Blue Fox Drive-In
1403 Monroe Landing Road,
Oak Harbor,
WA
98277
1403 Monroe Landing Road,
Oak Harbor,
WA
98277
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The theater was finally allowed to reopen under Governor Inslee’s “Phase 2” coronavirus guidelines. This means only 50% capacity of cars, snack bar is takeout only, bathroom restrictions in place, and the gameroom arcade is closed.
This theater is very well maintained and a super fun place to go. Food is excellent too.
KIRO radio’s MyNorthwest ran an article celebrating the Blue Fox’s 60th birthday. For folks who care about these things, its first movie was April Love with Pat Boone and Shirley Jones. The article also included co-owner Darrell Bratt’s elaboration of SteveFratelli’s naming story.
“The reason it’s called the Blue Fox, from what I understand from the original owner, was when he built the place in ’59 he didn’t have a name for it,” Bratt recalled. “He contacted a sign company to build a sign for him. The maker of the sign says, ‘I’ve got a deal for you if you’re not picky on your name.’ He had a sign that was the Blue Fox Drive-In, you know the old drive-in restaurants. He goes, ‘It’s a repossessed sign, so if you call it that I can make you a heck of a deal on a sign!’ That’s how it got the name of the Blue Fox drive-in.”
The Blue Fox Drive-In got their named from the recently closed Blue Fox Drive-In Restaurant. The neon sign was available, so they took it.
These days, there is a Blue Fox mascot at the drive-in that shows up around town for parades and stuff.
Is there actually an animal called blue fox?
An old obituary in the Whidbey News-Times says the Blue Fox was built and owned by Woodrow “Woody” Cecil and his wife Charlotte. Another article said Woody “partnered with George Dickson” to build it.
A 2006 article there said Darrell and Lori Bratt purchased the theater in 1988. In 1990, it switched to FM sound. The screen went down in a 1998 windstorm, but obviously they fixed that.
There’s a superb drone video of the place on YouTube.
The Blue Fox is the first Washington drive-in to open with digital projection. A fantastic picture on screen. I like the new pre-show, they will add some variety in the next few months. My last 2 trips here have been in late winter. I’ve been happily surprised to see the turnout in such cold conditions.
Very interesting photo ken mc.
Here is an interesting photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yb3pros
Here is another photo of the sign:
http://tinyurl.com/axnn9f
Here is a September 2008 article about a Girl Scout invasion:
http://tinyurl.com/4zp48e
Theater is open year round and only close for a week or so at Christmas time. They show cartoons before the feature during the peak of the season.
Theater also has a great go-kart track, train rides for the kiddies, and a seperate huge arcade gamme room building. Snack bar was recently remodeled and is very beautiful. The kitchen was enlarged (food is excellent!) with more pizza ovens and hamburger grills. A new restroom building was built and the restrooms are fully handicap accessible.
Theater has FM stereo radio sound only. There is no marquue or reader board out by the main highway to direct you in so just look for the giant screen tower. You have to drive up to the old boxoffice to see the titles of what’s playing. Tickets are now sold out of a drive up window at the snack bar.