The World’s Oldest Drive-in Movie Theater is Here in Pennsylvania

Shankweiler’s in Orefield, Lehigh County, was the second drive-in to open in the entire country, and has been open since 1934.

Did you know the world’s oldest drive-in movie theater is located right here in Pennsylvania?

Shankweiler’s in Orefield, Lehigh County, was the second drive-in to open in the entire country, and has been open since 1934.

At the height of the drive-in movie era there were over 4,000 drive-ins across the country. But today there are fewer than 325.

Pennsylvania has the 2nd most drive-in theaters in the country, at 29. New York has the most, at 30, while some states have no drive-ins at all.

Shankweiler’s is the perfect place to bring the kids for a family night out, as they show family-friendly movies and double features on summer weekends, with plenty of space to play games and set up inside or in front of your car.

You can get popcorn at the concession stand, along with hot dogs, hamburgers, funnel cake, ice cream, candy, and water ice, too.

Viewers can listen to the movie on a car radio tuned to the FM frequency, or on a portable radio if you’d rather set up lounge chairs in front of your car.