04/29/2026
Last week I saw a pertinent post on social media that really resonated with me and I wanted to share a slightly amended version with you all. Please don't be offended by the message, we know so many of you are regular supporters. We just want to highlight some of the reality of the drive-in theater business and what you can do to help make sure we're here for years to come!
Drive-ins do not survive on memories, they survive on attendance and their food and drink sales.
One of the most common misconceptions people tell themselves about a local Drive-In is:
“They must be doing fine.”
“They’re probably packed every weekend.”
“They’ll always be there.”
Unfortunately that is not the truth.
It is those thoughts that reveal why drive-ins are lost each year.
People love the memories, nostalgia, and idea of drive-in movies.
They even love saying they grew up going there, had a first kiss under the stars, or enjoyed a show with friends and families sharing the experience with new generations.
Unfortunately these memories and ideas do not keep the gates open. The love is why drive-ins still exist, but the actions are needed to keep them there.
Attendance, awareness and support is what allows a drive-in to be sustainable.
A drive-in does not survive because people remember it, It survives because people show up week after week to see movies, purchase snacks and share this unique experience with new people as often as possible. Reality is people can only get to the drive-in once or twice a year for most. Heck, many can't tell you when they last went without saying 'it's been years'.
Because every car, ticket, popcorn/food sale matters.
Every single night matters in the equation to keep a drive-in open.
When a drive-in closes, the same words always come too late:
“We were meaning to go.” "I'd go if I could just find the time."
“We thought they were doing okay.” “We didn’t know.” and the one we hear so often it hurts: "I wish I would have known about this place/movie/event sooner"
Whether you go this weekend, plan to come later for something fun, or simply tell your coworkers, friends and family members that we still exist; you will absolute make a difference for the drive-ins that are open in 2026.
So if you still have a local drive-in to enjoy, please do not wait for “sometime.” Go now or plan a trip soon. Take the kids. Take the grandkids. Take your husband. Take your wife. Take a friend.
Buy the popcorn & movie treats. Have dinner at the drive-in. Sit under the stars and enjoy a respite from the digital world we all live in with it's constant alerts and notifications. And be a part of keeping that screen alive and the drive-in experience available for others to enjoy in the future.
Because the Drive-In is not just a movie theater, it's a tradition passed down for decades and generations with countless stories, memories and moments that define a part of our lives. It's living history that is still available for you to enjoy thanks to you, the people that love drive-in movies and the tenacity of hundreds of drive-in owners and operators around the world.
Once the screen goes dark, it is not easily brought back.
Please support your local drive-in.
Not later, but now.
It's an investment in history you won't regret.
THANK YOU!
