How many drive-in theaters are there in your state? Any outside the US? / myLot

Eugene, Oregon

August 3, 2016 4:56pm CST

I read an article in our local newspaper yesterday about a thriving drive-in theater in Newberg, Oregon. The article went on to say that there are four total in Oregon. There may be around 20 in California and five in Washington. I wonder if there were any in England or other MyLot countries? That made me wonder how many drive-ins there are in the US now and Google search indicates there are either 338 or 348, depending on who is counting. In my teens I frequented the drive-ins with girl friends quite often, as did most other American boys. It was a fun thing to do on warm summer nights (cooler winter ones too). But, if I had been a parent...well, I'm nor sure I would have let my daughter go. I have not been to a drive-in since I was 20 at most. Did you go to drive-ins as a teen? I recall some called them "passion pits." Are there any left where you live?

16 people like this

15 responses

Jabo

@jaboUK (64346)

• United Kingdom

4 Aug 16

I've never been to one, never even seen one, so I don't think there are any over here. We just used to make do with the back seat of the cinema for our 'passion pits'!

4 people like this

Elizabeth

@Poppylicious (11134)

• United Kingdom

4 Aug 16

Um, didn't you say you were sweet and innocent back then?! Well ...

2 people like this

Jabo

@jaboUK (64346)

• United Kingdom

4 Aug 16

@Poppylicious Oh dear - you got me!!!!

2 people like this

celticeagle

@celticeagle (190157)

• Boise, Idaho

4 Aug 16

There was one in Parma, Idaho last I heard. I hope it is still running. I don't know of any others in my state.

3 people like this

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39503)

• United States

4 Aug 16

i cried when they closed the one down here 'bout 20 odd years 'go. i much prefer drive-ins to actual theaters. not fer the 'passion', but to be comfy'n my truck 'n without all the talkin' 'n gigglin' that tends to go with theater viewin'. i believe the closest one to here now's 'n lubbock, tx. a lil o'er 100 miles 'way.

3 people like this

Suzanne

@Morethanamom (1948)

• Canada

4 Aug 16

There is one here in southern Ontario, and it seems to be thriving. There used to be several but now just the one that I know of.

3 people like this

Mike

@Mike197602 (15504)

• United Kingdom

3 Aug 16

None that I've ever seen or heard of. Occasionally you get an event in a park where they'll put a big screen up but not as a regular thing.

3 people like this

Scott Ganschow

@teamfreak16 (43717)

• Denver, Colorado

4 Aug 16

I went all the time. Back in the 80's, we had four in Colorado Springs. Sadly, now we have none.

2 people like this

James Higgins

@JamesHxstatic (29410)

• Eugene, Oregon

4 Aug 16

Four was a lot. Too bad they are all gone.

2 people like this

Bluedoll

@Bluedoll (16770)

• Canada

5 Aug 16

When I read the title thought you might have been joking. It is almost unbelievable one could still exist. Over 300 is mind blowing.

1 person likes this

James Higgins

@JamesHxstatic (29410)

• Eugene, Oregon

5 Aug 16

I was surprised too. @bluedoll told of a great one (above) where she lives, and the one in Newburg, Oregon ties up traffic with people in line.

Judy Story

@jstory07 (148831)

• Roseburg, Oregon

4 Aug 16

There was one left when I lived in Oregon. I did not know about Oregon until I read it here. I just buy the dvd of each movie I want to watch when they come out.

1 person likes this

James Higgins

@JamesHxstatic (29410)

• Eugene, Oregon

4 Aug 16

We use Netflix for movies mostly.

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (40064)

• Toccoa, Georgia

9 Aug 16

There is one not too far from us, around 30 minutes away. We saw a movie there around 2 years ago. It drew a crowd and it was fun sitting in the car watching the movie.

1 person likes this

James Higgins

@JamesHxstatic (29410)

• Eugene, Oregon

9 Aug 16

That is great to hear.

1 person likes this

Deborah-Diane

@DeborahDiane (40854)

• Laguna Woods, California

4 Aug 16

The last time we went to a drive-in was six years ago, when we were visiting a daughter who lived in Kentucky at the time. It sure brought back a lot of memories. Someone told me there is still one in San Diego, but I haven't checked it out.

2 people like this

Elizabeth

@Poppylicious (11134)

• United Kingdom

4 Aug 16

Only ever seen them in American films. We do have occasional summer events where big screens are put up in parks or at stately homes and recent films are shown whilst you sit on the grass and enjoy a picnic, but they are few and far between.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382870)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Aug 16

I think we have one left in West Australia. There was one in every town of any size once. Some lads had panel vans and these were called 'shaggin' wagons'.

1 person likes this

James Higgins

@JamesHxstatic (29410)

• Eugene, Oregon

29 Aug 16

I did not see those in the late '50s, but they were around southern California in the 1960s too.

1 person likes this

John Roberts

@JohnRoberts (109841)

• Los Angeles, California

4 Aug 16

Drive ins are extinct here in the LA except relics used for Sunday swap meets. The last active drive in I saw was in Oklahoma City.

2 people like this

CaseyL

@CaseyRoss9966 (4056)

• United States

4 Aug 16

My home town Henderson,NC has a drive in. It is one of the last ones left in the U.S. I went to it the weekend of the 4th. I took a friend who has never been to one before

1 person likes this

James Higgins

@JamesHxstatic (29410)

• Eugene, Oregon

5 Aug 16

Outstanding! I am glad that you got to go. How was the movie?

1 person likes this

CaseyL

@CaseyRoss9966 (4056)

• United States

5 Aug 16

@JamesHxstatic The first movie was Finding Dory & I liked it a lot. The second movie was the new Independence Day movie. I didn't really care for it.