The Ford Wyoming Drive-In, which first opened its doors in 1950, has been a popular hangout for moviegoers for more than seven decades. The theater has five screens, each of which plays a double feature of the most recent films, and provides a selection of food and drinks to enjoy while watching the performance. Its central location in the Motor City has also made it a well-liked hangout for automotive aficionados who can display their vintage vehicles while taking in a movie beneath the stars.
Drive-ins have remained popular despite the development of contemporary multiplex cinemas, and many families continue to make it a summertime ritual to visit their neighborhood drive-in. According to the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association, there were about 305 drive-in theaters in the country as of 2021. Although it has decreased from a peak of over 4,000 in the 1950s, this number has remained largely consistent in recent years.
Drive-in theaters have seen a rise in popularity as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak because they offer a private and safe setting for amusement away from home. The Ford Wyoming Drive-In is one of many drive-ins that have responded to the pandemic by instituting new safety procedures like contactless ticketing and heightened sanitation precautions.
The Ford Wyoming Drive-In, in particular, is still open and running as of 2021. However, it has experienced financial difficulties throughout the pandemic, similar to many small enterprises, and has needed the help of its devoted community to survive. Despite these obstacles, the theater has persisted in giving generations of families a special and unforgettable movie-watching experience.
It’s unclear how many drive-in theaters there will be in the United States in 2022. Considering the continuous economic difficulties and competition from streaming services, some smaller theaters might find it difficult to remain. But given how popular they still are with moviegoers, it seems likely that drive-ins will retain a unique position in American entertainment for some time to come.