classic Hollywood titles and a hometown movie-theater feel. WTVR also reported a strict no-tolerance policy for alcohol, marijuana, drugs and rudeness, part of the atmosphere that has helped the drive-in stand out as both a family destination and a local business with staying power.
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