The Saco Drive-In Theater, at 969 Portland Road (Route 1) as shown in this 2015 Portland Press Herald file photo by John Ewing, is closed and the property has been sold, the owners say. The theater first opened in 1939. John Ewing/Portland Press Herald Photo

SACO — The Saco Drive-In Theater on Portland Road (Route 1)  is closed, and the 33-acre property has been sold.

Roberge Construction Company, which has owned the property for 35 years, posted the news on the Saco Drive-In Theater Facebook page on Monday.

“The past two years have been a challenge,” they wrote. “Owning the property since 1986, selling the drive-in was one of the hardest decisions we had to make.”

The company noted the pandemic had played a role in their decision to sell.

“Covid played a part in our decision, from having to operate at reduced capacity, inconsistent supply chains, staffing shortages, movie shortages and online streaming to name a few,” they wrote. “It has been our pleasure serving you and we appreciate everyone who supported us. Thank you!”

The phone number listed for the theater has been disconnected.

The Saco Drive-In Theater, at 969 Portland Road, has been part of the coastal York County landscape for 83 years and was among a handful of drive-in venues remaining in the state. It has been called the second-oldest drive-in movie venue in the country.

The property has been purchased by Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel, a New Jersey-based company with 13 locations, including Portland.

Neal Bangor of the Hale Portland location said he expects the company to move operations to the Route 1 location within the next two years.

“We are really excited to move our dealership to the site in Saco,” Bangor said in an email. “The site appealed to us for several reasons — first and foremost, we are excited to join and contribute to the Saco-Biddeford community. Hale Trailer is a family-owned company. Community and family are the core of our business. Other aspects that appealed to us were the proximity to I-95, and the surrounding dealerships. We feel that we will fit in nicely in that area of Route 1.”

Saco Drive-In first opened in 1939, a banner year in the movie industry. According to film industry information, that year saw the release of film classics like “Gone with the Wind,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Stagecoach,” and a host of others.

During the summer of 2020, during the height of the pandemic, several southern Maine high schools including Biddeford, Wells and Freeport among others, and Saco’s own Thornton Academy, filmed graduation ceremonies that were later played for families at Saco Drive-In Theater.

Records at the York County Registry of Deeds show the property was acquired by Roberge Construction from SBC S&M Theatre Corp., whose president was Douglas Amos, on Dec. 23, 1986. SBC S&M Theatre Corp had purchased the property from the Tavern Hotel Company in 1972.

Mayor William Doyle said he remembers going to the drive-in as a teen and more recently for a late-night “scary movie” double feature in 2019 or 2020.

While businesses shutter for a variety of reasons, Doyle said, the loss of the theater is sad for the community and he noted the demise of other Saco landmarks, like the former Vacationland Bowling Center.

“It is disappointing the property owner didn’t announce they were considering a sale, perhaps some folks would have bought it,” said Doyle. “Maybe we could have saved that important piece of Saco history.”

Saco resident Al Sicard doesn’t remember the name of the first movie he saw at Saco Drive-In Theater, but he remembers going with a group of friends — including three guys in the trunk of the car. In those days, admission was by person, not by car, as it has been more recently.

“We were teenagers,” said Sicard. “We spent plenty at the snack bar, so they made money on us.”

People commenting on the Saco Drive-in Theater Facebook page expressed their thoughts at the news.

“Thank you for the memories you’ve given this community,” one woman wrote.

“I have so many great memories of Saco Drive-In and thank you for all you’ve done over the years to keep it afloat,” wrote another.