Auburn-Garrett Drive-In Reopens After Three-Year Hiatus With Community Support

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — After nearly three years of silence, the Auburn-Garrett Drive-In is roaring back to life — thanks to a determined owner, a supportive community, and a screen that’s finally ready for the spotlight.

The beloved drive-in theater, a nostalgic staple for generations of Hoosiers, will reopen Friday night for its first showings since August 2022, when a violent storm tore through DeKalb County and ripped the massive outdoor screen from its frame.

“It looked like the hand of God grabbed that screen and threw it out at me,” recalled Julie Yarde, the owner of the drive-in, describing the moment she watched helplessly from the concession stand window. “I just stood there thinking, ‘Oh my gosh.’”

Rebuilding a Local Legacy

Since that night nearly three years ago, the theater has sat dark — its future uncertain. But Yarde never gave up. Instead, she spent the past 32 months painstakingly working to bring the drive-in back, piece by piece.

It wasn’t just about logistics. It was about preserving a community tradition that stretches back to the mid-20th century.

“We’ve worked long, long hours,” Yarde said. “We had a lot of changes, we had a lot of suggestions, we’ve had a lot of community help.”

Help came in many forms: skilled volunteers, fundraising events, and a GoFundMe campaign that rallied hundreds of donors who refused to let the screen go dark forever.

With their support, Yarde replaced the destroyed structure with a brand new high-definition digital projector and modern screen, elevating the viewing experience while maintaining the drive-in’s old-school charm.

Opening Night: Blockbusters and Memories

To celebrate its return, the Auburn-Garrett Drive-In will kick off the 2025 season with a Marvel Studios double feature: Thunderbolts followed by Captain America: A Brave New World. The films will begin at dusk on Friday, welcoming back families, date-night regulars, and longtime fans under the Indiana sky.

Yarde said there’s something poetic about reopening with superheroes on screen.

“In many ways, this community has been my superhero,” she said. “They helped lift this place up when it could have just stayed closed.”

A Resilient Road Back

The drive-in’s journey back has been anything but smooth.

The storm that struck in August 2022 not only destroyed the screen but caused internal damage to infrastructure, wiring, and lighting. Insurance covered only a portion of the repairs. Construction delays, supply chain issues, and high costs of modern projection equipment threatened to push the reopening even further.

But each setback only deepened the community’s resolve.

GoFundMe Contributions

In an age of streaming services and air-conditioned cineplexes, many questioned whether a small-town drive-in still had a place. But the outpouring of financial and emotional support showed that nostalgia still sells — and that local institutions, when loved, can come back stronger.

“We’re More Than a Movie Theater”

The Auburn-Garrett Drive-In is more than a place to watch films. For many in northeast Indiana, it’s a community anchor.

“We’ve had proposals here. Baby’s first movies. Parents bringing their kids, just like they were brought as kids,” Yarde said. “It’s generational.”

The drive-in originally opened in 1951 and has weathered multiple economic downturns, format transitions, and competition from multiplexes. It survived the 2008 recession and the rise of Netflix. But the 2022 storm nearly proved fatal — until a groundswell of support brought it back from the brink.

Yarde says the reopening isn’t just a celebration — it’s a testament to small-town resilience.

What’s New at the Drive-In

Visitors returning this summer will find a blend of old and new:

• Brand-new digital projection system for sharper image quality

• Upgraded sound system, including FM radio audio

• Improved screen visibility from all angles

• Refreshed concessions stand with local vendors and new menu items

• Touchless ticketing and online reservations added for convenience

Yarde says she made the upgrades with care, ensuring that none of the drive-in’s charm — like gravel lot parking, classic cartoon snack ads, or car-hopping kids in pajamas — was lost in the process.

Summer 2025 Schedule

While the full lineup is still being finalized, Yarde confirmed that the drive-in will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and select Sundays through late September. Films will be a mix of family-friendly blockbusters, cult classics, and seasonal favorites.

Later this summer, they plan to host:

• A retro ‘80s movie night

• A “Christmas in July” double feature

• Drive-in concerts featuring local bands

Yarde hopes to bring in school groups, vintage car clubs, and community fundraisers, keeping the space active even on non-movie nights.

“We want people to feel like this is their place,” she said. “A place where memories are made.”

“We Did This Together”

As anticipation builds, Yarde remains both grateful and humbled. The drive-in’s survival is not just her victory, she insists — it’s the community’s.

“People didn’t just donate money. They gave time, ideas, muscle. They shared their stories,” she said. “It’s their drive-in as much as mine.”

And now, after nearly three long years, the Auburn-Garrett Drive-In is once again open for showtime.