(LANSING) - A long time Coldwater business has been given a special award.
The Capri Drive-In is one of six Michigan preservation projects recently awarded the Governor's Awards For Historic Preservation by Governor Gretchen Whitmer during a ceremony hosted by the State Historic Preservation Office.
In 1964, John and Mary Magocs opened the Capri Drive-In on West U.S. 12. The property included a single screen, folded plate roof ticket building, a concessions stand, a neon sign on the highway, and room for 800 cars.
Operating the Capri was a family affair and the Magocs, along with their sons John Jr. and Tom, spent many nights together running the theater. In 1980, the family twinned the theater when they moved and installed a second screen tower from a former drive-in near Detroit.
Three generations of the Magocs family have led the Capri since its inception, nurturing the nostalgic vibe of what has become a regional destination. The Capri bills itself as a community theater and supports many activities in Coldwater, but the audience each night comes from miles around to enjoy the special experience.
Fewer than a dozen drive-in theaters survive in Michigan today, and the Capri stands out for its long-term family ownership and investment.