Metro Vancouver's last drive-in movie theatre set to close
Metro Vancouver's last drive-in movie theatre is nearing the end of its days.
The Twilight Drive-In has announced that next summer will be its last, bringing an end to the Langley cinema after 18 years.
Twilight's owners are blaming a massive increase in property tax on the upcoming closure.
"Due to a 260% increase in property taxes over the last three years, and with 72% this year alone, our landlord has informed us that they will not be renewing our lease," the drive-in posted to social media.
The drive-in's impending closure means the province will be left with just two drive-in movie theatres.
The popular Starlight Drive-In Theatre in Enderby, and Park Drive-In Theatre in Prince George.
READ MORE: How Enderby's Starlight Drive-in has survived in a nearly extinct business
Drive-in movie theatres are a mere shadow of what they were a few generations ago.
According to the New York Film Academy drive-ins date back to the 1910s but the first patented drive-in opened in New Jersey in 1933. In their heyday of the 1950s and 1960s, there were more than 4,000 across the US, it's thought there are about 300 drive-ins still in operation now.
Numbers for Canada are harder to find, but there are about 40 operating across the country currently.
Drive-ins began to close as cities grew and the land was snapped up for real estate.
Starlight Drive-In Theatre co-owner Paul Lindquist previously told iNFOnews.ca that light population was also an issue with encroaching cities bringing street lights which created too much ambient light for outdoor movie screens.
The fate of the Twilight Drive-In is unknown, and its owners didn't respond to iNFOnews.ca request for an interview. The land, however, is very valuable and could likely be used some something more profitable than a seasonal movie business.
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BC Assessment listed the value at $39 million for the 11-acre site.
"We want to thank everyone for the tremendous support over the past 18 years, and we hope that we will see you at the drive-in to make some more terrific memories before we drive off into the sunset..." the companies parting message on social media says.
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