After decades of gathering moss, rust and rumors, the long-dark Forest Park Drive-In perched above Northwest Portland might finally be getting a second act. Fresh permitting paperwork for the tiny cinderblock stand at 8410 NW Skyline Boulevard lays out plans that could bring burgers, fries and soft-serve back to the Skyline crowd.
Permits Point To Low-Key, Fast-Casual Revival
Documents submitted to Portland Permitting & Development outline interior upgrades, re-striping of the parking lot and a detached trash enclosure as part of a renovation aimed at reopening the Forest Park Drive-In, according to OregonLive. The paperwork includes a floor plan and equipment list for a compact walk-up diner built around a service window, with a griddle, two fryers and soft-serve machines doing the heavy lifting behind the counter. Project officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment, the outlet reports.
Blueprints Keep The Footprint Small
The proposed revival does not super-size the place. Permit drawings show seating for roughly 14 diners inside, plus a service window opening onto an outdoor patio, according to permitting documents and local coverage. As reported by Willamette Week, the property was built around 1960 by World War II veteran Benjamin Pachkofsky and has sat shuttered for decades. Neighbors have treated the faded stand as a quirky roadside landmark along a quiet stretch of Skyline Boulevard.
A Roadside Relic With Extra Flair
The address carries more than a little history. The stand opened around 1960 and in recent years has been owned by a limited-liability company tied to Scott and Michelle Posey, according to city property records. OregonLive notes that the original owner once outfitted the spot with a zipline and a giant swing, and that the property has periodically attracted interest from would-be buyers and developers. If this comeback sticks, it would mark the first sustained commercial use of the tiny lot in many years.
What Neighbors Can Watch For Next
For now, the project lives in the city’s permitting system, where it will go through standard review. Public records and detailed permit documents are available through Portland Permitting & Development. Under the city’s public-records guidance, neighbors and curious future diners can track approvals and inspection schedules on the agency’s website. If the permits clear review and construction gets underway, the little drive-in could once again become a regular stop for Forest Park hikers, Skyline cyclists and anyone who thinks a winding hill drive should probably end with a burger and a cone.
