Shankweiler; The Oldest Drive-In in the World

While we typically post about the never-ending list of significant opportunities for fun and exploration in our Valley, we also—from time to time—like to post about opportunities for “day trips” an hour or so away. Like the Shankweiler Drive-In movie Theater!

There is so much to see and do here in our Valley, that one could EASILY stay at Annville Inn for three weeks, and have something fun and interesting to do every day and evening. 

While there is more than enough to keep a visitor “knee deep” in fun and interesting adventures here, it is also fun to take a short trip away using Annville Inn as your base of operations. One could easily spend the day in Gettysburg and other nearby historic sights. In this post, however, we share an adventure only one hour’s drive away. 

How long has it been since you have been to a Drive In Movie Theater?  High School? College? In one hour from the Inn you could be a drive-in with a significant history.

We are talking about the LONGEST CONTINUALLY OPERATING drive in movie theatre. Not on the east coast….not in the United States, nor North or South America but…THE WORLD! 

The world’s oldest drive-in movie theatre is only a one-hour drive from Annville Inn! Better yet, it is open year-round…except in blizzards and monsoons. Otherwise, folks in these parts can always count on an enjoyable drive over to Shankweiler Drive-In Movie Theatre.

The drive-in is popular across many states.  In fact, Matt McClanahan, owner of Shankweiler, told Annville Inn, “A large portion of our audience travels in from Philly and NJ.  We are pretty easy to get to.” He went on to say, “The big takeaway is that Shankweiler’s is the oldest drive-in theater operating in the world. It was the second drive-in ever built. We opened on April 15, 1934.”  

Mr. McClanahan also stated that the theatre is open rain, snow or shine. In winter months, the theatre operates on weekends, but in the summer it is seven days a week! “We are known for playing both brand new movies and classics, often blending the two together in themed double features. We have lots of special holiday programming and also host occasional daytime events and markets,” he added

Considering all of the Hersheypark and other Hershey attractions to so much to see and do in Lancaster, Harrisburg, Lebanon, one is never without interesting and engaging enjoyment.

Besides Lancaster, Lebanon and Hershey, Mt. Gretna, Lititz, and Ephrata and all the art galleries, restaurants, museums, stage productions, concerts, ballet, symphony and much more coupled with sports events, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, country roads to explore, lakes to paddle, and more.  

Variety Magazine, “Top 21 Coolest Movie Theatres in the World” USA Today, Nominated top 10 Movie Theatres in America

It is often fun to take a day trip to areas outside our Inn, then return here in the evening to your respite, your safe and beautiful cocoon where your scrumptious breakfast awaits. This post is about one such day trip.