Family Drive-In Theatre

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Family Drive-In Theatre in Stephens City, Virginia Family Drive-In Theatre 2.JPG
Family Drive-In Theatre in Stephens City, Virginia

The Family Drive-In Theatre was an outdoor cinema located at 5890 Valley Pike (U.S. 11) one mile south of Stephens City, Virginia. The family-owned business opened in 1956 and featured two screens, each playing two films back-to-back. After failing to raise funds to save the theater, the Family Drive-In closed in 2025. At the time of its closing, it was one of only six drive-in theaters still operating in Virginia.

Contents

History

The Family Drive-In was built by William F. Dalke Jr. and opened on June 14, 1956. It was one of eight drive-in theaters within a 20 miles (32 km) radius at the time of its construction. [1] [2] The number of drive-in theaters in the United States peaked at around 4,000 in 1958 while in 2013, an estimated 360 still remained. [3] Dalke Jr. had previously owned indoor theaters until opening Family Drive-In. He was able to keep the theater open with the assistance of his four sons, including Tim Dalke, who took over managing Family Drive-In when he returned from fighting in the Vietnam War. [2]

Each parking spot had a speaker that could be attached to the side of the vehicle. Family Drive-In 3.jpg
Each parking spot had a speaker that could be attached to the side of the vehicle.

Starting in 2009, manager James (Jim) Kopp, a self-professed "drive-in nut" and former Library of Congress employee, leased Family Drive-In from Tim Dalke. Kopp sat on the board of the United Drive-in Theatre Owners Association. He worked with a booking agent to get bargains on popular films. Second-run films were previously shown on both screens because they were cheaper to rent, but Family Drive-In started showing first-run movies in order to compete with standard theaters. Additional changes made by Kopp included hiring additional staff, expanding the theater's presence on social media, extending the operating season, and allowing customers to pay with credit cards. [3] [4]

Since film companies no longer offer many titles on 35 mm film, independent theaters like Family Drive-In face expensive upgrades to continue playing new digital films. Customers and the surrounding community donated $21,000 to help the theater, allowing Kopp to make a down payment to purchase new equipment, including new Christie projectors that cost around $120,000. The brightness and clarity from the new projectors allowed customers to see details in films that weren't previously visible. Following the conversion, Family Drive-In was featured in a story by NBC Nightly News dealing with drive-ins having to choose between old and new ways of showing films. [5]

On Labor Day weekend in 2013, the theater began playing digitally projected movies in a special dusk until dawn event. The event was organized to thank patrons for their donations in purchasing the new equipment. [5] Family Drive-In also hosted special events like Civil War film nights, an annual Halloween Costume Party and Trunk-or-Treat, and a car show featuring classic vehicles and 1950s themed movies. [6] [7] [8]

Kopp died in 2021 due to complications from COVID-19. [9] Moonstruck River, a company based in Houston that operates several drive-in theaters, took over operations of the Family Drive-In following Kopp's death, and Ronald Graham became manager. [10] [11] A four-year lease was signed between Moonstruck River and Dalke's Theatres, Inc., which owned the 10.16 acres (0.4 ha) where the theater was located. Dalke's Theatres listed the property for sale in June 2025 for $1.5 million. [10] Graham, patrons, and locals interested in preserving the theater attempted to raise funds to purchase the property but were unsuccessful. The theater closed on November 30, 2025. At the time of its closing, it was one of six remaining drive-in theaters in Virginia. [12] The closest competitor was Hull's Drive In in Lexington. [3] Family Drive-In frequently sold out of tickets and had to turn away many people. Customers sometimes arrived hours before showtime in order to find a good parking spot. [3]

Features

Panoramic view of the parking area and both screens Family Drive-In Theatre panorama 1.jpg
Panoramic view of the parking area and both screens

Family Drive-In was open seven days a week from June to August, on the weekends in the spring and fall, and closed during the winter months. The 7.5 acres (3.0 ha) theater included two screens playing first-run films, though older movies were sometimes played on one of the screens. [1] [3] [4] The first screen was able to accommodate 240 cars while the smaller second screen, added in 1989, could accommodate 144. [3] [2] The double feature policy allowed customers to pay one admission price and watch two-first run films. Retro music was played before the films begin and a playground was available for children. Customers were able to hear the film's audio by choosing between drive-in speakers on 4 feet (1.2 m) high poles or their car radio. [1] According to Kopp, the speakers and poles were difficult to maintain since only one manufacturer still makes spare parts for them. When asked if he would ever remove them, Kopp said "Heck no. These classic speakers are part of the drive-in theater experience." [3] A concession stand staffed by "cast members" sold various refreshments. [3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About Us". Family Drive-In Theatre. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Knight, Preston (May 21, 2010). "'Under the stars'". Northern Virginia Daily. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Harrison, Don (July 26, 2013). "Now showing at drive-ins: The final days of 35 mm film". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Carney, Dan (July 1, 2011). "In western Virginia, the drive-in movie theater lives on". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Bradshaw, Vic (September 3, 2013). "At Family Drive-In, show goes on, and on, and on". The Winchester Star. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  6. ↑ Wheeler, Linda (September 6, 2014). "Civil War films featured at drive-in theater". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  7. ↑ Nielsen, Stephen (October 24, 2014). "Drive-in offers treats and thrills". The Winchester Star. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ Sipos, Candace (September 22, 2011). "Theater pairs classic cars with film". Northern Virginia Daily. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ Welch, Matt (January 16, 2021). "Family Drive-in owner remembered fondly". The Winchester Star. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Parry, Jack (August 6, 2025). "So long to the big picture? Family Drive-In Theatre property is for sale". The Winchester Star. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  11. ↑ Hartnett, Ryan (September 2, 2025). "Staff with Family Drive-In attempting to save longtime theatre from closing". WHSV. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  12. ↑ Kettner, Michele (November 18, 2025). "The Family Drive-In to Close at the End of November". Northern Virginia Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2025.

39°4′13.60″N78°14′00.28″W / 39.0704444°N 78.2334111°W / 39.0704444; -78.2334111

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