LAMESA, Texas — The Sky-Vue drive-in theatre opened in 1948 before it permanently closed following a structure fire in 2015. During the week of July 29, the iconic Sky-Vue theatre and its recognizable neon sign, big screen and playground have been taken down and removed from the property.
According to Nancy Noret Moore, one of the former co-owners, the property has been taken by eminent domain for energy production.
The three Noret sisters and now former owners have until the end of the week to remove what's left on the land.
"I've watched it being dismantled this week and I'm tired, but I'm also excited," Moore said. "For that, there's hope and right now this drive in is like a little starter kit I've put in a box. We don't have all the parts, but we have the seeds of Sky-Vue that are being saved."
The big screen will be transported to Seminole to be stored for the time being. The playground that was built by Moore's grandfather is staying in Lamesa at D Cavazos Welding.
Despite the dismantling of the theatre, Moore has hopes of reopening the Sky-Vue theatre somewhere in Lamesa.
"There's all kinds of possibilities in Lamesa," Moore said. "I say Lamesa because I'd love to be able to take this from a for profit business, and as my dad has previously done...giving the the starter kit of the Sky-Vue that we have now to the city. I would walk with them as they re-create the Sky-Vue again."
Moore envisions starting anew with the theatre on a portion of Lobo Park. On July 30, Moore tried to pitch her idea during a Lamesa City Council meeting, but said she was told public comment was not possible for items that were not on the agenda.
"I'm not giving up and I don't want to be rude. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit. I think more communication is needed," said Moore.
According to Moore, she wants to carry on her family's legacy.
At one point, Sky-Vue was capable of holding more than 500 cars and seating 320 people. The concessions, to the ticket booth and everything in between was run by the Noret family. Even some of the food was hand-made by the family, such as the Chihuahua sandwich served to Sky-Vue customers.
"I was in charge of watching for the sun to go down because then I'd run and tell my dad it's time to start the movie," Moore said. "(We got) to see the stars in the heaven come on and then seeing the stars from Hollywood on screen in these epic stories like Ben-Hur's Gone with the Wind, and then just laughing and caring about each other."
Moore would like to figure out what the next chapter of Sky-Vue holds within the next couple of months.
"I'm here and I'm going to do everything I can," said Moore.