Blue Fox Drive-In Theatre

Blue Fox Drive-In Theatre. daryleconners (Atlas Obscura User)

The Blue Fox Drive-In Theatre has a lot going for it: a beautiful setting, friendly staff, an old-school arcade, go-karts, and first-run double features at family-friendly prices. However, perhaps the most unusual thing about the family-owned drive-in is that audience members are allowed to sleep over after the movies. Families will often pitch tents and camp at the Blue Fox, thanks to this special policy.

The Blue Fox has been owned by the same family since 1988. Darrell and Lori Bratt raised their kids on the property. Their son Nick remembers that growing up on a drive-in movie lot gave him a funny perspective. “We went to our Uncle’s house to visit when we were kids and asked him, “Uncle Dan, where’s your snack bar? ” he says. Now Nick and his wife Kelsey help run the drive-in, too, along with Nick’s siblings.

Not only does a trip to the Blue Fox take you through the pastoral beauty of Whidbey Island, but it will also take you back in time, to the great all-American tradition of drive-in movie theaters. The theater has an authentic old school feel, and the prices are so low that they feel like they’re from the ’80s, too!

Know Before You Go

Just 90-minutes from Seattle by car and ferry, the Blue Fox Drive-In Theatre is located on the north end of Whidbey Island, in Oak Harbor, Washington. The theater operates all year long: every day in the summer and every weekend during the rest of the year.

It's best to arrive by the time the gates open, at 4 p.m., especially in the summer, if you want to get a good space up front. Though the movies won't start until after dark, there is plenty to do at the Blue Fox while you wait, including go-kart racing and an extensive video game arcade.

The Blue Fox doesn't allow outside food or drinks, but the well-stocked snack bar, which includes a selection of retro sodas, has plenty of options for everyone.

If you're planning a trip to Whidbey Island to go to the Blue Fox, don't miss Deception Pass, just 20 minutes north. It is the most visited state park in Washington, and the views from the pass can't be beat. You can access Whidbey Island by driving across Deception Pass on the north end of the island, or you can take a ferry to the south end of the island from Mukilteo, Washington.