A night at the drive-in
Plus: The news of the week: New nonstop flight from CLT to Abu Dhabi — events mark 250th anniversary of Meck Dec — Restaurants start drone delivery — Parking entrepreneurs at Quail Hollow
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Off the Beaten Path: In Belmont, one of the region’s last drive-ins still draws crowds with double features, classic cartoons and a dose of nostalgia.
Editor’s note: This occasional series is devoted to discovering the hidden corners and unexpected stories in Charlotte and the surrounding region. Have a suggestion? Contact series editor Doug Miller at coach@millerswimming.com
by Rachel Black
About 14 miles outside Charlotte, a few small signs in the grass along Belmont’s winding roads hint at the time capsule nearby.
But at 314 McAdenville Road, the towering white screen, vintage signage and white fence are impossible to miss. Welcome to the Belmont Drive-In — one of the region’s last remaining drive-in movie theaters.
Customers watch “Mufasa: The Lion King,” the first movie in a recent Saturday night’s double feature. Sound is broadcast via FM radio. (Photo by Rachel Black)
Drive-ins largely died out by the 1980s, but on a recent Saturday night, families piled into their cars to watch the double feature. Some stayed in their vehicles; others got creative and brought lawn chairs or sat in truck beds and hatchback trunks with blankets.
The drive-in offers more than a glimpse into a bygone era — it’s also a piece of family history for co-owner Melinda Pentecost. Her parents, Bill and Peggy Lawing, bought the drive-in in 1983. Decades earlier, Bill worked there part-time as a teenager, shortly after its original opening in 1948.
After marrying, Bill and Peggy Lawing moved to Biscoe, N.C., where they ran a drive-in. Peggy grew to share Bill’s passion for offering classic, family-friendly entertainment. In 1983, they returned to Belmont and bought the Belmont Drive-In.
“They were best friends, and I think they saw it as something they could do together. They loved the nostalgia of it,” Pentecost said.
But times changed. The transition to digital technology challenged the business, which had long shown 35mm films. Studios increasingly required digital projection. Bill passed away in 1997, and Peggy in 2010. The drive-in closed in 2014.
Still, after years of family effort, Melinda and her two brothers were determined to honor their parents’ dream. Today, the siblings co-own the drive-in, with Melinda running it alongside her husband, Roger, and their two children, Casey and Lane. It officially reopened in June 2023.
The drive-in season runs from April through the first week of December, with double features on Friday and Saturday nights — typically a kid-friendly film followed by one for general audiences. (Last weekend’s lineup: “Mufasa: The Lion King” and “Thunderbolts.”) Admission is $25 per car for both movies.
The four-acre field can hold up to 340 cars, and on a recent Saturday night the concession stand stayed busy all night. Classic cartoons — the night we attended, a “Tom & Jerry” episode — played as previews.
“My mom and dad’s dream was to keep the drive-in in the family for generations. She’s smiling down because this is exactly what she wanted for my kids now,” Melinda said. “They worked so hard for that place. Drive-ins struggled financially for years.”
Decades later, the Belmont Drive-In is still going strong — thanks to the dedication of the Pentecost family and the Lawings before them.
“We’re doing it for the love of the drive-in, the love of my parents, and to keep their dream alive,” Pentecost said.
The drive-in is a family affair. Melinda Pentecost and her two brothers re-opened the facility in 2023 that their parents had owned and operated until it closed in 2014. It’s open rain or shine – the overcast weather on a recent Saturday night didn’t prevent audience members from sitting in their cars, truck beds and hatchback trunks to watch the weekend’s double feature. (Photo by Rachel Black)
Want to support this local gem? Here are a few tips before your visit.
Know your car’s settings. Once the projector starts, all headlights must be off. Do a test run beforehand—especially if you’re using your car radio for audio.
Consider a portable FM radio. The movie audio plays on 90.3 FM, but phone apps don’t work, and car radios can drain your battery.
Arrive early. Gates open at 6 p.m., though movies don’t begin until just after sunset. Families are welcome to set up early and let kids run around. (Pets should stay home.) Cornhole boards are provided, and you can bring other toys—just no flying objects near the screen.
Carpool if you can. Admission is $25 per car, so ride-sharing maximizes value.
Bring cash. The drive-in is cash only for admission and concessions, and there’s no ATM on-site.
Skip the snacks from home. Outside food and drinks aren’t allowed — concessions are how the drive-in stays afloat. Fortunately, prices are much lower than typical theaters. (For $14.50, I got two small servings of popcorn, peanut M&Ms, a bottle of water, and a 32 oz. lemonade.)
For showtimes, updates, and rules, visit belmontdriveinmovies.com.
Rachel Black is a freelance writer based in the Charlotte area. Reach her at racheltblack123@gmail.com.
Today’s supporting sponsor is VIA Health Partners:
VIA Health Partners delivers compassionate and comprehensive care to patients with serious illnesses. As the Carolinas' largest independent non-profit hospice and palliative care provider, we serve over 5,000 patients daily, spanning 38 counties.
This week in Charlotte: County manager’s budget meets CMS request; 12 apply for Bokhari’s council seat; top Atrium execs see big pay raises
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
County manager’s CMS budget recommendation: (WFAE) Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio unveiled a $2.5B budget for 2025-26 that fully funds Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools’ $666M request, covering teacher supplements, staff raises and new Chromebooks. The budget will be voted on June 3.
Politics
Police chief settlement: (WFAE) Charlotte City Council is reportedly paying police Chief Johnny Jennings a $300,000 settlement related to threatening text messages he received from former council member Tariq Bokhari.
City council fill-in candidates: (WFAE) Twelve people have applied for the remaining six months of Tariq Bokhari's term on Charlotte City Council. Four people spoke at a public hearing for candidates Thursday, including former council members Andy Dulin and Edwin Peacock. Bokhari's wife, Krista Bokhari, has also applied and has the endorsement of the Mecklenburg GOP. Council members will make their pick on Monday.
Local news
CLT adding nonstop flight to Abu Dhabi: (Ledger) Etihad Airways will launch the first-ever nonstop flight from Charlotte to the Middle East in 2026, connecting the city to Abu Dhabi and giving travelers easier access to Asia.
Atrium Health execs pay boosts: (Ledger/NC Health News) Atrium Health’s top executives saw compensation increases by an average of 41% last year, with several receiving raises over 50%. CEO Eugene Woods’s 2024 salary remains undisclosed until later this year.
Business
Bank makes its Charlotte debut: (Biz Journal) Huntington National Bank has opened a branch in SouthPark, which is the company’s first full-service branch in North Carolina.
Brighthouse sale rumors: (Biz Journal) Brighthouse Financial is staying quiet amid reports that several major private equity firms are eyeing a $9B takeover of the Charlotte-based life insurer.
Sports
Panthers schedule released: (Carolina Panthers) The Carolina Panthers will open their regular season Sept. 7 in Florida against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team’s first home game will be Sept. 21 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Hornets draft: (WCNC) The Charlotte Hornets have secured the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after finishing with a 19-63 record, the third worst in the NBA. Duke University standout Cooper Flagg is expected to be selected with the top pick in June, with other players including Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe and Jeremiah Fears also available for the Hornets at No. 4.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Monday
Debating the Meck Dec: Charlotte is in celebration mode for the 250th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, a bold claim of independence that may or may not have happened a year before the U.S. officially broke from Britain. The official anniversary is Tuesday, and a variety of events are planned.
Plus: City plans to beef up street vending rules; 6,000 students finish at UNC Charlotte; Annie Leibovitz exhibit review at the Mint; Vi Lyles on whether she'll run for mayor again
Wednesday (🔒)
Here come the food delivery drones: DoorDash and Wing launched drone food deliveries in south Charlotte this week, letting residents within 4 miles of the Arboretum shopping center get takeout dropped from the sky within minutes.
Plus: Atrium health execs get big raises; Hospital board removes diversity language; Whispers on coworking, uptown grocery and new banks; Returns out of order at Belk; Door-to-door sales in Pineville
Friday (🔒)
The side hustle that's in full swing: Residents near Quail Hollow Club are turning their front yards into pop-up parking lots, cashing in on PGA Championship crowds with $40 spots, cold drinks and golf cart rides.
Plus: Changes may be coming to city's Animal Care & Control department; Reader asks if Ballantyne is getting more ladder trucks due to tall development; 🎧Podcast with business consultant; Ledger wins award
Ways of Life (🔒)
John Albert Dickson III, a devoted chemist, entrepreneur, tomato grower and gourmet cook, left a lasting legacy in Charlotte before passing away March 30 at 87 after a battle with dementia.
Transit Time
‘Road money’ would free up cash for other city priorities: Transit plan critics say Charlotte’s new transit sales tax could become a repeat of the lottery playbook —– promising new money for roads and transit, but actually freeing up existing funds for other city priorities like housing and salaries.
Fútbol Friday
Charlotte FC coach shaking up strategy: Head coach Dean Smith debuted a new 3-4-3 formation to spark offensive creativity and unlock Wilfried Zaha, despite ongoing defensive struggles in a 3-1 loss to Orlando.
Toppman on the Arts
Leibovitz exhibit showcases fame with heart: Ledger arts critic Lawrence Toppman reviews “Annie Leibovitz/Work” at the Mint Museum, which showcases Leibovitz’s empathetic, deeply human portraits spanning 50 years, while three standout paintings from the National Gallery complement the exhibit.
Real Estate Whispers
In this week’s real estate roundup: Charlotte’s coworking boom cools, a mystery grocery store may be coming to uptown, banks plan for prominent South End and Plaza-Midwood sites, Tepper Sports flips land near the stadium for a big profit, and more.
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