Will Stanislaus County drive-in theater ever show movies again? Here’s what happened
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Remember watching movies from the comfort of your car in Stanislaus County? Propping up your pillows as the smell of popcorn wafted in the air?
The Ceres Drive-In, also known as the Ceres Cruise-In, was a Central Valley institution for more than 50 years.
Moviegoers flocked to the drive-in theater at 1651 Whitmore Ave. off Highway 99 to watch films ranging from “American Graffiti” to “Finding Nemo.”
What happened to the Ceres Drive-In? Will it ever show movies again?
Here’s what The Modesto Bee discovered.
What was the Ceres Drive-In movie theater?
The Ceres Drive-In opened its doors in 1948.
Over the decades, the drive-in theater showed hit movies ranging from “Gunga Din” starring Cary Grant to the hit Adam Sandler comedy “Click.”
The Ceres Drive-In offered double features during warm weather months.
“The property owners had tried to convince city officials to let them operate year-round to boost business,” The Bee reported in a March 2009 article. “But concerns over air pollution caused by car heaters and idling motors nixed that idea.”
“We use to go here all the time, especially when I was a kid,” Carlos C. of San Jose wrote on popular view site Yelp in 2011. “So many memories!”
He recalled watching “Bad Boys” and “Friday” in 1995, when it cost $5 to $7 per car load to get in.
“We used to pack everybody (and their) momma in the damn car!” the Yelp reviewer wrote. “Hell, we even stuffed the trunk with a cousin or two.”
The drive-in was charging $12 per vehicle in 2007.
When did Stanislaus County movie theater close?
The Ceres Drive-In ceased operations in 2008 when the property’s owners put the 14-acre site up for sale at $2.5 million.
From 2008 to 2020, the property was used as a flea market and industrial yard.
Why did the drive-in reopen?
The Ceres Drive-In reopened in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ripon resident Mark Stotzer decided to revive the Whitmore Avenue property as a drive-in movie theater, advertising it as a safe gathering spot for families and movie lovers.
The Ceres Drive-In retained its original infrastructure, including a 100-foot metal screen. Stotzer and his team refurbished the structure, repairing holes and removing graffiti to bring it back to its former glory.
The drive-In reopened Sept. 25, 2020, charging $30 per carload and showing movies Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
The rebuilt drive-in had space for more than 200 guests, as well as a concession stand offering popcorn, candy, hot dogs and other snacks, and permanent restroom facilities.
The reopened Ceres Drive-In initially featured screenings of classic films, such as “American Graffiti” and themed movie nights, including Halloween-themed events.
It eventually added first-run movies, such as superhero blockbuster “Black Widow,” according to the drive-in’s Facebook account.
In October 2020, Airielle M. of Modesto wrote on Yelp that Stotzer and his team did a “truly great job on revamping this for our community!”
“My family and I have always had the best experience!” Yelp reviewer Giselle A. of Ceres wrote said in a five-star review in May 2021. “Employees are always so nice and welcoming.”
Is Ceres Drive-In still showing movies?
Despite initial success, the Ceres Drive-In officially closed its doors again in 2021, according to the business’ Facebook account.
“We had a good time until we didn’t,” company representatives wrote in a Facebook post from October 2021.
Once COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, the drive-in couldn’t find enough employees to work there because of rude customers.
“People came with bad attitudes and negative posts, so we decided to close,“ Ceres Drive-In representatives said in the Facebook post. “We had many good patrons, but without employees it wasn’t worth it.”
“You guys just had bad customer service,” Facebook user Yvette Magana-Garcia said in a comment on the post, adding that it seemed “like a teenager is answering all emails.”
Another commenter, Jamshid Sami, complained about “being overcharged.”
The Ceres Drive-In website says there will be “no more movies” at the site.
Instead, the Whitmore Avenue site has become a paved area for RV parking called Ceres Paved and Secure RV Parking, according to the Ceres Drive-In website.
“Thanks for the support,” Ceres Drive-In representatives wrote on Facebook.
The Bee reached out to Ceres city officials to see if there’s a chance of the drive-in showing movies again, but they had not responded as of Wednesday afternoon.
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