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Ohio Now Boasts the Most Drive-In Theaters in the World

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Grab a bucket of chicken and find an Ohio drive-in movie near you with our handy map.

Ohio Drive-In Movies

The Elm Road Drive-In Theater in Warren, Ohio
Photo: Mike

Ohio’s enthusiasm for drive-in movies dates back to June of 1937. The Starlight Auto Theater opened in Akron that year, marking an early entry into the annals of drive-in history. This was not only the first drive-in theater in Ohio, the Starlight was one of the first ten drive-in theaters in the country. Having enjoyed 400-car capacity showings until 1983, the Starlight dipped into the past, but not before inspiring a heyday of drive-in theaters across the state.

Even today, Ohio remains one of the best states to see a drive-in movie. With about 28 drive-in movie theaters still in operation, it currently has the most drive-in theaters of any state (Pennsylvania had been in the lead, but dipped to 27 just last year).  The Lynn Drive-In Movies in Strasburg, Ohio, is now one of the oldest operating drive-in movie theaters in the world.

That’s quite a legacy set by the Starlight 78 years ago.

Here is a handy map of the remaining drive-in movie theaters in Ohio at time of publication:

City Drive-In Theater
Amelia Starlite Drive-In
Barberton Magic City Drive-In
Chardon Mayfield Road Drive-In
Clayton Melody 49 Twin Drive-In
Columbus South Drive-In
Dayton Dixie Twin Drive-In 
Fairborn Skyborn Drive-In
Hamilton Holiday Auto Theatre
Kenton Hi Road Drive-In
Lancaster Skyview Cruise-In
Liberty Center Field of Dreams Drive-In
Mansfield Springmill Twin Drive-In
Mansfield Sun-Set Drive-In Theatre
Maria Stein Starlite Drive-In
Middle Point Van-Del Drive-In
North Ridgeville Aut-O Rama Twin Drive-In
Norwalk Star View Drive-In
Oregon Sundance Kid Drive-In
Ravenna Midway Twin Drive-In
Sidney Sidney Auto-Vue Drive-In
Springfield Melody Cruise-In
Strasburg Lynn Auto Theatre
Tiffen Field of Dreams Drive-In Theater
Wadsworth Blue Sky Drive-In 
Warren Elm Road Triple Drive-In Theatre
Warren Skyway Twin Drive-In
Wilmington Chakeres Wilmington Drive-In
Wintersville Winter Drive-In Theatre

 

Have you taken the family out for a picnic at the local drive-in yet?