Historic South Dakota Drive-In Theatre Celebrates 70 Years

Visiting drive-in movie theatres is truly a special moment. Unfortunately, they are becoming less popular as time goes on. However, there is a South Dakota drive-in movie theatre that has been a staple in the community since 1953.

The Pheasant City Drive-In Theatre in Redfield, South Dakota is celebrating 70 years in business...or "70 Years Under The Stars."

Get our free mobile app

There is so much rich history at the Pheasant City Drive-In Theatre. The local drive-in movie theatre is located just one mile north of Redfield on Highway 281. The Pheasant City Drive-In Theatre is the place to be on the weekends. It's a great place for the family and even for a date night.

The website for the Pheasant City Drive-In Theatre has everything you need to about this South Dakota gem. The drive-in movie theatre was built in 1953 by the State Theatre Company Brookings S.D. Dan Peterson (owner of the State Theatre Co.). It was the fourth drive-in the company created. Opening day for the Pheasant City Drive-In Theatre was August 13th, 1953. The first movie shown at the Pheasant City Drive-In Theatre was “Sioux Uprising."

The current owners of the drive-in are Dave and Stacey Marlow and her parents Clark and Rosa Davis. They officially purchased the Pheasant City Drive-In Theatre in January 2014. They even converted the theatre to digital, which allows more movies to be shown even if they were just released.

The Pheasant City Drive-In Theatre rotates different movies each week. Plus, they have delicious snacks to enjoy while watching the featured films.

It's the perfect weekend getaway if you're traveling around South Dakota this summer. Congratulations, Pheasant City Drive-In Theatre! Here's to 70 more years.

Here Are The 7 Remaining Drive-In Theaters In South Dakota

If you were born last century...you know, in the nineteen hundreds (ugh)...you may have spent a summer evening in the car watching movies. I don't mean on your phone, I mean at the drive-in movie theater!

If you were in Sioux Falls in the 1970s and '80's you may remember seeing Jaws and Indiana Jones at The East Park or the Starlite Drive-In. Both drive-ins opened just after World War 2. The East Park didn't make it out of the '70s, closing in 1978. The Starlite survived long enough to see the birth of home video, closing in 1985.

FLASHBACK: Remember the East Park and Starlite Drive-in Theaters in Sioux Falls?

Drive-in movies had a bit of a resurgence during the pandemic. They were a way to go out and do something social without getting out of your car.

If you tried one during that time, or you remember the fun of a warm summer evening watching movies on that giant screen there are still places in South Dakota and around Sioux Falls you can do it.

Here Are 13 of Your Favorite Fried Foods

Some foods need a fryer, others should never go near one. Forget baking. We are so obsessed with eating deep-fat fried foods. And every time you turn around, there's another menu filled with most of the items that have bathed in a hot-boiling fat vat.

There seems to be no end to what a deep fat fryer can cook. And we prove it every day with our love of crispy, greasy, burnt-tongue, salty foods.

I won't argue that an order of onion rings or sweet potato fries is the best marriage partner to a burger. Especially when they are made from scratch. So, pile them high.

What are some other delights that need the fryer?