More than 1,600 cars pack Twin Drive-In Theater parking lot throughout closing weekend
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - After nearly 60 decades, the Twin Drive-In Theater in Independence is officially closed for good.
Families and friends piled into their cars Sunday evening for a chance to be part of the historic moment.
Canaan Sams was there with his mom and her boyfriend where they watched the classics, “The Goonies,” and “Jurassic Park.”
“This is such a great place to be right now. I wish more people knew what was ending,” he said. “The outdoors, the stars, and everything – it’s just a totally different experience.”
Logan Kirkland was there with friends and family too, enjoying some popcorn before the movie started.
“It’s kind of sad because I’ve been going here for a while,” he said.
Trish Gillette was there with her two daughters and were the first in line, getting there at 3:30 p.m. after seeing the large line of cars Saturday night.
“We got here at 3:30 to make sure that we got in and we got a great spot,” she said.
READ MORE: Independence’s iconic Twin Drive-In Theatre closing after nearly 6 decades
Grace Shoupes was ed by her friends in their comfortable pajamas getting ready to see Elf and Christmas Vacation.
“My first time here was with my whole family and we went to see ”Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice" and it was very cool," she said.
Gloriana Smith shared her experience as well alongside Shoupes and the gang.
“I riding the top of the roof of a friend’s suburban from this side to that side. I was like 15 or 16.”
Generations of family were also parked on that side of the parking lot as Lyric King was all ready to see the movies.
“We can have them at our own house but it won’t be the same,” she said.
Since 1933, drive-in theaters in the United States have changed the movie viewing experience. People pile in the car, safely, and pay by the car to park and watch. People bring their food, blankets, chairs, and even tents.
One person came in from Arizona to watch a movie at the Twin on Sunday night.
It’s a tradition unlike anything else and now that is gone in Independence.
“It’s a treat for all of us to go and to be able to pay by car, you can’t beat that. It’s going to be few and far between that I can take everybody to the movies,” said Gillette. “It is sad.
Jeremy Walker went on a first date 16 years ago at the Twin and that date led to a marriage. He was ed by his daughter McKenzie at the finale Sunday event.
“It’s emotional because I’ve been coming here ever since I was little with my family,” said McKenzie. “No matter what happens to the twin, we’re all still going to be family.”
More than 1,500 cars piled into the lot off Missouri Highway 291 over the weekend 1,027 of them being on Saturday alone.
According to B&B Theaters that operate it, they were unable to reach a feasible agreement with the property’s landlord.
Boulevard Drive-In Theatre in Kansas City, Kansas, is set to reopen for its 75th season in April 2025.
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