Category Archives: Oregon

Dallas OR’s Motor Vu Throws In the Towel

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One of America’s best drive-in theaters, as voted by the readers of USA Today, has announced that it won’t be reopening for 2017. The Motor Vu of Dallas OR recognized last year that encroaching residential development might result in this shutdown, and the owners had hoped that a crowdfunding program would give them a reprieve. After disappointing initial returns, they pulled the plug on that campaign.

Yesterday on the Motor Vu Facebook page, the owners posted videos of the drive-in’s fences coming down and photos of equipment for sale. (Including a digital projector for just $15,000, which ought to work well for someone else’s last-minute conversion from film. But I digress.) “Thank you to all of our wonderful customers who helped us make wonderful memories,” read one post. Sorry to see such a class act go.

Videos capture the end of Motor Vu’s season

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Was it the final weekend of 2016, or forever? Only time will tell the fate of the Motor Vu of Dallas OR. In any case, KATU, Portland’s News Leader, was there for a live report from the packed drive-in.

Jeff Mexico, co-owner of Motor Vu, said the landowner wants over $1 million. After announcing on Facebook that the drive-in might close for good, Mexico was surprised by the depth of support and calls for crowdfunding. (“We weren’t expecting this,” he wrote.) The decision on how to move forward should come in the next week or two.

Meanwhile, I’m always grateful for any video that conveys the drive-in experience, and KATU’s report is much better than most. Enjoy!

Update: Mexico announced that he’s turned to Indiegogo as his crowdfunding platform. As he wrote on Facebook, “If we get close to goal we will purchase the land and pay mortgage on the rest. If we don’t get close to the goal we will cancel and no funds will be collected.” Make your donation pledge here.

And as a bonus, here’s another very good drive-in experience video from KGW, Portland’s other News Leader.

Final weekend ever for Oregon’s Motor Vu?

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Old, black and white aerial photo of the Motor Vu in the midst of farmland

The Motor Vu, back when it was surrounded by farmland. Photo from the Motor Vu’s Facebook page

We have to take the bad with the good. Although it’s been great to hear about a few drive-ins opening or re-opening this fall, that’s because this is more typically drive-in closing season. Sad news this week comes from Dallas OR, where the Motor Vu‘s operators have let us know that this coming weekend will likely may be its last ever. (Or crowdfunding may save it. See below.)

A tip of the hat to the Salem Statesman Journal, which alerted me to this story. The S-J noted that the Motor Vu was voted seventh in this year’s USA Today’s Reader Choice poll for best US drive-in, and it included a color photo.

On the Motor Vu’s Facebook page, the operators begin by saying it’s “possible” this will be the drive-in’s final weekend. But the post continues by describing an earlier meeting with the landlord, and it notes the high value of the land. “We are pretty sure it’s our last year since they are building houses right up against the fence,” the post continues, “and this last house has no backyard whatsoever unless the fence comes down.” They promise to let us know one way or the other.

The Motor Vu has been in continuous operation since 1953. Modern drive-ins will continue to rise, but it’s so sad to lose these pieces of history. Here’s hoping that the Motor Vu can hang on.

Update: Crowdfunding may be in the Motor Vu’s future, according to an update on its Facebook page. “But first we have to meet with the landowner and our accountant (tax reasons) to ensure we do this the right way. I will post again as soon as I talk to them this next week.”