Status: LAKES -- Brighton -- It is located on Grand River and is still standing. The sign is still there as well as the screen. It is badly overgrown with weeds and trees. It closed in 1987-1988. The property has been for sale ever since, but there has been no developement. (Joe Miller/Evil Sams Drive-In Theatre Guide 1996)

Update: Marquee & screen still standing, snack bar demo'd in August 1998, site is for sale. (Oct 98)

Update: The Lakes screen was removed in July 99, marquee was removed in September 99, and no trace of the Lakes remain today. A Hockey arena built on the site is nearly completed. (10/8/99)

Update: The Lakes marquee is once again avalible on eBay. It was a no-sale for $17,500.00. Message from the eBay seller:"HELLO, SCREEN TOWER WAS DEMOLISHED, AS WAS PROJECTION BOOTH. I HAVE THE COMPLETE SIGN, BOTH SIDES AND THE CENTER PART." eBay item description:1950 21' Neon Porcelin Enamel Drive-In Sign WOW! TALK ABOUT RARE! THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC ANTIQUE NEON PORCELAIN ENAMEL SIGN FROM THE WELL KNOWN LAKES DRIVE IN LOCATED ON GRAND RIVER AVENUE IN BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN WHICH OPENED IN MAY, 1950. BUILT IN DETROIT AROUND 1949,THE SIGN FOR AUCTION IS ONE OF TWO MATCHING ONES THAT ARE 21' LONG AND 4' HIGH X 14" DEEP. THE DRIVE IN CLOSED IN 1995 AND WAS TORN DOWN IN 2000 TO MAKE WAY FOR AN INDUSTRIAL PARK. WE HAD IT PROFESSIONALLY RESTORED INCLUDING THE ELECTRICAL MECHANICALS WHICH ALTERNATE THE BLUE NEON WAVES TO MAKE THEM APPEAR MOVING. THE SIGN ALSO FEATURES BLINKING CLEAR LIGHTS THAT LOOK LIKE STARS AGAINST THE NIGHT SKY. ALL THE NEON TUBES WERE RECREATED TO THE ORIGINAL COLORS OF GREEN, BLUE, AND PINK. THE SIGN WAS ORIGINALLY MOUNTED TO A STEEL FRAMEWORK WHICH RUSTED AWAY SO A NEW ALUMINUM CABINET WAS MADE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MOUNT THE SIGN INDOORS ON A WALL. THE PORCELAIN ENAMEL HAS SOME CHARACTER BRUISES FROM VANDALISM OVER THE YEARS BUT HAVE BEEN RECOATED AND ARE NOT VERY NOTICEABLE NOW. THIS SIGN WORKS PERFECTLY AND RUNS ON A NORMAL 120 VOLT 20 AMP OUTLET. IT WEIGHS APPROX. 800-1000 LBS. GREAT FOR A NEW CAR DEALERSHIP SHOWROOM, RESTAURANT OR RETAIL STORE. THE ONE FOR AUCTION IS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE PICTURED EXCEPT THE ANGLED END IS ON THE RIGHT INSTEAD OF THE LEFT AS SHOWN. WHAT A PIECE OF MOVIE HISTORY FROM DAYS GONE BY! (NOTE TO DREAMERS, THIS ITEM IS NOT CHEAP!) QUESTIONS? THIS SIGN SHOULD BE PICKED UP AND MOVED WITH A TRAILER, AND WE CAN LOAD IT FOR YOU. (12/20/02)

Update: Thank you for your spectacular website, and for featuring my favorite outdoor theater of yesteryear-- The Lakes Drive-in, Brighton Mi. I noticed your info on the opening year is wrong, and wanted to give you the correction: The Lakes Drive-in opened at 6:30 pm on Friday May 11, 1951 (not '50) playing: JEEPERS CREEPERS (starring Weaver Bros.) -also- SADDLE TRAMP (with Joel McCrea) Capacity: "Speakers for 700 automobiles on the opening evening, and space for more." Info obtained from microfilm of The Livingston County Press Wednesday, May 9, 1951 Page Fiffteen: News Article "New Theatre to Open Friday" Page Twenty-Four: Large Grand Opening ad (Kirk Jarvinen 5/5/04)

Update: The May 9th, 1951 article in the Livingston County Press, Lakes Drive-In Theatre Will Open Friday Night For Summer Months , features a photo of the original enclosed screen tower and the marquee. This screen tower was replaced with a Selby-type screen sometime later. The Lakes final ad in the weekly Brighton Argus was on August 30th, 1989. The ad listed Batman and Police Academy 6 as the movies, playing through September 3rd. No subsequent ads were found for the Lakes in 1989, or beyond. Two 1999 articles were found relating to the demolition of the screen tower, a June 19th Ann Arbor News story, Brighton drive-in screen hits 'The End', and a Jun 20th Brighton Argus story, Sign of the times. (Michigandriveins.com 2/8/06)

Update: A Michigan drive-in screen now lights up once again at the Galva Autovue Drive-In Theatre in Galva, IL. The Galva drive-in was built from the ground up in 2004 by Justin West. The Galva's twin screens were constructed from one large screen, which was salvaged from the Lakes Drive-In by Selby Industries. See more Galva Autovue photos at Drive-ins.com and Cinematour.com. (Michigandriveins.com 3/11/06)

Update: For a time, The Lakes had two marquees. The one pictured here which was facing Grand River Ave., and a smaller one that faced I-96. The smaller one had fallen into disrepair, and was abandoned years before the drive-in closed. (B.J. McDevitt/Waterwinterwonderland.com 3/24/08)