Michigan’s 9 drive-in movie theaters make for dreamy summer nights

Beat the summer heat by getting lost in a great flick at these drive-in movie theaters across the Great Lakes State.

When the sun begins to set on another long and scorching summer day, it’s time to corral the kids and pile into the car for an evening spent at one of Michigan’s nostalgic, drive-in movie theaters. A time-honored tradition that Michiganders have enjoyed since 1938, when Detroit’s first drive-in, The East Side, opened its proverbial doors, drive-ins still dot the state, though in much smaller numbers. The Battle Creek Enquirer reported that of 137 drive-ins that once screened films across Michigan, only nine remain.

Check out this complete list of Michigan’s drive-in movie theaters to get prepared for your next family-friendly evening filled with cinematic entertainment and tasty refreshments:

1. Capri Drive-In Theater

119 W. Chicago Rd., Coldwater

2024 marks 60 years of business for Coldwater’s Capri Drive-In Theater, and though admission is $12 instead of the original $1, and a cheeseburger now costs way more than 45 cents, this family-owned and operated theater carries on its iconic history with family-friendly films paired with cold bottles of pop and classic snacks. Locals know to arrive at the Capri well before showtime — though the theater lot can hold about 900 cars, there are only two lanes from which to enter, so you may be stuck in nearly a half-mile of traffic backed up along US-12 before you can secure your prime viewing spot.

2. Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre

9812 Honor Hwy., Honor

As the Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre’s motto states, “Rain or shine, dusk is the time.” When the sunset starts to paint the sky in bold colors, head to this Honor drive-in any weekend this summer to catch a double feature of current Hollywood films. In its aesthetic and offerings, the Cherry Bowl lovingly pays homage to its 1950s beginnings: Catch vintage cartoons during the intermissions, chomp on popcorn produced in the original 1953 popper, and listen to the films through the theater’s original vacuum tube motiograph amplifiers, which also provide a nostalgic, warm, red glow.

3. Ford Wyoming Drive-In

10400 Ford Rd., Dearborn

The Ford Wyoming Drive-In in Dearborn holds the national record for being America’s biggest drive-in theater with its nine viewing screens and capacity for 2,500 cars. The Ford Wyoming might also boast Michigan’s most diverse selection of films to watch from your car: on any given night, visitors have their choice of kid-friendly, animated films and comedies alongside mature thrillers and horror flicks. This drive-in transmits film audio through a series of five FM stations. For those whose cars can’t access the radio, portable FM radios are available at the box office and concession stands for a refundable deposit.

4. Getty Drive-In

920 E. Summit Ave., Muskegon

Showtimes are always dusk at this Muskegon drive-in, which opens every day of the week during the summer months. The Getty Drive-In is a four-screen theater that also features a playground and arcade room to entertain the young and young at heart. The staff members might not tell you this when you visit the concession stand, but each guest is allowed one free refill of each popcorn or drink, so you’re sure to stay satiated through the double feature of your choice.

5. Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theater

5885W U.S. Hwy. 2, Manistique

The Highway 2 Community Drive-In is the last remaining drive-in theater in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Manistique’s local U.P. Film Union works to preserve this slice of history, which opened in 1953, by hosting a series of free screenings throughout the summer and autumn months. This season, a screening of the 2023 box office smash “Barbie” on July 27 is paired with a double feature of both “Top Gun” films on August 31. A 501c3 nonprofit corporation, the U.P. Film Union was established to save the Upper Peninsula’s beloved drive-in from succumbing to the fate that most nostalgic drive-ins have suffered.

6. The Hi-Way Drive In at Black River Fairgrounds

2778 E. Sanilac Rd., Carsonville

Carsonville’s Hi-Way Drive In at Black River Fairgrounds is one of Michigan’s oldest operating drive-in theaters. Specializing in themed double features, local patrons can catch back-to-back showings of recent children’s films like “Paddington” and “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” as well as installments of “The Hunger Games” series, with a new pairing each night. Check the theater’s Facebook page for upcoming listings. The Hi-Way Drive In also sports an all-grass lot, so feel free to pack a picnic blanket in the car and spread out with your favorite pop and concession snacks before the films begin.

7. Memory Lane Drive-In Theatre

6501 N. Monroe St., Monroe

At Monroe’s Memory Lane Drive-In Theater, a pair of screens gives patrons the option to choose among recent and time-honored films, and a well-stocked concession stand offers popular treats of yesteryear like banana splits, as well as rarely-seen movie snacks like fried mushrooms and loaded pierogis. Though the theater has a nostalgic feel, Memory Lane has only been in operation since 2021. A labor of love from local automotive technician Todd Williams in partnership with his friend Donald Collins, the pair spent years restoring the old Denniston Drive-In to its original glory, and then some.

8. Summer Drive-In at USA Hockey Arena

14900 Beck Rd., Plymouth Township

For the past 20 years, the Summer Drive-In at the USA Hockey Arena has provided Plymouth area families with countless Friday evenings spent enjoying movies and themed snacks. Be sure to purchase tickets online and in advance, as the arena does not sell tickets on-site. This summer’s season boasts three screens showing recent films like “Twisters” and “The Bikeriders,” as well as a full-service restaurant offering American comfort food classics.

9. US 23 Drive-In Theater

5200 Fenton Rd., Flint

Flint’s US 23 Drive-In Theater has been operating since 1951 when it opened with just a single screen and a built-in, five-room apartment to house the theater manager. These days, the theater offers twin screens that host the latest Hollywood films, including “Despicable Me 4” and “Inside Out 2.” Check the theater’s website each Monday to view the following weekend’s offerings, and note that tickets are only sold at the on-site box office when gates open each evening at 7:30 p.m.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.