Alamo Drafthouse provides new details about upcoming Fayetteville cinema and drive-in

New complex will also feature the company's first permanent drive-in theater.
Rendering of The Aronson (CL Partners)

First we broke the news that an Alamo Drafthouse was in the works for Fayetteville. Now we know even more.

The Austin-based theater chain on Thursday provided several details about its plans for the new cinema and drive-in theater on the former 112 Drive-In property.

The new 38,000-square-foot facility will be part of a new 19.5-acre mixed-use development called The Aronson, which will feature a mix of commercial and residential units anchored by what will be the first Alamo Drafthouse in Arkansas and the company’s first permanent drive-in.

“Our mission at Alamo Drafthouse is to preserve, celebrate, and innovate the cinema experience,” said Shelli Taylor, CEO of Alamo Drafthouse. “Drive-in theaters deeply influenced the Alamo Drafthouse preshow, programming, and design from the very beginning, but we have never managed to incorporate a permanent drive-in into any of our theaters. We are beyond excited to launch the first Alamo drive-in screen in Fayetteville!”

The new theater is set to open in 2024, and will include both Hollywood blockbusters and first run releases next to independent and art house titles, according to a website update.

Similar to other Drafthouse locations, menus will be available at each seat where patrons will use paper and pen to order food and drinks after pressing a call button to contact a server. Menus will include appetizers, entrees, desserts, plus full bar options including cocktails, spirits, milkshakes and draft beers. A kids menu with a la carte options is also available.

The Fayetteville location will include a standalone cocktail bar and outdoor beer garden with a view of the drive-in screen.

The indoor cinema will include a total of 800 seats across eight 4k digital theaters, all equipped with 7.1 Dolby surround sound. One of the theaters will include Dolby Atmos spatial sound technology.

All seating is assigned and can be reserved both in person or online.

To celebrate the news, Alamo Drafthouse will host a screening of “Cocaine Bear” on the 112 Drive-In screen on Thursday, Feb. 23 (no time was given).

(Hodges Architecture/City of Fayetteville/Compiled by Flyer staff)

The 112 Drive-In property was purchased for $5.5 million in August by Little Rock developer Dave Anderson’s CL Partners, according to Washington County property records.

“This is more than the best movie theater in Arkansas – we’re planning the best cinema destination in America,” said Anderson. “Fayetteville will be home to the absolute pinnacle of experiential moviegoing, pairing what is already known as ‘the best theater in the world’ with the area’s beloved drive-in roots.”

In addition to the Alamo Drafthouse, plans for the site include apartments, duplex and triplex buildings, a clubhouse, and restaurant/retail space that would be developed in four phases with the theater plans included in phase one.

Alamo Drafthouse first opened in Austin in 1997. Since then, the theater chain has grown to include locations in more than 25 cities. The Fayetteville project will be the 39th Alamo facility to open.

The 112 Drive-In held its final showings in late August after 42 years in operation on the property. With its closing, there are now only two remaining permanent drive-in movie theaters in Arkansas – the Kenda Drive-In in Marshall and the Stone Drive-In in Mountain View.

(The Aronson)


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