- Aberdeen (Grays Harbor) Washington
Harbor Drive-in:
GONE
formerly located at 5515 Olympic Highway;
(Fashion Update: it's now a Mobile Home lot).
photo: Steve Swanson
- Auburn (King County) Washington
Valley 6 Drive-in: 253-854-1250
located at 401 49th Street / Auburn Ave.
Washington's largest Drive-in movie theatre
(with six screens and parking for up to 3,000
cars spread-out across more than a couple
dozen acres), is perched right on the edge
of oblivion .. tho for now, the PictureShow
goes on, images of 2,600 housing units and
roughly 1,000,000 sqft of commercial space
are also being projected here. Presently, the
Valley is still lit-up, but it appears inevitable
that it will become the Valley of shadows ..
until then, their season runs: late March thru
October, screening 6 pairs of double features
each nite; with a repeat screening of the first
movie as a 3rd feature on Fridays & Saturdays.
Audio for all screens is provided with AM radio.
Admission: $5 (12&up); $3.50 Srs. & ages 12-15.
- Bellingham (Whatcom County) Washington
Samish Twin Drive-in:
DARK
located at 3801 Byron Avenue
The youngest of all of Washington's remaining Drive-ins
is this deuce which was built in 1972, a few blocks east of
Interstate-5 in the northwest corner of the state (and only
50 miles south east of Vancouver, BC). Between their two
screens, they can accommodate nearly 600 cars. It's like
a little, walled village here .. looking almost as if all of the
corrugated metal fencing was erected in a vain attempt to
ward-off the encroach of the housing developments which
have pretty much encircled the entire property {fortress}.
Audio provided with FM radio broadcast. Admission: $5.50
per person (age12&up); ages 11 and under admitted free.
- Bremerton (Kitsap County) Washington
Kitsap Lake Drive-in:
GONE
formerly located at
Originally part of the California-based United Drive-ins
chain (the next link in the chain was the nearby Rodeo).
Kitsap Lake was acquired by a regional chain, Cascade
Cinemas, of Seattle, in 1977, which operated it briefly ..
and then .. fade to Black.
- Bremerton (Kitsap County) Washington
see also: Port Orchard, Washington
- Colville (Stevens County) Washington
Auto Vue Drive-in Theatre: 509-684-2863
located at 444 Auto View Road (Rural Route 2)
Auto Vue's solo screen has been lit-up since 1953.
They have a capacity for just over 200 cars and are
open seasonally, Memorial Day thru Labor Day, on
weekends only. Audio is provided with AM/FM radio.
Admission: $5 per person (12&up); age 11 & under $1.
- Dayton (Columbia County) Washington
Dayton Drive-in:
DARK
located on Highway 12
photo: Steve Swanson
- Everett (Snohomish County) Washington
Puget Park Drive-in: 425-338-5957
located at 13020 Meridian
Washington's largest solo-screen Drive-in has a
capacity for 700 cars, and is open seasonally, April
thru October. Audio is by radio (107.3 FM) broadcast.
Admission: $6.50 per person (12&up); $3 for ages 6-11.
There's also a FleaMkt SwapMeet held here on weekends.
* NOTE:
One of the sites seen at almost any Drive-in,
past or present, is people gathered outside of their
vehicles (or on), or, on blankets, and in lawn chairs ..
but, not here. This is the only American Drive-in which
finds it necessary to enforce a "no lawnchairs" policy.
- Kennewick (Benton County) Washington
Hi-Land Drive-in Theater:
GONE
formerly located on Kennewick Avenue
(Demolished in 1963)
- Kent (King County) Washington
Midway Drive-in Theatre:
DARK
- Longview (Cowlitz County) Washington
Your Drive-in Theatre:
DARK
located at 720 Seventh Avenue
- Oak Harbor (Island County) Washington
Blue Fox Drive-in: 360-675-5667
located at 1403 North Monroe Landing Road
(2 miles south of Oak Harbor, off Hwy.20)
This solo screen is lit with a double feature each evening.
Admission: Adults - $5.50 per person (for all ages 12&up);
Sunday Bargain Nite- $4.50 (12&up); under age 11 it's free.
And hey, it's not just a Drive-in .. the locals and regs know it
as the best Pizzeria in town (12" & 16" pies, or slices); they
run GoKarts here too; Sat: 11am-dusk; Sun: 12:30pm - dusk.
- Pasco (Franklin County) Washington
River-Vue Drive-in:
DARK
located at West Sylvester & Rte.28
photo: Steve Swanson
- Port Orchard (Kitsap County) Washington
Rodeo Triple Drive-in: 360-698-6030
located on Highway 3 (1mi N of Bremerton Airport)
Washington's second-largest Drive-in cinema was first
lit-up back in 1946, as a solo screen venue which was
one of two local links within the United Drive-ins chain.
Now independently-owned, the Rodeo lights 3 screens
with double features; accommodating over 800 cars.
They're open seasonally (mid-March thru October), on
the weekends only -Fri/Sat/Sun- during spring and fall;
open 7 nites during the peak summer season, when
their tix booth opens at 8pm Friday/Saturday and at
8:30pm Sunday - Thursday). Admission: $6.50 per
person (ages 12&up); $3 (ages 6-12); under 5 free.
Audio for all three screens is by FM radio broadcast.
There's also a FleaMarket SwapMeet here on Sundays
from 8am-2pm (Flea Market Info line: 360-698-6031).
photo: Steve Swanson
- Port Townsend (Jefferson County) Washington
Wheel-in Motor Movie: 360-385-0859
located on Theatre Road
Washington's smallest Drive-in movie theatre is one of our
FAVs: an old fashioned and very nicely maintained family
operation, which has also been operated by that same
family since the Wheel-in first opened .. back in 1952.
The lot, which is mostly grass field and well-framed by
evergreens, has a cozy capacity for about 150 cars.
The screen is lit seasonally, April thru October. Audio
options: FM radio broadcast or traditional speakers.
photo: Steve Swanson
- Shelton (Mason County) Washington
Skyline Drive-in: 360-426-4707
located at 182 S.E. Brewer Road (off Hwy.101)
Season 2001 is the 39th consecutive season
for this old solo screen that opened 20 miles
northwest of the state capital, back in 1962,
with a capacity for over 300 cars. They are
open seasonally, April thru September. Audio
is provided with AM (540) radio broadcasting
for the double features screened each nite.
Admission: $5 (ages12&up); under 12 free.
- Wenatchee (Chelan County) Washington
Vue Dale Drive-in: 509-662-7740
located at 1546 South Wenatchee Avenue
Twin screen venue with a capacity for up to 600 cars;
open seasonally, 7 nites, MemorialDay thru LaborDay.
Each of their two screens is lit with a double feature.
Admission: $10 per carload ($6 if single passenger).
- Yakima (Yakima County) Washington
Country Drive-in: 509-966-5340
located at 4309 West Nob Hill Boulevard
Originally a solo screen venue when it was first lit
back in 1954 .. the Country is now a twin-screen
Drive-in which can accommodate over 600 cars.
Open seasonally: mid-March thru mid-November,
on weekends only. They light each screen with a
double feature. Audio is AM & FM radio broadcast.
Admission: $9 per carload covers all passengers.
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