Blue Moon Drive-In to Receive Final Spotlight Before Historic Screen Removal

The Blue Moon Drive-In, a once-beloved fixture of Wellsburg’s entertainment landscape, will be honored one final time with a celebration designed to give the historic drive-in its last moment in the spotlight before the iconic movie screen is torn down.
For many in the Upper Ohio Valley, the Blue Moon Drive-In holds a special place in their hearts. It was more than a movie theater. It was where families gathered, first dates happened, and summer nights were spent watching films under the stars. This celebration is intended as a respectful send-off, allowing the Blue Moon Drive-In to pass into infamy and be remembered properly by the community it served.
The property was purchased in 1988 by Paul Diserio, who relocated his fabrication business, Valley Manufacturing Inc., to the site. Since that time, Paul operated several businesses from the location, most notably American Muscle Docks and Fabrication, which has called the site home since February of 2012. Due to the significant growth of American Muscle Docks, the company now requires additional usable land to continue expanding operations, necessitating the removal of the old movie screen.
Those attending the celebration will include the entire staff of American Muscle Docks. During the event, Paul Diserio will formally salute the movie screen by firing a large cannon made by American Muscle Docks. The cannon will be loaded with blue powder, producing a large cloud of blue smoke. This salute will serve as a tribute to the memories, laughter, and shared experiences the Blue Moon Drive-In provided to generations of residents.
Following the cannon salute, the first physical strike against the screen will take place, marking the beginning of the screen’s removal and the close of a meaningful chapter in Wellsburg’s local history.
This event is not about erasing the past, but about honoring it. The Blue Moon Drive-In may be leaving the landscape, but its legacy will continue to live on through the people and stories it helped shape.
At the time of publication, an exact date for the demolition had not been set, but is planned for early next week.