Midway Drive-in Screen Tower (Demolished)
Kent, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Midway Drive-in Theatre was a Kent, WA entertainment staple since it first opened in the 1940's along the busy Route 99. After being opened for business for almost 50 years, it closed down in the 90's and had remained as a swap meet location.

Midway Drive-in Ticket Booth
Kent, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

For generations of motorists traveling old Highway 99, the towering screen at the Midway Drive-In Theatre was one of those landmarks that simply belonged to the landscape. Originally opening in 1942 as the Northwest Motor-In Theatre, it later became the Midway Drive-In and entertained moviegoers for more than half a century. Long before multiplexes and streaming movies, this was where families loaded the kids into the station wagon, picked up a bucket of popcorn, clipped the speaker onto the car window, and spent an evening beneath the stars.

Midway Drive-in Marquee
Kent, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Even during the golden age of drive-ins, the Midway stood out. It grew into one of the largest and best-known single-screen drive-in theaters in the Pacific Northwest, drawing movie fans from all over the region. On warm summer nights, the entrance road filled with cars waiting for the gates to open, while the giant screen tower watched over row after row of parked automobiles stretching across the property. For countless families, first dates, and weekend outings, this wasn't just a movie theater—it became part of growing up.

Midway Drive-in Marquee
Kent, WA
Photo courtesy Mike

The screen itself became just as memorable as the movies. Towering high above Highway 99, it greeted travelers around the clock. During the day it stood quietly against the sky, and after sunset it transformed into a giant outdoor movie palace visible from blocks away. Whether you stopped for a double feature or simply drove past on your way through town, it was hard not to notice.

Midway Drive-in Neon
Kent, WA
Photo courtesy Troy Wilson

Like many drive-ins across America, changing times eventually caught up with the Midway. As indoor multiplexes, home video, and changing entertainment habits drew audiences away, the theater adapted rather than disappear. The spacious parking lot that once filled with moviegoers found a new purpose as the Midway Swap Meet, where shoppers wandered between vendors looking for antiques, collectibles, tools, records, toys, and just about everything else imaginable. For years, the old drive-in continued serving the community in a completely different way, proving that even after the projectors went dark, the property still had plenty of life left in it.

Midway Drive-in Tower
Kent, WA
Photo courtesy Mike

Eventually, though, redevelopment became inevitable. The swap meet closed, demolition crews moved in, and the giant screen that had stood watch over Highway 99 for decades finally came down. Along with it went the ticket booths, the familiar marquee, and another piece of the roadside landscape that had welcomed generations of travelers.

In September of 2005, the Midway closed its doors for good. In October, the drive-in was demolished. Here's more information regarding the closure below.

Midway Drive-in Theatre Aerial View
Kent, WA
Photo courtesy Troy Wilson

UPDATE: My Dad, Frank Wilson, just retired from 30 years of managing the Midway Drive In and Swap Meet in Kent Washington. On the 25th of September 2005 the Midway closed its doors for the last time. I worked for my Dad for over 20 year at the Midway, it's sad to see it go. More photos of the Midway are below. Many thanks to Troy Wilson for update. 10-05

Today, nothing remains of the Midway Drive-In, but it's easy to imagine what it must have looked like on a warm summer evening with hundreds of cars lined up beneath the stars, children playing before the movie began, and the smell of fresh popcorn drifting across the lot. For many people, the Midway wasn't simply a place to watch a movie—it was a destination, a tradition, and one of the Pacific Northwest's great roadside landmarks.

Midway Drive-in Lot
Kent, WA
Photo courtesy Troy Wilson

Here is a YouTube video from just moments away from the Midway demolition in October 2005.

UPDATE: The Midway Drive-In Theatre site has been completely redeveloped and is now occupied by modern retail businesses, including a Lowe's Home Improvement store. The famous screen tower, ticket booths, and marquee are all gone, but for those who remember driving Highway 99, the Midway remains one of the Northwest's most beloved drive-in memories. 07-26

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