Nostalgia Updated: Orange County Drive-In Theaters Enchant Moviegoers

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — A night at the drive-in movies is not just a nostalgic memory in the Hudson Valley — the Warwick Drive-In in Warwick and the Fair Oaks Drive-In in Middletown offer opportunities to see movies under the stars.

“It’s a fun family night out,” said Beth Wilson, who owns the Warwick Drive-In in Warwick. “You can go out with your family for a cheaper night than the indoor movie theaters. You don’t need a babysitter, and you get two movies for the price of one.”

Only about 350 drive-in theaters remain in the country and fewer than 30 are in New York State. Having two locations to choose from in Orange County – with a total of five screens – is a rare treat.

The Warwick Drive-In, with three screens, opened for the season on April 5; the Fair Oaks Drive-in, with two screens, opens Thursday.

The experience of watching a movie from the comfort and privacy of your own vehicle conjures fond images of the 1950s and ‘60s, a charm that itself has been captured in many movies. Remember Grease?

But, classic as they are, drive-in movies have kept with the times when it comes to sound and picture quality. Updated equipment and digital projection systems allow them to present movies with the crisp clarity and sound fidelity worthy of the latest mega-budget blockbusters.

Plus, both Orange County drive-ins feature concession stands for all the treats a movie fan could want to munch on and sip while swooning to a romance, thrilling to an action flick or splitting a side to a comedy.

It all adds up to an experience that can’t be beat, perfect for date nights, family outings or making memories with friends. Even larger groups come out to watch movies under the stars.

“We’ve had block parties where the whole road meets at the drive-in and they park next to each other and they have a great time,” Wilson said.

Wilson has lived her life in the business, since her father bought the Warwick Drive-In in 1977. She began helping out at 10 years old, and has worked there ever since.

“My sister and I did a little bit of everything – the snack bar, the box office. It was fun because we met a lot of people. I kind of fell in love with it.”

She began dating Ernie Wilson soon after he was hired in 1981 to “work the ramps,” helping people park. They later married and have owned the Warwick Drive-In since 1995.

With so few drive-in theaters left, movie fans and families will travel to reach one. Many come to the Warwick Drive-In from New York City and Rockland and Bergen counties. Some come for more than just a movie, to stop by one of the region’s nearby destinations such as the craft beverage locations like Pennings Farm Cidery, directly across the street.

.“They have their night in Warwick,” Wilson said. “They go to the wineries and all the other things there are to do and then they end their evenings with us.”