Entry No. 95 — the Dallas file — filed under: ritual-music
Coyote Drive-In
A modern drive-in on the edge of downtown Fort Worth with the skyline and Panther Island in view from your windshield. Friday and Saturday nights add live music before the laser-projected films, and a mobile app delivers wagyu sliders, BBQ, funnel cakes and cotton candy straight to your car. Gates open early evening so you can tailgate before the screen lights up.
The story
When Coyote Drive-In opened in 2013, the drive-in concept was supposed to be a dead 1950s relic, not something you’d drop right onto Panther Island on the immediate perimeter of downtown Fort Worth. Most drive-in survivors sit tucked away in rural fringe towns where land is cheap and night skies are dark. Coyote did the exact opposite: it parked four massive screens straight across the Trinity River from the glass towers of the skyline, creating a surreal juxtaposition where modern cinema light competes with urban high-rises.
Instead of relying purely on mid-century nostalgia, the setup runs on modern mechanics. High-powered laser projection throws the picture while you pick up the audio feed via your car’s FM tuner. You pull into the lot, back your vehicle into place, and watch the downtown lights glow right around the margins of the screen. On Friday and Saturday nights, the space leans into its tailgate roots, bringing out live bands to play before the projectors take over for double features.
What it's like
Show up in early evening while the sun is still dropping behind the skyline to beat the queue and stake out a prime angle. You'll back your car in, pop the hatch or set up lawn chairs in the vehicle bed, and lock your stereo into the assigned FM channel. If you don't feel like walking up to the concession stand and bar, fire up their app and have wagyu sliders, funnel cakes, or cold beers dispatched directly to your car window. Weekends get crowded fast, so arriving early gives you time to kill with the pre-movie live music and tailgating before the double feature starts.
The move: Back into a spot, order funnel cake to the car via the app, and watch a double feature under the Fort Worth skyline.
📍 Before you go Tune to the broadcast FM frequency for sound; arrive early on weekends for live music and parking.
- 📍 Fort Worth
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 223 NE 4th St, Fort Worth, TX 76164
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Full Moon Paddle on the Trinity River (TC Paddlesports) — Launch onto the Trinity River right next door at Panther Island before parking your car for the double feature.
- Dirty Laundry — Hit this working-laundromat-disguised speakeasy on West 7th just 1.7 miles away for a drink before heading to the gate.
- No Vacancy — Pair an evening movie with a late-night cocktail down the street inside a subterranean lounge hidden behind a street dumpster.
- SiNaCa Studios School of Glass — Take an afternoon glassblowing workshop on Magnolia Avenue before heading north across the river to tailgate.
Good to know
How do I hear the movie audio?
You tune your vehicle's stereo—or a portable radio—to the specific FM broadcast frequency assigned to your screen.
How does food ordering work?
You can walk up to the central food stand and bar, or order wagyu sliders, BBQ, and funnel cakes through their mobile app to get food delivered straight to your car.
Are tickets for single movies or double features?
Screenings are typically paired into double features, allowing you to stay for two back-to-back films on the same screen for one ticket.
What happens before the films start?
Gates open early in the evening for tailgating, and on Friday and Saturday nights, live musicians perform on-site before the movies begin.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · fortworth.com · dfwi.org · fwweekly.com · do214.com
last checked: 2026-06-23