�鶹ԭ��

The pandemic gave drive-in movie theaters a spurt of new popularity as people were eager to be entertained but wanted to stay outside. But the are hard to overcome, from the need for often expensive land to having to buy pricey high-resolution projectors to show first-run movies.

- 0.2 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 5 drive-ins total

Drive-in theaters have long been popular in Florida, with the first opening in Miami in 1938. The in Lakeland has been in operation since opening in 1948, except for a few months in 1950 because of tornado damage. There are plenty of other spots where you can still pull up in front of a big screen: Ocala Drive-in in Ocala, the Ruskin Family Drive-in Theater in Ruskin, Joy-Lan Drive-in Dade City, and Nite Owl Drive-in in Miami.

- 0.3 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 3 drive-ins total

The first drive-in movie theater in the U.S. opened in Camden on the Pennsauken border in 1933. It promised that "motorists and their guests will see and hear talking pictures while they smoke, talk, or partake of refreshments without annoying others in the audience," Tyler Hoffman, a professor at Rutgers University . Today one place you can watch movies in the open air is the in Vineland—rain or shine!

- 0.4 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 4 drive-ins total

The on the outskirts of Atlanta has been in operation since 1949. The theater encourages you to make sure your car battery is strong enough to power the radio through the show, but if it fails, jump starts are available. Other spots for a movie under the stars: the Swan Drive-in Theater in Blue Ridge, whose name comes from the swans in England, the Tiger Drive-In Theater in Tiger—which had closed but reopened exactly after its first showing—and the in Jesup, which opened in 1948.

- 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 4 drive-ins total

The in Stephens City advertises itself as the only drive-in theater in the Washington D.C. metro area. Also in Virginia are in Sandy Hook (open only since 2009 but with a retro vibe), the in Christiansburg, and the Drive-In in Marion.

- 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 18 drive-ins total

The home of Hollywood, California fittingly has among the most drive-in theaters in the country. The in Riverside once had a . Those are gone but it still has its art deco-styled original screen. In northern California, the West Wind Drive-ins have three locations: Concord, Sacramento, and San Jose.

- 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 3 drive-ins total

The aptly named in Aurora opened in 1951 and kept its original wooden screen until it burned down in 1979. The was upgraded after it was struck by lightning in 2001. An old drive-in theater in Blomeyer was revitalized in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and is now the

- 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 5 drive-ins total

A nod to the cherry harvest of northern Michigan, the in Honor opened in 1954 and also features a playground, volleyball net, and a 1950s-style mini-golf course. The in Dearborn was once the with nine screens and parking for 3,000 cars but has since reduced the number of screens to five, viewable by up to 2,500 cars.

- 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 4 drive-ins total

The in Shelton featured "Lady and The Tramp" and "Billy Budd" on its opening night in 1964. The in Bremerton was originally the "Rodeo Motor Movies," built in 1949 as part of the United Drive-Ins chain and claims it is the largest outdoor theater complex north of California.

- 0.5 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 3 drive-ins total

The in Long Prairie is one of the few drive-in theaters that allows you to stay overnight. Because the movies run late and some people have driven long distances, tents and RVs are permitted with reservations. Other drive-ins in Minnesota: the in Litchfield, in Luverne, and in Warren.

- 0.6 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 17 drive-ins total

Drive-in theaters in Texas date to 1934 when in the country opened in Galveston. At its peak, the state had more drive-ins than any other. On the one hand, there is the , its name celebrating the big sky of the West Texas Permian Basin between Midland and Odessa. On the other, there is The in Austin, which accommodates only 15 to 40 cars per night.

- 0.7 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 4 drive-ins total

The only original drive-in still open in the greater Denver area, the in Commerce dates to 1972. The in Fort Collins shows both classic and modern movies, and although pets are allowed, the theater notes: "."

- 0.7 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 3 drive-ins total

At the in Oklahoma City, moviegoers are greeted by a vintage neon cowboy. The landmark has been in operation since 1968. The is just off Route 66 in Tulsa and was used for Francis Ford Coppola's famous drive-in movie scene in "The Outsiders."

- 0.9 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 3 drive-ins total

The opened around the late 1940s or early 1950s (accounts conflict, according to its website). Whatever the year, it operated seasonally, from May to October depending on the weather. The screen had to be rebuilt in 1991 after it was destroyed by a tornado.

- 0.9 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 18 drive-ins total

The state's was on Long Island when the opened in 1938 in Valley Stream with a showing of "Start Cheering." It was demolished but the Finger Lakes Drive-In in Auburn retains its vintage charm now as New York's . It dates from 1947.

- 1.0 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 6 drive-ins total

The opened in 1950 and is now the longest continuously running drive-in found in Wisconsin. It remains a one-screen theater, the snack bar has not changed much, and it continues to show cartoon advertisements created decades ago before the movies. Another historic theater, , 2 miles west of Jefferson, first opened in 1953 and then reopened in 2000.

- 1.0 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 3 drive-ins total

The Boulevard Drive-In says it was the first drive-in theater anywhere to install digital sound and 4K resolution digital projection. The original screen was made completely out of wood but a strong wind tore out about a third of it in 1971, which led to a replacement metal screen. The in Kanopolis is located along the .

- 1.1 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 8 drive-ins total

The in Watertown holds Retro Wednesdays. Coming up this summer are showings of "Steel Magnolias" from 1989, "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" from 1982, and "Back to the Future" from 1985. The Parkway Drive-In in Maryville shows movies rain or shine but will keep its gates closed in the event of a by the National Weather Service.

- 1.3 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 6 drive-ins total

The is located in Barbourville City Park. The local city council wanted to offer ​​something different from neighboring cities, according to its website. The in La Grange notes that "unfortunately for those looking to catch a free show," it positioned its screens to minimize any view from the road.

- 1.4 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 17 drive-ins total

At the Field of Dreams Drive-In Theater in Liberty Center, free games such as putt-putt golf, corn hole, and sand volleyball are available before the movies begin. It opened in 2007 after the owners planted grass instead of crops on their property and added a second screen in 2010. The once warned that the theater can be surrounded by so much corn by midsummer that you might miss its narrow entrance.

- 1.5 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 10 drive-ins total

The , established in 1951, opened for its 72nd season in May 2023. The opened in 1955 and has had only five owners since then. And the , family owned and operated since 1967, is the last drive-in theater in Indianapolis.

- 1.5 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 20 drive-ins total

The established in 1949 in Lehighton, offers a retro 35 mm film program, in which movies are shown reel-to-reel via the original 1940s Simplex projectors. "At the Drive-In" is a documentary about the theater.  was begun by William D. Beck, known as Becky. He started out showing movies outside at Uncle Charlie's Lunch in the 1930s.

- 1.5 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 3 drive-ins total

In the history of the Parma Motor-Vu, Karen Dobbs Cornwell writes that the Dobbs family bought the Parma, New Plymouth, and Wilder drive-in theaters in 1944. Her father, Bill Dobbs, drove to Wilder each night while she and her mother, Gladys Dobbs, spent each night at the Parma.

- 2.2 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 3 drive-ins total

The in Farmington opened the 2023 season with screenings of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." The drive-in mixes movies with live music shows. The which opened in 1954, saw a surge in attendance during the pandemic, followed by a subsequent drop-off. But it has opened for the 2023 seasons.

- 2.9 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 4 drive-ins total

The was built in Milford in 1958, with several contractors from the area contributing labor and materials in the hopes of sharing in the profits, according to the theater's history. A group of local people owned the drive-in, which opened with a single 84-foot wooden frame screen. Also popular: at Weirs Beach, whose motto is "Let the popcorn fly."

- 4.6 drive-ins per 1 million people
- 3 drive-ins total

The in Fairlee also has a motel. The theater came first in 1950 and six motel rooms were added a decade later in 1960. in Bethel opened in 1954 and operates on weekends from early June to Labor Day. in Colchester was established in 1948 and has four screens.

Data reporting by Elena Cox. Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Elizabeth Ciano.