Entry No. 84 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: after-dark
Winchester Drive-In Theatre
This is OKC's last surviving drive-in, family-run since 1968 and showing double features on a paved lot that most surviving drive-ins (usually dirt and dust) can't match. It runs March through October, Friday and Saturday nights, weather permitting; gates open around 6:30 PM and you tune your car radio to 100.9 FM for the soundtrack. One ticket buys you both features of the night's pairing.
The story
While hundreds of drive-in theaters across the Great Plains were bulldozed for strip malls and multiplexes, South Western Avenue held onto its screen. The Winchester Drive-In isn't a modern revival or a retro cash-in; it has been family-run on this exact South Oklahoma City lot since 1968, standing today as the city's very last surviving drive-in screen.
Most vintage drive-ins that managed to escape the wrecking ball force you to park in rutted dirt and chew dust every time a truck rolls past. The Winchester paved its entire lot, giving you clean asphalt beneath your tires instead of mud. You pull in, back into a space, douse your headlights, and dial your car stereo to 100.9 FM to lock into the sound system.
The math here belongs to another decade. A single ten-dollar ticket grants you access to both back-to-back movies in the evening's double feature. It runs seasonally from March through October on Friday and Saturday nights. You didn't hear it from us, but showing up right around gate-opening time gives you first pick of the middle rows where your windshield clears the rooflines in front without straining your neck.
What it's like
Arriving around 6:30 or 7:00 PM on a weekend means queuing up along South Western Avenue with a line of idling cars. Bringing cash gets you through the box office fastest. Once you've backed into a spot, swing by the central concession building for popcorn and snacks before wrapping up in blankets in your car or truck bed. Leave your ignition in accessory mode for 100.9 FM—or bring a battery-powered portable radio if you don't trust your car battery to survive a four-hour double header.
The move: Back the car in, recline the seats with blankets and snacks from the concession stand, and watch a double feature under the stars on the 100.9 FM car radio.
📍 Before you go Seasonal (spring-fall) and Fri/Sat only; cash-friendly, $10 adults / $5 kids, gates around 7 PM.
- 📍 South Oklahoma City
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 6930 S Western Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73139
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Botanica San Cipriano — Browse the shelves of spiritual candles and folk remedies along May Avenue before heading south to Western Avenue for dusk showtime.
- Candlelight Concerts at The Yale Theater — Compare two vintage film spaces south of the river—one an indoor theater illuminated by thousands of LED candles, the other a big screen under the night sky.
- FlashBack RetroPub — Keep the screen-based nostalgia going by hitting Film Row after your second feature wraps for free arcade cabinets and retro consoles.
Good to know
How much does admission cost and what does it include?
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. A single ticket covers both movies in that night's double feature.
How do you listen to the movie soundtrack?
Audio is broadcast over local radio at 100.9 FM. You can listen using your vehicle's car radio or a portable FM radio.
What months and days is the Winchester open?
The drive-in operates seasonally from March through October, running exclusively on Friday and Saturday nights, weather permitting.
Is the lot paved or gravel?
The Winchester lot is entirely paved asphalt, keeping dust down and eliminating mud during damp spring and fall nights.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · oudaily.com
last checked: 2026-06-23