Tiger, Georgia · Founded 1954
A 1954 Rabun County drive-in that closed in the mid-1980s and returned under the former owner's daughter in 2004.
Tiger Drive-In Theatre opened in Tiger, Georgia, in April 1954. The original ownership group included Larry 'Satch' McClure, Clyde Cannon, and Bill Wilson; Wilson later became the sole owner. After closing in the mid-1980s, the theater was reopened in April 2004 by Sherryl Major, daughter of former owners Bill and Louise Wilson.
Tiger Drive-In Theatre opens in Tiger, Georgia. The original ownership group includes Larry 'Satch' McClure, Clyde Cannon, and Bill Wilson.
Source: Tiger Drive-In, History; Cinema Treasures, Tiger Drive-In
Motion Picture Almanac listings identify Clyde Cannon as the owner and report a 100-car capacity.
Source: Cinema Treasures, Tiger Drive-In, citing Motion Picture Almanac
The official theater history says Bill Wilson later purchases the other original owners' shares, becoming the principal owner.
Source: Tiger Drive-In, History
The original Tiger Drive-In closes in the mid-1980s after declining interest in drive-in moviegoing; the exact final screening date remains unverified.
Source: Tiger Drive-In, History; Cinema Treasures, Tiger Drive-In
Sherryl Major, daughter of former owners Bill and Louise Wilson, reopens Tiger Drive-In at the 50th anniversary of its original opening and Tiger's centennial year.
Source: Tiger Drive-In, History; Cinema Treasures, Tiger Drive-In
Tiger Drive-In continues to operate as an outdoor movie venue in northeast Georgia; current visitor sources describe digital projection and seasonal first-run programming.
Source: Tiger Drive-In official website; Drive-Ins in America, Tiger Drive-In; Explore Georgia, Tiger Drive In Theatre
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
The official theater history says Bill Wilson closed the Tiger Drive-In in the mid-1980s as drive-in interest declined. Cinema Treasures reports that it remained closed for almost 20 years before reopening in April 2004. Tiger has a 1954 origin, but it does not have an uninterrupted operating history from that year.
The theater's official history identifies Sherryl Major as Bill and Louise Wilson's daughter and describes her decision to reopen Tiger Drive-In 50 years after its original opening. Cinema Treasures independently summarizes the same 2004 reopening attribution.
Current drive-in directory material describes Tiger as using digital projection and showing first-run films. This supports the theater's present-day digital operation, but the exact date and scope of its conversion have not been independently documented in this record.
Tiger Drive-In Theatre has operated continuously since opening in 1954.
The original theater closed in the mid-1980s and remained closed for almost 20 years before reopening in April 2004.
Source: Tiger Drive-In, History; Cinema Treasures, Tiger Drive-In
Tom Ramey bought and reopened Tiger Drive-In Theatre in 2004.
The official Tiger Drive-In history identifies Sherryl Major, daughter of former owners Bill and Louise Wilson, as the person who reopened the theater in April 2004.
Source: Tiger Drive-In, History; Cinema Treasures, Tiger Drive-In
Tiger Drive-In Theatre is located at 295 Fayette Cafe Road and can be reached at 706-782-2611.
Current official tourism, theater-history, and business listings place the theater at 2956 Old U.S. Highway 441 South, Tiger, Georgia 30576, with phone number 706-782-1611.
Source: Explore Georgia, Tiger Drive In Theatre; Cinema Treasures, Tiger Drive-In; Yelp, Tiger Drive In Theatre
Tiger's survival is a second-act story, not one of uninterrupted operation. The original drive-in closed during the industry downturn of the mid-1980s, then returned 20 years later when Sherryl Major revived the family-connected theater at its 50th anniversary. Its North Georgia mountain location, outdoor movies, food service, and occasional camping or vintage-camper offerings give visitors reasons to make the drive-in part of a larger Rabun County trip.
Tiger Drive-In Theatre opened in Tiger, Georgia, in April 1954. Its original owners included Larry 'Satch' McClure, Clyde Cannon, and Bill Wilson, who later acquired the other owners' interests. The drive-in closed in the mid-1980s and was reopened in April 2004 by Sherryl Major, daughter of former owners Bill and Louise Wilson.
No. Tiger Drive-In Theatre opened in 1954, after Jesup Drive-In's 1948 original opening and Starlight Drive-In Theatre's 1949 opening. Tiger also had a long closure from the mid-1980s until its April 2004 revival, so it is not a contender for Georgia's longest continuously operating drive-in title.
Yes. The official Tiger Drive-In history says the original theater closed in the mid-1980s as drive-in attendance declined. Cinema Treasures reports that the venue stayed closed for almost 20 years before Sherryl Major reopened it in April 2004.
2956 Old U.S. Hwy 441 S, Tiger, GA 30576
706-782-1611
Tiger's operating dates and lodging or camping availability can change by season; check the official site before traveling or booking an overnight stay.