The last drive-in of Northern Michigan

If you think your life is a drag, at least you don't have to watch a movie from the back of a truck on a humid night with a 14-foot neon hot dog for company. The Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre & Diner has been holding the line in Honor since July 4, 1953. It is the only drive-in left in Northern Michigan, making it a rare survivor of a passing era.

The operation has seen some heavy lifting over the decades. Jean Griffin ran the show starting in 1959 after her husband passed away, and she reportedly did so in high heels - because style matters even when you are managing a concession stand. Later, the Clarks took over the keys, and Harry Clark turned the grounds into a bizarre sculpture gallery. He installed a pink cow with cherry spots and a Volkswagen with a clown head. It is some high-level weirdness that works perfectly for the vibe.

Technically, the place isn't a total dinosaur. While the sound system still utilizes original vacuum tube motiograph amplifiers, the theater upgraded to digital HD projection in 2013 thanks to a Honda campaign. They also have mini-golf, a dog rest area, and caramel apples made daily. Mindi Jarman took over the keys in September 2024 to keep the lights on. If you go, expect PG-13 movies and actual snacks that aren't just cardboard.

Today, the place remains a local fortress of nostalgia. It survived the death of the drive-in, the rise of streaming, and various ownership changes. It still offers the basic human requirements of a good night: a screen, some sugar, and a place to sit that isn't your living room.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons