The theater lights will go out for the last time after Sunday night's shows at Columbia Drive-In.

The theater, which is being sold to make way for houses and stores, will end a nearly-50-year run this weekend with a triple feature, including a showing of "Witness."

The final shows mark the demise of the last drive-in theater in Lancaster County and the failure of a three-month grass-roots effort to keep it open.

Tucker Mooney, principal owner of the theater, said Monday he is resigned to abandoning the business.

"We did everything we could," he said. "It is sad to see it go, and I wish it could stay. If there was anything I could do to make it stay, I would."

The lease on the drive-in expires Oct. 31, but Mooney said he will start packing up after this weekend.

"I'm cutting the season short because we need time to get out," he said.

The final triple feature will include "Shrek," "Spider-Man" and "Witness."

" 'Witness' will be the last movie shown there, and I thought that was appropriate since it was filmed in Lancaster County," Mooney said.

Admission is free Sunday, a gesture Mooney called his "thank you" to the people of Lancaster County who supported the drive-in over the years.

In June, Steve Hogan of Hogan Development Co. purchased the 17-acre tract from Gardiner T. Murphy Jr. and Michael P. Murphy of Columbia.

The land, along Route 462 in West Hempfield Township, was sold for $895,000.

Hogan plans to tear down the theater and build a commercial and residential development, although he has not yet submitted a formal land-development proposal to the township.

After Hogan bought the property, Mooney tried several ways to save the theater.

He offered Hogan $400,000 for the 6 acres the drive-in sits on in hopes the theater could exist alongside any new development, Mooney said.

He also requested the theater be allowed to operate for another year while Hogan finalizes his development plans.

"(Hogan) didn't even reply," Mooney said "What that is telling me is that he's not interested."

Hogan could not be reached for comment Monday.

Mooney said he isn't surprised the drive-in is being forced to close.

"I knew it was a long shot," Mooney said. "It is a shame that we're losing another piece of Americana, that the drive-in movie theater — with all the nostalgic values to it — is now being closed down for just another strip mall."

Mooney said he plans to buy an indoor movie theater near Columbia, although he does it grudgingly.

"I would much rather be in the drive-in business," he said, but "I have no other sites for a drive-in as it is now."

Since July, Stephanie Specht of Millersville has led a petition drive to save the theater. Through Monday, 18,000 people had signed the petition, Specht said.

She gave the petition to Hogan's lawyer last month, but has not heard from him, she said.

Specht vowed Monday to get more signatures this weekend and continue her opposition to the closing until the drive-in is torn down.

"When they show up with their bulldozers, we're going to be there with picket signs," Specht said. "We're going to keep fighting for it as long as it is standing."

In recent months, Columbia Drive-In supporters have attended several meetings of the West Hempfield supervisors, who must approve any development plans for the theater tract.

Supervisor chairman David Dumeyer said he sympathizes with those trying to save the drive-in, but the developer is acting within his rights.

"We've heard what they've had to say; the problem is, there is nothing that the township can do at this point to legally go ahead and affect the change," Dumeyer said.

To develop the site, Hogan will need a zoning change approved by the supervisors, but Dumeyer said Hogan's plans conform with the township's long-range land planning.

"It always hurts when you see changes occur that you think probably are going to affect something you've enjoyed," Dumeyer said.

"The decision is with Mr. Hogan. He owns the property and can develop it how he wants."

The weekend triple feature will include "Shrek," "Spider-Man" and "Witness." Gates open at 6 p.m., and the first movie starts at 7:30. Admission on Friday and Saturday is $8 for adults and $4 for children under 12 and seniors over 60. Sunday admission is free.