Price Drops To Less Than $1M On Old Manchester Drive-In Property

BOLTON, CT — The listing price on the former Manchester Drive-In property has dropped to less than $1 million.

The 21-acre site is located in Bolton Notch at 366 Boston Turnpike. It was once one of the most popular venues in the area until it closed in the mid-1980s.

It has since become overgrown and remnants of the old theater, including the rusted big screen and the weathered marquee, can still be seen.

It had been on the market for $1.25 million but has been reduced to $995,000, listing agent Kurt Potter of Glastonbury-based RE/MAX Right Choice said Tuesday. The land is owned by Bolton Senior Comm. LLC.

"This is a unique opportunity, one that pays testament to a rich history and the potential of an area that has been somewhat underutilized over the years," Potter said. "Ideally positioned next to I-384, only 20 minutes from UConn, and 15 minutes to Downtown Hartford, a developer with the right vision and access to the necessary resources could help this property reach its full potential."

Interest in the property has been "substantial," including developers interested with a range of uses from "market rate apartments," to "attached single family housing" and potentially a senior care/living facility, he said.

"The Connecticut real estate market has seen a surge in buyers, making this an ideal time for the right developer to garner great profit if the correct product is brought to market. As they say, timing is everything in life and this is certainly the right time and place for a project like this. Parcels like this don’t just come along every day," Potter said.

Potter is no stranger to high-profile properties, including a $7 million, 18 unit office condominium complex in Glastonbury that is slated for a spring ground breaking.