Remember those breezy summer nights, lying on the cool grass or sitting in the car watching a double feature on the big screen as lightning bugs flew by? Running to the snack bar, teeming with goodies, to stock up on treats before the second movie started playing? An evening at the drive-in is a part of the American experience. America’s oldest operating drive-in promises the perfect summer night even in 2016.

Yelp/Alan P.
America discovered the drive-in theater in the early 1930s when, in 1933, the very first drive-in in the United States opened in New Jersey. A year later, Shankweiler's Drive-In in Orefield showed its first film on the big screen outdoors.
Yelp/Ben C.
Headed by William Shankweiler, the drive-in debuted on April 15, 1934, starting what would become an American tradition. Within the next quarter of a century, the United States would boast 4,000 drive-in theaters.
Yelp/Alan P.
Shankweiler's faced some challenges as it made its way to becoming America's oldest drive-in, which has continuously operated since its opening day. In 1955, Hurricane Diane swept through, destroying the screen and the projection booth.
Shankweilers Drive-In
But that didn't get the Shankweilers down. They just rebuilt bigger and better than before, adding a new projection room and a screen in addition to a snack bar and a restroom, which is housed in the same building as the projection room.
Shankweilers Drive-In
Today, Shankweiler's Drive-In is still own and operated by the Shankweiler family.
Flickr/Jeff Cushner
The single-screen drive-in shows double features each evening, with movies changing every Thursday. Adults pay a $10 admission fee and kids 12 and under pay $6. Kids two and under are free.
Yelp/Phillip L.
Bring a portable radio or use the one in your car, tuning the station to 90.7 FM to listen to the film. (Tuning in to 90.7 FM is the only way to get sound at the drive-in.)
Shankweilers Drive-In
Know the rules before you head to the drive-in. No pets are allowed. (The only exception is certified therapy animals.) Grilling and flashlights are also prohibited.
Yelp/Phillip L.
The entrance to the drive-in opens two and a half hours prior to the scheduled start of the first film, leaving you plenty of time to find the perfect parking spot.
Yelp/David S.
Once inside, you'll discover the snack bar offers tons of goodies to keep you happy during the double feature (or just one film, if that's all you prefer to watch). The extensive menu includes such favorite snacks as hot dogs, burgers, popcorn, funnel cake, ice cream, Italian ice, cotton candy, candy, and Herr's snacks. And, of course, you'll have a long list of delicious beverages – pop and lemonade among them – from which to choose.

Summer nights are meant for being outdoors. Indulge in a piece of America’s past with a trip to America’s oldest drive-in, right here in our beautiful state, or try one of these 10 epic outdoorsy things in Pennsylvania that anyone can do.

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