Pennsylvania couple who bought drive-in movie theater with $1M loan which earns $550K-a-year say these three months make or break it
Published on Feb 26, 2026 at 5:21 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Feb 26, 2026 at 5:21 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The Pennsylvania couple who bought a drive-in movie theater with a $1 million loan say just three months can make or break the gamble they made.
Matt McClanahan and Lauren McChesney wanted to save Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theater in Orefield, Pennsylvania, as it was at risk of being bought by developers.
Having opened in 1934, it was a very historic location, and McLanahan used to go to it as a kid.
But they took the plunge and bought it with a $1 million loan, and it’s the summer months that determine whether or not the chance was worth taking.
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Why the couple bought the drive-in movie theater
Drive-in movie theaters are not quite as popular as they once were.
But some people do still flock to them, and Shankweiler’s is one of the most historic.
Opened way back in 1934, by 2022, it was at risk of being lost forever due to developers being interested in buying it.
As a historic landmark and one that had deep personal connections to them, the couple couldn’t let it close.
But a $1 million loan was needed to buy the theater, and the couple also cashed in their retirement funds, personal savings, and more.
Now, they make $550,000 a year thanks to their investment.
It was a tough start in 2023, but things soon began to pick up as they invested in their venture.
As a backyard theater, they needed to increase revenue, so they held various events, such as a Halloween trunk-or-treat evening, as well as Valentine’s Day events.
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Some months make or break the theater’s survival
There are just a handful of months in the year that make or break the survival of this historic location.
These are in the summer, and that revenue is incredibly important.
In fact, it ‘carries the theater for the entire rest of the year,’ McClanahan told CNBC.
With long daylight hours and nice evenings, summer is the best time to enjoy the outdoor location.
If the summer was poor for whatever reason, things could be very different.
They have, however, had the odd boost after the summer, with Wicked in November 2024 netting $36,264 for a month.
Which is good, as unlike lots of drive-in theaters, Shankweiler’s is open all year round.
Their hard work has paid off, with it turning a profit in 2024 after they invested in it.
Fingers crossed, the future is looking brighter for this amazing facility.
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
