Detroit's Last Remaining Full-Time Drive-In Theater

Here's a switch...it's a look at a Michigan drive-in theater that is NOT abandoned...and it's a pretty cool one.

The Ford-Wyoming Drive-In Theater opened in Dearborn in 1950 with one screen to entertain 750 carloads of customers. It had a playground – and even boat rides - for the kids; the playground is still there, but the boat rides have vanished.

After being sold in 1981, the drive-in added four more screens, making it a 5-screen multiplex by 1990. A few years later, four more screens were added, making a total of nine. The extra four were split off on the north end and called the “Ford-Wyoming 6-9” theaters.

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Although the “6-9” is now closed, the five-screen Ford-Wyoming remains open, all year-round, shows movies all night long, and can accommodate up to 3,000 cars.

The Ford-Wyoming is Detroit's last remaining operating drive-in theater. There were about 30 operating drive-ins during the 60s, most closing due to land prices and the ever-growing city.

Owner Charles Shafer says "Were not going anywhere; the theater is doing good."

Take a look at the gallery below for photos of the Ford-Wyoming and the former “6-9” theater as well...