A love-fueled road excursion culminated in the acquisition of the globe's first drive-in theater, boasting a rich history.
In a charming turn of events, Matt McClanahan and Lauren McChesney have taken the reins of the world's oldest operating drive-in movie theater, Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre. The couple, who started dating in 2019, a year after they met at a drive-in theater he managed, purchased the theater in 2022.
The theater, located in Pennsylvania, opened its doors on April 15, 1934, making it the first drive-in theater in the state and the second in the nation. Wilson Shankweiler, a hotel owner and movie buff, was the original founder of the theater.
Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre has been a family business since its inception. Dennis Shankweiler, the current owner, has operated it since the 1970s. The couple's purchase of the theater marks the fourth change in ownership.
The theater is open seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and Thursdays through Sundays for the rest of the year. Tickets are priced at $9 for children and $13 for adults.
The drive-in theater industry peaked in the late 1950s with over 4,000 drive-ins across the country. However, the numbers dropped rapidly in the 1970s and 80s due to increased entertainment options and land values. By 2024, there were only 283 drive-in movie theaters left, according to the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association.
Before buying Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre, Matt McClanahan had managed another drive-in theater and started a mobile movie business during the coronavirus pandemic. Lauren McChesney, on the other hand, had never been to a drive-in theater before 2018 and left a stable corporate job in the health care industry to take on this new venture.
The success of the business has been a significant factor in the couple's lives. Lauren McChesney mentioned that the success of the business influenced the timing of their engagement. The couple says that buying Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre has been a successful venture for them.
Ken Querio, a regular patron of Shankweiler's since his teenage years, recently expressed his gratitude to the owners. He praised the couple for their dedication to preserving a piece of American history and providing a unique entertainment experience for the community.
As the new owners of Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre, Matt McClanahan and Lauren McChesney are committed to maintaining the theater's legacy while also modernizing it to meet the needs of today's audience. They are excited about the future of the theater and the memories they will create with their patrons.
