For more than seven decades, the glow of a movie screen under the Oklahoma sky made the Beacon Drive-In Theatre a cherished part of life in Guthrie. Now, after serving the community for over 70 years, the iconic drive-in has been sold and will be replaced with Communication Federal Credit Union, set to build a new bank at the longtime location along S. Division St.
Ron Gary with Thomas Lay, Realtors, a commercial real estate company, said the property sold for $2.2 million late last week. However, negotiations had been ongoing for months.
According to the Beacon Drive-In Facebook page, the outdoor screen was Oklahoma’s longest-running drive-in.
Established in 1950, the Beacon was far more than a place to watch a movie. It was a rite of passage, a date-night destination, a family tradition, and a reminder of a slower, simpler time. Long before streaming services and multiplex theaters, the drive-in offered something unique: neighbors gathered together from the comfort of their cars, lawn chairs, and pickup beds.
Owned and operated by the Powell family for generations, the Beacon stood as a symbol of Guthrie’s connection to classic Americana. In a 2008 interview, third-generation operator Marsh Powell reflected on why the drive-in endured while so many others disappeared. Customers, he said, appreciated that time seemed to stand still. The multicolored metal chairs outside the snack bar had been sat in countless times, and the snack bar itself saw little change after a 1970s remodel.
The Beacon’s original projector dated back to the 1940s and, though updated over the years, remained part of an aging but functional system that felt like a living museum. On some nights, even the projection room became an attraction of its own.
The Beacon welcomed generations of moviegoers. Families brought young children, high schoolers filled the lot on summer nights, college students from OSU and UCO made the drive, and grandparents returned for dates reminiscent of their own youth. Few places offered an experience that bridged generations in the same way.
The drive-in’s cultural footprint reached beyond Guthrie when it was featured in the 1996 film Twister, further cementing its place in Oklahoma history. Despite opportunities over the years to sell the property, Powell often spoke of the Beacon’s importance to the community and to the state.
With the drive-in now closing, the property at 2404 S. Division Street will transition into a new chapter.
Communication Federal Credit Union plans to construct a bank at the site, bringing new development while marking the end of an era for the historic theater. The credit union serves communities across Oklahoma and Kansas with a range of financial services.
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