Drive-Ins You Need To Visit This Summer (Before They All Disappear)

Getty / Uproxx

For most people, evenings and weekend mean streaming something from Amazon, Hulu, or Netflix. These services make entertainment easy, and who doesn’t like ease But there’s still something fun about heading out to the movies and seeing your favorite stories or characters on the big screen. Is there anything better than watching It or Us in a theater full of people jumping at the same scares For those looking to combine the comfort and privacy of home viewing with the large screens and sense of community of theaters, we have drive-ins.

Or… had drive-ins. They’re almost all gone now.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, drive-in movie theaters were at peak popularity. There were roughly 4,000 of them across the country and cars filled with families and groups of teens flooded in as the sun went down to take in a film or two. But there were a few inherent problems in the drive-in set up. Firstly, they were limited by the weather. No one was showing up in snow and torrential rain to squint at the giant screens. Secondly, they could only show movies after dark meaning no daytime revenue. And, thirdly, they couldn’t compete with the appeal of home viewing offered by VCRs and movie rentals. Blockbuster killed the drive-in star.

Today, the number of operating drive-ins has dwindled to about 350 around the country. Still, there’s something iconic about the experience. It’s a lovely slice of Americana. And it creates a great set-up for a make-out session.

We gathered ten of the best drive-ins still operating today. Support them as much as you can, so we don’t lose them forever.

This three-screen drive-in set on 20 acres prides itself on functioning as a movie venue, as well as a beer garden and hang out spot just like the other Coyote theaters in this chain. They were founded in 2011 by four men looking to find a more laidback employment situation. Given all the planning that went into this venue and what it takes to run a hospitality business, they may not have totally succeeded.

Compared to a lot of the theaters on this list, this Fort Worth location is huge — accommodating 1,300 cars each night. But you can forget all about finding space if you ride a horse. The theater provides hitches for tying up your transport while you grab a double feature and a chili cheese dog. Heck, given the large list of craft, domestic, and imported beers and red and white wines, you might as well grab a drink too.

The owners have a 10-year lease with the Tarrant Regional Water District, and the plan is for the land surrounding Coyote to be developed during that period. It is somewhat worrisome that the plan is also to remove the film screens, though they say it won’t be during the first lease. And, should the drive-in be profitable, it might never happen.

Admission: $8.00 for people 12 and older

This drive-in is appropriately named after the film Field of Dreams. The owners, Rod and Donna Saunders literally decided to plant grass in place of the usual crops in 2007 after reading a handbook they found online for twenty bucks. Next, they solicited some neighbors for help and installed a movie screen. They wanted to establish a business that both engaged their entire family and helped keep the drive-in movie culture alive. Basically, it was some serious “If you build it, they will come” action. And they weren’t wrong because people did indeed come, which is impressive when you consider that this theater sits on a sleepy two-lane road in rural Ohio.

Seriously, the entire enterprise can be hidden from view by corn in the summer, and Donna Saunders has her cell number up on the website with the suggestion that callers “tell her what road you are on” if you find yourself turned around. We also think it’s fun to play putt-putt golf, sand volleyball, corn hole, hillbilly golf, and bocce ball when you aren’t taking in a double feature.

We like the original location where it all started, but the family has expanded at this point — they run a theater in Tiffin, Ohio as well. They purchased an existing drive-in from owners who were about to retire and shutter it. When the Saunders took over, they made a ton of repairs, added a second screen, and installed their son as the on-site manager.

Admission: $8.00 for teens and adults or $25.00 for a vehicle

One of only four drive-ins left in the state of Oregon, the 99W has been owned by the Francis family for three generations. It was built by J.T. Francis who worked six nights a week at one of the family’s other theaters (the Cameo) until a few weeks before his death at 98 years old. The family clearly loves movies. This drive-in opened in August of 1953 with a double feature of Sea Devils and Under the Sahara and has continued drawing in patrons ever since.

For the first thirty years, it was a single screen movie venue, but the family built an indoor Twin Cinema in 1983 to bring in money year-round. The eighties and nineties were not kind to drive-ins and small family owned businesses really scrambled to keep their heads above water. Unfortunately, when the industry moved primarily to digital, the Twin had to close. Now, it is once again a single screen that accommodates 275 to 300 cars. Luckily, a resurgence in drive-ins and a lack of competition means the lot is generally full, with people coming from all over Oregon and even neighboring Washington. Cars literally end up lined down the highway waiting to enjoy a summer night with a flick.

The 99W was voted the number one theater in the country in a USA Today poll, so it has a lot of fans. We get it. Even though it is a relatively traditional theater in a small Oregon town, it is a hell of a lot of fun, and the weather in that part of the country makes for perfect summer drive-in temps.

Admission: $9.00 for adults or $14.00 for vehicles with a single occupant