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After being closed since 2023, the Hyde Park Drive-In Theatre in Hyde Park is preparing to reopen this year. The National Park Service (NPS) has signed a lease with a new operator to revive the historic Dutchess County landmark. The drive-in, located on Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1,522-acre estate on Albany Post Road, has been a beloved local attraction since it first opened as the Hyde Park Auto-Vision Theatre in 1950.
The new operator is expected to maintain the site as a drive-in theater, according to Amy Bracewell, a superintendent with the NPS. While details about the reopening date have not been disclosed, preparations are reportedly underway, with dumpsters seen around the concessions area.
The NPS purchased the property in 2011 as part of the larger historic Farm Lane property, which includes the Roosevelt estate. The theater can accommodate up to 670 cars and features a food concession building, a projection screen, a ticket booth, and a marquee. The NPS issued a request for proposals in 2023, seeking a new operator willing to pay $4,000 monthly rent with a lease term of up to 20 years.
Despite the challenges posed by competition from streaming platforms, drive-in theaters have experienced a resurgence in popularity due to their unique open-air experience, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. The Hyde Park Drive-In is one of only about 200 drive-in theaters remaining in the United States, down from approximately 4,000 in the 1950s.
The new operator will be responsible for providing digital projection equipment necessary for screening current films. The theater is expected to operate from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. As the community eagerly awaits its reopening, the Hyde Park Drive-In is set to once again become a cherished destination for moviegoers in the Hudson Valley.