The Michigan Drive-In Theatre Timeline is a year-by-year listings of drive-in openings, 
closings and events detailing the rise and fall of the 140-plus drive-in theatres 
that once operated in the State of Michigan. Also included are significant historical
events relating to Michigan, the automotive industry and some of Hollywoods offerings. 

2000
The Capri, Cherry Bowl, Cinema 2, 5-Mile, Ford-Wyoming,
Getty 4, Hi-Way, Miracle Twin, Sunset and US-23 remain open.

2001
Open drive-in's were the Capri, Cherry Bowl, Cinema 2, 5-Mile, Ford-Wyoming, Getty 
4, Hi-Way, Miracle Twin, Sunset and US-23. The Cinema 2 would close at the end of 
2001. The Getty 4 appears to be doomed, as Jack Loeks Theatres announces plans to 
sell it's last drive-in to developers who intend to build condos on the site. 
The 2001 season was to be the last, however, drive-in fans deluged Loeks with pleas
to keep it open. Loeks then announces there will be "one more season" in 2002.

2002
The Capri, Cherry Bowl, 5-Mile, Ford-Wyoming, Getty 4, Hi-Way, Miracle Twin, Sunset
and US-23 remain open. Amazingly, the development plans for the Getty 4 site fall 
apart and the old drive-in gets a new lease on life. The main screen tower gets
some much needed repair work. West Michigan drive-in fans are overjoyed!

2003
The Capri, Cherry Bowl, 5-Mile, Ford-Wyoming, Getty 4, Hi-Way, Miracle Twin, Sunset
and US-23 remain open. The Getty 4 seems to be open on a year-to-year basis, with no
definite plans for the future. The old Michigan Drive-In Theatre Guide is transformed 
into the new WWW.MICHIGANDRIVEINS.COM in August 2003.

2003
The awesome new WWW.WATERWINTERWONDERLAND.COM site is also launched in 2003, by webmaster
extraordinaire Gary Ritzenthaler, who also designed this site and WWW.CAPRIDRIVE-IN.COM.
Waterwinterwonderland.com features vintage Michigan drive-ins, indoor theatres, amusement 
parks, race tracks, dragstrips, restaurants, hotels, motels and more. 

2004
The Capri, Cherry Bowl, 5-Mile, Ford-Wyoming, Getty 4, Hi-Way, Miracle Twin, Sunset
and US-23 remain open. The Capri Drive-In celebrates it's 40th Anniversary.
The Cinema 2 reopened briefly on Labor Day weekend. Michigan based theater pioneer
Jack Loeks Sr. passes away in February. Mega-media monster National Amusements 
appears to be getting out of the theater business with the closure of most of its
Michigan multiplexes. Their Grand Rapids Showcase Cinema is closed and razed. All
traces of the Cascade Drive-In site next door are also wiped away as the property 
is redeveloped with a new Costco store built on the site. 

2005
You've reached the end of the tour. As of January 2005, the Capri, Cherry Bowl,
5-Mile, Ford-Wyoming, Getty 4, Hi-Way, Miracle Twin, Sunset and US-23 are all 
expected to be open in 2005. Stay tuned, you'll read about it here first!!

January 2005
 About this page 
When this timeline was compiled in January 2005, the yearly number of open drive-in's
was a guess at best. Drive-in closure dates tend to be a bit fuzzy and we don't have 
enough data to present exact numbers by year at this point. The numbers from 1998
to present are confirmed. Temporary "parking lot" outdoor theaters are not included.