Photo courtesy of The Dream fan page on Facebook.
Photo courtesy of Island memories-Assateague/Chincoteague VA on Pinterest. Looks recently but I believe it is actual 1940s color photo. Quite rare with digitally remastered unless I am wrong.
Photo courtesy of Leonard J. DeFrancisci. Appeared after it was forced to close, you can see slightly fading. Appeared between the first and second photo of next set of photos. You can see how it degraded slowly but quickly in ten years span.
Those three photos courtesy of Web Urbanist. Noticed how it deteriorated quickly between 2008 and recent years? That was just 9 years ago (written this line on July 13, 2019). This Ketchup and Mustard appearance was for the rebooted rink.
The Dream Roller Rink, 32438 Chincoteague Rd, New Church, Virginia
The Dream Drive-In, 32438 Chincoteague Road, New Church, Virginia
This rink was called The Dream. Yeah, literally The Dream. Problem is. It was only as the final rink and not rest of history as far as I am concerned. It was once a Drive-in Restaurant as well. An old photograph showed it was a Drive-in at the time. There are several articles related to this rather unusual rink. it was a combination of three-tier entertainment center: Roller rink, drive-in restaurant, and a drive-in theater.
It was in a town population of about 205 people. Quite small countryside town and the Dream was on this curved road. The facilities were built in 1940 by owner Elijah Justice. The rink, drive-in, and the drive-in theater were for those living locally and the sailors from the nearby Chincoteague Naval Air Station which was merely a stone's throw from the base.
The Dream Drive-in Theater and Rink were in this Ketchup-and-Mustard colored Spanish-style complexes. The drive-in restaurant and rink had the matching colors and the rink/drive-in restaurant had a neon light to light up at night the sign with the name of the drive-in. It had numerous of windows for patrons to enjoy the diner exterior from inside to see the awesome roadsters, coupes, and sedans as well as wagons they showed often on Friday nights and Saturdays.
The rink-drive-in-restaurant were opened that year until each one closed. By 1959, the military base closed which hurt the Dream. In 1998, the Drive-in theater closed and the rink lasted ten more years before it was shut down. In the 1970s and the 1980s, which was quite extremely odd that the drive-in theater played Triple-X adult movies outdoors! They had hard time so they played such adult films. They even had Spanish speaking movies played but the projectors ended in 1988 for good. Ten years later, as the white screen fell. But the rink continued till 1998.
However, A local developer, Don Brown (unrelated to the controversial author Dan Brown of daVinci Codes), bought both the rink and drive-in theater, with hopes to restore both to bring an Art Deco renaissance back in business. Unfortunately, his vision was dashed since there was a conflict about the land with a neighbor and controversial poorly drawn property lines which a family claimed it owns part of the same property as the Drive-in theater. The reason was this- the rear section of the lot where the theater was located actually belonged to an African-American family, and was used by black patrons to view the movies in pre-integration days. This may have caused financial hardship to the Justice Family who owned the entertainment complex. Go figure. This is my opinion.
The buildings were all in Ketchup and Mustard colors which was quite bold for this spanish appearance Drive in and for the buildings related to the theater, it was just plain modern buildings. One housed just for the projectors and the other for snack-bar.
Originally ran with different colors though. Fortunately I was able to find a RARE TRUE COLOR photograph of the Drive-in Restaurant and Rink with the 1940s automobiles. It was quite leaning more Art Deco than Spanish because of the colors. It featured dark and white colors. Where the signage, it looked more like Midnight Blue or Black-Blue wall with the neon sign including The Dream Drive-In and Lunches on it with fabric awning and much windows. It appeared to be a true Drive-in or a diner. I did not see any carhops in those pictures.
The rink was actually right arm-reaching distance next door to the restaurant. It appeared to be side-way so that when you wanted to skate, you walk up to the sign that says Roller Rink, that is where you have to go to the side of the building and go in the rink separating from the restaurant.
I have no interior view of the rink. Many websites are showing The Dream on their sites because it is a very unique facility that was around at the time. And unusual skating rink/drive-in restaurant/drive-in theater. It is sad it is gone. This was an ideal rink for people to enjoy. This is one of many stops for those who skated in the past, skating rink architecture fans, architecture fans, photographers, and RVers who love to travel should stop and enjoy this Americana. It should rank up along with the Statue of Liberty, The Arch of St. Louis, The giant tire in Detroit, Route 66 Mother Road famous Americana stops, Route 20 Stops, And more. I recommend a stop before it is all flattened.
Only remains standing are the rink and the drive-in restaurant buildings. The theater is entirely gone. Likely it was cross the street front of the restaurant which mean it is now some business building there now. All new and modern there according to Google Map. I have no knowledge where the screen used to stand.
The base is 1.1 miles from the rink. The sign clearly stated that right there in front yard of the rink according to Google Map.
There are numerous articles online you can read. Links are below. However, when you get to the Drive-ins website, they are dated site as you can see. And practically all of their links on that page for the Dream is no longer functioning so I have no further information regarding to that.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Likely Maple wood. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1940. (along with the The Dream Drive-in Restaurant and Drive-in Theater). Theater abandoned in 1988, Rink closed in 2008, reopened and closed again in same year.
Roof: (Rink only)- Raised Quonset Hut roof. Drive-in Restaurant-Not clear.
Operated: (Original under Justice Family ownership): 1940 to 2008.
(Drive-in Theater and restaurant) 1940 to 1988
(Skating rink): 1940 to 2008
(Rebooted under Don Brown): Few months in 2008.
Reason for Closure: Losing money, hardship with theater which evidently hits both the restaurant and rink. Second owner-forced to close due to dispute of property lines.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of rink interior as well as restaurant interior (someday there will be drive-in restaurants and fast food restaurant history site!)
Sources: Google Map, Web Urbanist, Literaure and Liberation, Wikipedia, Flickr, Drive ins,
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
The Dream Drive-In, 32438 Chincoteague Road, New Church, Virginia
This rink was called The Dream. Yeah, literally The Dream. Problem is. It was only as the final rink and not rest of history as far as I am concerned. It was once a Drive-in Restaurant as well. An old photograph showed it was a Drive-in at the time. There are several articles related to this rather unusual rink. it was a combination of three-tier entertainment center: Roller rink, drive-in restaurant, and a drive-in theater.
It was in a town population of about 205 people. Quite small countryside town and the Dream was on this curved road. The facilities were built in 1940 by owner Elijah Justice. The rink, drive-in, and the drive-in theater were for those living locally and the sailors from the nearby Chincoteague Naval Air Station which was merely a stone's throw from the base.
The Dream Drive-in Theater and Rink were in this Ketchup-and-Mustard colored Spanish-style complexes. The drive-in restaurant and rink had the matching colors and the rink/drive-in restaurant had a neon light to light up at night the sign with the name of the drive-in. It had numerous of windows for patrons to enjoy the diner exterior from inside to see the awesome roadsters, coupes, and sedans as well as wagons they showed often on Friday nights and Saturdays.
The rink-drive-in-restaurant were opened that year until each one closed. By 1959, the military base closed which hurt the Dream. In 1998, the Drive-in theater closed and the rink lasted ten more years before it was shut down. In the 1970s and the 1980s, which was quite extremely odd that the drive-in theater played Triple-X adult movies outdoors! They had hard time so they played such adult films. They even had Spanish speaking movies played but the projectors ended in 1988 for good. Ten years later, as the white screen fell. But the rink continued till 1998.
However, A local developer, Don Brown (unrelated to the controversial author Dan Brown of daVinci Codes), bought both the rink and drive-in theater, with hopes to restore both to bring an Art Deco renaissance back in business. Unfortunately, his vision was dashed since there was a conflict about the land with a neighbor and controversial poorly drawn property lines which a family claimed it owns part of the same property as the Drive-in theater. The reason was this- the rear section of the lot where the theater was located actually belonged to an African-American family, and was used by black patrons to view the movies in pre-integration days. This may have caused financial hardship to the Justice Family who owned the entertainment complex. Go figure. This is my opinion.
The buildings were all in Ketchup and Mustard colors which was quite bold for this spanish appearance Drive in and for the buildings related to the theater, it was just plain modern buildings. One housed just for the projectors and the other for snack-bar.
Originally ran with different colors though. Fortunately I was able to find a RARE TRUE COLOR photograph of the Drive-in Restaurant and Rink with the 1940s automobiles. It was quite leaning more Art Deco than Spanish because of the colors. It featured dark and white colors. Where the signage, it looked more like Midnight Blue or Black-Blue wall with the neon sign including The Dream Drive-In and Lunches on it with fabric awning and much windows. It appeared to be a true Drive-in or a diner. I did not see any carhops in those pictures.
The rink was actually right arm-reaching distance next door to the restaurant. It appeared to be side-way so that when you wanted to skate, you walk up to the sign that says Roller Rink, that is where you have to go to the side of the building and go in the rink separating from the restaurant.
I have no interior view of the rink. Many websites are showing The Dream on their sites because it is a very unique facility that was around at the time. And unusual skating rink/drive-in restaurant/drive-in theater. It is sad it is gone. This was an ideal rink for people to enjoy. This is one of many stops for those who skated in the past, skating rink architecture fans, architecture fans, photographers, and RVers who love to travel should stop and enjoy this Americana. It should rank up along with the Statue of Liberty, The Arch of St. Louis, The giant tire in Detroit, Route 66 Mother Road famous Americana stops, Route 20 Stops, And more. I recommend a stop before it is all flattened.
Only remains standing are the rink and the drive-in restaurant buildings. The theater is entirely gone. Likely it was cross the street front of the restaurant which mean it is now some business building there now. All new and modern there according to Google Map. I have no knowledge where the screen used to stand.
The base is 1.1 miles from the rink. The sign clearly stated that right there in front yard of the rink according to Google Map.
There are numerous articles online you can read. Links are below. However, when you get to the Drive-ins website, they are dated site as you can see. And practically all of their links on that page for the Dream is no longer functioning so I have no further information regarding to that.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Likely Maple wood. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1940. (along with the The Dream Drive-in Restaurant and Drive-in Theater). Theater abandoned in 1988, Rink closed in 2008, reopened and closed again in same year.
Roof: (Rink only)- Raised Quonset Hut roof. Drive-in Restaurant-Not clear.
Operated: (Original under Justice Family ownership): 1940 to 2008.
(Drive-in Theater and restaurant) 1940 to 1988
(Skating rink): 1940 to 2008
(Rebooted under Don Brown): Few months in 2008.
Reason for Closure: Losing money, hardship with theater which evidently hits both the restaurant and rink. Second owner-forced to close due to dispute of property lines.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of rink interior as well as restaurant interior (someday there will be drive-in restaurants and fast food restaurant history site!)
Sources: Google Map, Web Urbanist, Literaure and Liberation, Wikipedia, Flickr, Drive ins,
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.