The Sno-Cap Drive-In was busy as usual for Third Thursday in downtown North Augusta, though for a not-so-usual occasion.
The retro-style diner celebrated its 60th anniversary Thursday night, complete with balloons and other birthday trimmings decorating its walls and speaker boxes. When the Sno-Cap’s “Birthday Bop” kicked off at 7 p.m., the inside was already crowded with visitors and plenty of families were already dining at the picnic tables outside, or had caught decent drive-in spots.
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The restaurant put the word out weeks ago on social media about its festivities, which entailed leaning further into its 1964 beginnings by hosting a drive-in movie night. Once the sunlight died down a little, with some help from American Audio Visual Services, patrons, many with foldable lawn chairs in tow, could grab a one-dollar ice cream cone and watch a screening of “The Hill,” the baseball-themed movie filmed in Augusta, starring Dennis Quaid, which premiered at the Miller Theater last year. The diner itself briefly features in the film.
The Alsobrook family, who reside some 45 minutes from the Sno-Cap, arrived early and set up one of the best seats in the house—or out of the house—camping out in one of the drive-in spaces right in front of the screen.
“We just moved to the area two years ago,” said Mitch Alsobrook. When his wife, Tonya Alsobrook, found out about the Birthday Bop event, the couple made sure to make it. “Last year someone told us about Sno-Cap, we came in at one time, and it was delicious.”
The film features several classic model cars, and some of them made an appearance at the burger spot during the screening, such as a gold 1970 Chevy Nova, and the 1955 Chevy Belair.
Ronnie Perkins, owner of the Belair, recalls when his vehicle was used in the film, and when they had to temporarily switch out its South Carolina tag for a Texas plate to match the movie’s setting.
“I couldn’t make it on a movie star’s salary,” Perkins said, jokingly. “They paid me $89 for the day!”
Sno-Cap, which has been owned by the Fat Man’s Hospitality Group since 2019, was the recipient of a $40,000 historic preservation grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It’s located at 618 West Ave. in North Augusta.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
