Finding the Diner and the Ben Hur Drive In

On a recent trip home, to Crawfordsville, Indiana, we tried to find where the Country Diner and Ben Hur Drive In had been located. Here is what we found out.

To find the former locations of the Country Diner Drive Inn and the Ben Hur Drive In theater in Crawfordsville, Indiana, drive east out either Wabash Ave. or Main Street until they merge into Indianapolis Road, and then continue east towards Mace.

Keep an eye out on the left, just past Daugherty Ln., for the Craw-Con Building:

The Country Diner (formerly called the Gin Jer Boo) was located just to the right of the Craw-Con building location, as shown below:

The Ben Hur Drive In was just to the east of the Country Diner. You will see a circle of grass where the Ben Hur sign and entrance were:

You will also see the row of maple trees planted in front of the drive-in in 1963:

Below is an aerial map* showing the location of the Gin Jer Boo (the Country Diner), and the Ben Hur Drive In theater. Notice where Daugherty Ln. and the Ben Hur sign circle are:

Below is another aerial map of the Diner and the Ben Hur, where you can really see the former parking rows for the theater.

That should be enough to get you to the spot where these old favorite places were.

Photos of the Gin Jer Boo, the Country Diner, and the Ben Hur Drive In*

*Aerial maps and photos of the Gin Jer Boo, the Country Diner, and the Ben Hur Drive In are courtesy of Ron Keedy.

Photo of the Country Diner courtesy of Roy Hurt.

Page maintained by:   Rich Hart