Opening Dates Revealed For Bismarck’s Closest Drive-In Theaters

Drive-in movie theaters are pretty scarce across the northern plains.

There was a time back in the 80s when just about every larger city in the state of North Dakota boasted a drive-in movie theater.

Now, they have become as rare as a household landline. 

They are as rare as a payphone (I can't remember the last time I've seen one).  Rare as a telephone answering machine (remember those?).  Surprisingly, you can still buy a telephone answering machine.  See here.

I have fond memories of going to the drive-in movie theater in my hometown of Grand Forks, North Dakota, when I was very young.

It's long been torn down, and a health clinic now stands in its place.  There's something about sitting on a lawn chair or on the tailgate of a pickup truck and watching a movie while the stars twinkle.

Bismarck and Mandan also once had drive-in movie theaters.  Remember the Corral Drive-in or the Starlite Drive-in?

If you're still longing for an experience like this, these are your two closest options.

The first is the Pheasant Drive-In movie theater in Mobridge, South Dakota.  It's about 110 miles from Bismarck and a two-hour drive.

This would be your closest option to the Capital Region.

This theater is on the banks of Lake Oahe and has a beautiful backdrop.  According to their Facebook Page, the sound is available with speakers or on the radio.  The drive-in was built all the way back in 1960 in its current location.  The Pheasant Drive-In is open Friday-Monday through September and offers concessions.

The other closest drive-in movie theater to Bismarck-Mandan is the SkyVu Drive-In, which is just east of Warren, Minnesota.

Warren is about 25 miles from Grand Forks, North Dakota.  A little-known fun fact, yours truly is the opening voice before each movie at the SkyVu, greeting the customers and introducing the movie (I wish I were getting a percentage of the profits).

The SkyVu bills itself as the only outdoor movie theater within 200 miles of the Red River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota.  It's about a 4-hour drive from Bismarck.

We have the opening dates for both the SkyVu and the Pheasant Drive-in movie theaters for 2025.

The SkyVu will open TONIGHT, Friday, April 25th. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith will be the first movie of the season.

The Pheasant Drive-in will open Friday, May 23rd, and the first movie of their season has not been announced yet.

So, if you are feeling nostalgic and you want to catch a flick in a car, you still have two fine options.  Take it all in. Summer goes fast.