A Sapulpa Times report contained more details about the eventual reopening of the long-closed TeePee Drive-In in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. The gist: It’s not going to be just a drive-in theater.
As previously reported, the Kante Group earlier this year bought the theater, which sits along the Ozark Trail alignment of early Route 66 west of the city.
The Times now reports a Specific Use Permit to “address uses which are specialized in nature” was discussed during a planning commission meeting.
What sorts of uses is the applicant alluding to? According to the Sapulpa Planning Commission staff report from April 27th, the Kante Group is looking to expand the property to be a multi-use outdoor entertainment venue. The project includes a drive-in theatre, short-term rentals, food trucks and an outdoor dining area, a playground, and a structure for a bar, snacks, and possible novelty shop of some sort.
Joni Rogers-Kante, CEO of SeneGence International that is part of the Kante Group, told Sapulpa Chamber Director Suzanne Shirey during a recent podcast about other plans for the property:
Rogers-Kante explained her vision of the renovated drive-in as in keeping with the 1950s theme, and has special plans for kids and teenagers who want to visit the venue, but can’t drive. “We wanted to make space for those who don’t have a car,” she said. “We’ll gather the bodies of 1950s cars and refurbish them and cement them into the ground.” She later added that these immobile automobiles would be available for reservation.
For the short-term rental aspect of the SUP, the applicant says they’re hoping for “vintage airstream RVs” that could be used for renting as an Airbnb, “or just used for viewing the movie,” Rogers-Kante said.
At one point, manufactured homes were being considered, but City staff rejected the idea, instead insisting that the RVs to be used as short-term rentals be permanently affixed to the land and inspected by the city. The original screen will remain, but Rogers-Kante did say that it will be enhanced by a stage that could be used for concerts and other events.
Rogers-Kante said the ownership plans to reopen the TeePee Drive-In by spring 2022.
Also benefiting the TeePee is the fact the City of Sapulpa plans an extension of an existing highway to create better access to the Ozark Trail.
In 2012, a Florida-based operator attempted a lease-purchase agreement of the property with the intent to reopen it, and a bunch of volunteers helped clean up the property.
But the operator ditched the project after it was discovered he’d run a series of historic theaters that failed or were abandoned across the country and used several aliases throughout. Also, there were liens against the property — keeping him from managing it.
Three years later, the TeePee went up for sale for $275,000.
The TeePee was built in 1950. The last movie was shown there in 1999 or 2000.
(An image of the TeePee Drive-In near Sapulpa, Oklahoma, in 2012 by JymPoiranges via Flickr)
Looking forward to seeing the opening of the drive in..