Ford Drive-In
10400 Ford Road,
Dearborn,
MI
48126
10400 Ford Road,
Dearborn,
MI
48126
10 people
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Also opened on 19th May with “Road to Rio”.
This drive-in tried to reopen at midnight, but was shut down by the Dearborn police.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2020/05/29/dearborns-ford-wyoming-drive-ordered-close-after-reopening/5283315002/
BTW, the Ford can’t hold 3000 cars any more. From the current aerial view on Google Maps, you can see the separate, four-field area (with a chemical plant(?) in between) is now becoming overgrown. The Henry Ford wrote that the Ford-Wyoming could handle 3000 at its peak with all nine screens, prompting those “largest drive-in in the world” claims.
Screen evolution clues from the Detroit Free Press back issues:
July 1982: apparently still one screen
1983-85: “Ford Wyoming 1-2-3” three screens
July 11, 1986: “The Ford Wyoming started with one screen, now has four, and (manager Ed) Szurek says he wished he had room for five more.”
July 1987: “Ford Wyoming 4” four screens
July 1988-90: 5 screens
July 1991-94: 8 screens; 6-8 listed as “2 blocks N of Ford Road”
July 1995: 9 screens; 6-9 listed as “2 blocks N of Ford Road”
Not a lot of meat here, but this is the data dump for the Ford Wyoming in my Theatre Catalogs and Motion Picture Almanacs.
1952 TC: Exec: John Wafhen, and Mutual Ths., capacity 750.
1953-63 MPA: Mutual Theatres, 750.
1955-56 TC: C. W. Clark, and Cooperative Ct., 750.
1969-76 MPA: 750.
1982 MPA: H. Clark, 1000.
1984-88 MPA: Schafer.
May 19th, 1950 grand opening ad in photo section.
Owned by Mutual theatres in the Late Fifties, Bryan.
I guess they changed the name due to the failed 6-9 side. Wonder if they will yank the Wyoming letters of the main screen towers and the marquee
Maybe I need to get a job at this drive-in they stay open late or is it early?
Wow, they start movies at 2:30 am on a Wednesday night? Not like people in MI need to get up and go to work I suppose…
Nice web-site.
pictures of the screen demo
View link
Name has been changed to Ford Drive-In it seems, dropping the Wyoming part now that those screens are gone. Website URL is now http://www.forddrivein.com/
oh nevermind i see what you mean i spelled snackbar wrong LOL
standard drive-in food. popcorn chips hot dogs etc.
The snakebar? What did they serve?
the demo of the 6-9 is underway the snakebar has been cleaned out and they got to the end of may to pull down the screens. the screens were offered for free around the drive-in circuit but there were no takers.
its official the ford wyoming is now down to 5 screens. the website no longer lists the 6-9 only the 1-5 tab remains.
I guess this was the last year for 6-9 according to the employees. the land lease expired this year.
ok posted from the website starting 6/26 the 6-9 will be open daily.
any word if 6-9 will be re-opening this year
the ford wyoming is now accepting all major credit and debit cards at the box office and food court.
The 6-9 reopens April 25, 2008.
any word on whats happening with 6-9 they were up for sale thanks to the guy who owns the land.Mr.Shafer does not own the land on 6-9 only 1-5
This is the Ford-Wyoming 1-5. There is also a Ford-Wyoming 6-9 which opened in Dearborn in 1991. Here are links for both:
http://www.michigandriveins.com/detail.asp?id=144
http://www.michigandriveins.com/detail.asp?id=150