What better way to go on a date than the Fairlee Drive In Theater in Fairlee, Vermont, to catch the latest blockbuster movie!

Built in 1950 by Reginald and Terri Downs, the outdoor movie theater was originally called the Holiday Park Drive-in. At that time, Interstate 91 didn’t exist and Route 5 was the main road. In 1960, six motel rooms were built on the snack bar’s south side, and in 1966, six more motel rooms were added to the north side. At about this time, the name was changed to the Hi-Way 5 Drive-in. Some 20 years later, however, with the second owners, the name was changed again to the Fairlee Motel and Drive-in Theater.

In 2003, a third owner (Peter Trapp) purchased the combo and added an FM transmitter for better sound (stereo sound 88.7 FM), installed outside sound speakers by the snack truck, and replaced the old carbon arc projectors with a 35 mm Simplex projector with a Zenon bulb and platter for a sharper and brighter picture. The movie schedule was also extended to include weekdays. When the movie industry pushed for conversion to digital, the new owners were able to raise enough money with the help of the local community and Fairlee Drive-in lovers far and wide to purchase a new digital projector, which was installed in 2014.

Along with the film, visitors can enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, fries, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, sodas, bottled water, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, candy, popcorn, and ice cream. 

Admission to the theater is $12 for adults 12 and older and $8 for children ages 5 to 11. Children under 5 years are free. Policy/Rules at the drive-in can be found by clicking here.

The Fairlee Motel and Drive-in Theater is one of only two motel-drive-in combinations in the country. It is also the oldest. The Fairlee Motel is a small one-story, park-in-front-of-your-room motel. Each room has a private bathroom with a shower. Other amenities include satellite televisions, clock radios with an alarm, telephone with voice messaging, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, and drive-in snack bar food available to motel guests in season (May to September). For more motel information, visit www.fairleedrivein.com/fairlee-hotel/. Movie information hotline is (802) 333-9192 (press 2, then 1). The Fairlee Motel and Drive-in Theater is located at 1809 US Route 5 North in Fairlee, Vermont.