Cooperative Living May 2022 - 15

COOPERATIVE FOCUS
Goochland Drive-In Theater
Neabsco Boardwalk
TRAVEL TIDBIT:
Neabsco Creek once was deep enough for
vessel traffic to the Potomac River, but runoff
and silt transformed it into a small channel.
TRAVEL TIDBIT:
Though old-fashioned in spirit,
the drive-in accepts Apple Pay
and Google Pay at kiosks.
I
t's not often that the operator ofa drive-in theater
refers to himselfas chiefexecutive dreamer. But
listen toJohnHeidel talk about his passion for the
Goochland Drive-In Theater, you'll understand where
he is coming from.
" With the support ofmy wife, it was the
culmination ofa dream to make a drive-in theater for
the 21st century, to keep that old-fashioned flavor, but
still keep it affordable, " Heidel says ofthe drive-in built
in 2009. " For the last 13 years, for the folks growing up
in this area, a drive-in is just a normal thing to them. "
The drive-in, which can handle 300-plus cars, is
located just offInterstate 64 about halfway between
Richmond and Charlottesville. Its 2022 season opened
on April 1, and it'll be open mainly on weekends until
school lets out. Selected weeknight events will be added
after that. Tickets go on sale at 7 p.m. onMondays;
movies are usually announced four to seven days in
advance. Check the drive-in's website and Facebook
page for details.
The dreamer is not finished dreaming. At one time,
the U.S. boasted about 5,000 drive-in theaters; now
that number has dwindled to 300 or so. The Goochland
theater is ranked in the top 10 and Heidel is always
striving for improvement.
" Fan feedback is critical to that, as well as employee
feedback. The world is always a crazy place, but when
you come to the drive-in, no matter whether you are
rich or poor, it's an affordable night out and you can
forget about all the troubles ofthe world. " 
4344 Old Fredericksburg Road | Hadensville, VA 23067
GOOCHLANDDRIVEINTHEATER.COM
co-opliving.com
G
et away from it all, right in the middle of
things. The Neabsco Creek Boardwalk is a
brilliant place to pack a lunch, wander to
the middle ofa three-quarters ofa mile walkway
and watch all manner ofwildlife and waterfowl in its
habitat amid the sprawl ofPrinceWilliam County.
Blue herons, mallards, wood ducks, red-winged
blackbirds, falcons, hawks ... the variety ofwinged
creatures is endless. The 10-foot-wide walkway is
dog-friendly and offers access to other hikes in the
area; definitely bring a camera to take photos from
a two-level observation deck and three overlooks.
The boardwalk is part ofa network that links
PrinceWilliam showcases such as Leesylvania Park
and Rippon Lodge. Former Virginia Del. David
Brickley was a main proponent ofthe $4 million
project. " I am an avid hiker and was hiking in New
Jersey when I came across the Pochuck Creek
boardwalk, which is over a mile long. And the idea
came to me that it would make a wonderful boardwalk
across Neabsco Creek, " he said when the boardwalk
opened in 2019 after a decade ofplanning and
development.
After you drive past the boardwalk on your right,
continue for a spell on Blackburn Road to a large
parking lot for Neabsco Regional Park, part ofthe
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. It's about a
10-minute hike to the boardwalk from that point;
there's educational signage, as well. 
15125 Blackburn Road | Woodbridge, VA 22191
PWCVA.GOV, search for Neabsco Creek Boardwalk
May 2022 ● Cooperative Living ●
13
http://www.GOOCHLANDDRIVEINTHEATER.COM http://www.PWCVA.GOV http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living May 2022

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