Skyview Drive-In Theatre

We have been to Skyview many times, and a reoccurring theme is a problem with the restrooms. Whether it’s flooding or a single stall out of order there is always something wrong. On this visit they were completely out of order and the only option were portable Johnny on the Spot, disgusting, dirty out houses. At least they had hand washing stations, right? Nope. How are patrons supposed to wash their hands prior to enjoying their popcorn or snacks? Not to mention the pile of raw waste and feminine products on the grass along the drive way to the box office that we encountered when waiting in line to get in. From now on we will drive the extra distant to Starlite in Cadet, MO.

We just went to see Jungle Book (for the first time) and Zootopia (for the second time), and I was pleasantly surprised that they used caption for both films! Being someone who has had difficulty in the past hearing everything and then waiting for the film to come out on DVD, it was great that I didn’t have to miss anything! I’ve been using caption for years, and it’s just second nature. It didn’t detract from the films and wasn’t even in the middle of the screen, so people could still watch the movie and listen to it if they weren’t used to the captions. The price is great, getting two films for $ 10 per adult and the concession wasn’t too bad either with the price being around $ 14 for two medium drinks and the largest popcorn we saw. We had a great night and look forward to going back some time this season.

I took my family to this drive-​in for the first time last weekend & had a nice time. The bathrooms were in POOR repair, but it was otherwise very enjoyable, so much so that we returned this weekend. We used an electric outlet in the main office to inflate our air bed & each time & an older gentleman, whom I perceived to be in charge, came out to make small talk. After purchasing concessions we returned to our vehicle, and I told my husband how great it was to get that throw-​back feel like when I went to the drive-​in my grandparents owned when I was a kid.
We both tried the popcorn and agreed it was very chewy, grossly so. It was not a big deal, we figured we’d trade it out between films since the first feature was starting. When the break came I took the bag to the register & explained that I’d purchased it earlier & found it to be very chewy, & simply asked if I could exchange it. She said she’d have to get the manager who indeed was the man we’d formerly spoken with outside, only now with a very different demeanor. He came in & curtly asked when I had purchased it. I repeated that we’d gotten it prior to the first show but it was a poor texture at that time, which is why so little was eaten from the bag. He told me «it’s (my) popcorn now». I reiterated that I didn’t want to miss part of the movie to exchange it, but that it WAS very chewy upon receipt. A nearby employee said, «That’s because it’s humid out,» & the manager promptly chastised him, ordering him not to interject. Even then he refused to replace it. After telling him how dismayed I was by his lack of courtesy despite his own employee speaking in my favor & how disappointed I was with his attitude given my formerly positive perception of him, he finally said he was not giving me a refund (I had never asked for one), but he’d exchange it for new popcorn (all the while barking at me).
Whew!
A customer complaint over popcorn should have been a non-​issue. I’d have proceeded to enjoy a rare, childless date night & would likely have been a lifelong customer of this establishment. However, following this exchange, I feel very disrespected and undervalued as a customer here. Of more significance, I perceived the manager to speak harshly to the young man he employed, who was obviously only trying to help. Subsequently, I have no desire to return here.

Go here! Just a thirty minute drive from Fenton and a great reason to be outside for just a few hours. I went here last night to see the Jurassic World/​Pitch Perfect 2 movie. We pulled in 45 minutes before the show and got one of the last spaces. I recommend bringing a blanket (it gets chilly by midnight), plenty of food, and comfy seating. They are having deals on Groupon all the time, though some are only good Sunday-​Thursday (lesson learned). Even without a Groupon, it’s just ten dollars an adult, so not bad for a date night!

I really don’t know why more of these type of places don’t exist in our world, drive-in’s are the epitome of Americana, it offers everything. 2-​for-​1 showings, the comfort of your own car, bring your own food, blankets, slippers, pj’s, big screen, snack bar. The experience destroys going to a regular theater, I’ll be back here as often as I can.

Excellent service and top notch staff. Lots of parking for a good view and the sound quality through the radio is great.

Nostalgia at it’s best! But seriously where else can you have date night with two movies and bring your own food. You can bring bring pets!

Took the wife here (finally) to catch a horror flick towards the end of the season. I was also quite excited as I had never experienced a drive-​in movie prior to my Skyview visit. I also had an old Groupon, which split the cost of the tickets.
This was one of the better movie going experiences I’ve had in a while — mainly because it was cost-​efficient, unique, and ultimately different than the traditional indoor theater experience.
Here are a few reasons why you should check them out if you are an avid movie goer:
1. You can get there early, get a nice spot, and set up before darkness sets in and the movie starts. Some folks even set up chairs outside their vehicle and cozy up for the show. People get creative — turn those hatchbacks, truck beds, and trunks into seating/​lounging areas.
2. They allow patrons to bring anything you heart desires into the venue — food, drinks, blankets, dogs, you name it! The other bonus to this is they allow patrons to shop at the Schnucks (next door) — you simply leave with your ticket stub and then show it at the gate for re-​entry.
3. They have concessions and onsite restrooms. You don’t have to buy food there, but I recommend it in support of the staff and venue.
4. The movies are broadcast via FM radio. The sound quality is spectacular — especially with no outside noise interference.
5. There are two screens with two different show times each night, and the movie schedule is posted online (and sent via email).
The Skyview season just ended a couple weeks back, but they will reopen in the spring. I definitely recommend checking it out — great place for a nice, relaxing date. It’s very easy to find and a mere 20 – 25 from downtown STL. It’s cheap considering all you have to truly pay for are the movie tickets. Just a neat place to check out when you want to change up your movie going game. Give Skyview a whirl!

The last night of the season .It’s my first time ever to be in the drive in theater. it’s interesting. woman bathroom is on the other side of the building though.

I feel like a kid again whenever I go to the drive-​in and Skyview delivers! The larger than life screens and sound quality via the radio were pretty good. Parking was fairly easy even though I showed up a little late and the first feature had already started.
Tailgating is encouraged so I did as the Jones do. Brought a picnic, beverages and blankets and hunkered down for a two movie adventure. Had a great time and look forward to another drive-​in moment when I get back to the STL.

Skyview is great. What else can you say about a place where you can bring your doggies and own food (Pizza Hut/​Wing Street, Schnucks and Walgreens are next door) to the movies? And $ 10 bucks for two popcorn flicks is still a nifty price. Also, it seems like they enhanced or bought a new popcorn machine as it’s the freshest I’ve tasted here in years. (Be sure to layer.) So pick a beautiful summer night, imbibe plenty of caffeine and take in a double feature under the stars until midnight. And a convertible couldn’t hurt…

Last drive in around! Fantastic! They show the greatest movies, charge a reasonable flat rate for a double new release feature. We come here at least once a year! Great family time and great date destination!

I went here for the first time with two of my nephews and my mom on Wednesday and had a great time. This was our first time coming here.
I first heard about this place off of Unilocal and then soon after bought a coupon for 2 Adult tickets (2 kids can come in free with each paying adult!) and a popcorn.
It was about a 30 minute drive from mid-​county and the movies start approx 20 min after sunset. That generally means between 8−9pm during the movie season. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you head out as I can’t see it being as much fun during bad weather.
There are two screens and the sound comes from a radio station. Its important to bring lawn chairs if you don’t plan on sitting in your vehicle as the ground is rocky. I also brought an old battery-​powered boom box to pick up the movie sound. It worked out great (they play old time 50s songs on the radio station before the movies start). We also had no problem seeing the screen at all. They do a good job of spacing out the vehicles based on size.
Another great part about this place is that each screen shows two movies so you get to watch two movies for the price of one (if you can stay awake til 1am).
In addition to a concession stand, the movies are located right next to a Schnucks. You can buy everything you want to eat/​drink and bring it inside. Alcohol is allowed here.
There is also a playground open for kids before the movies start.
This place is worth checking out. I really enjoyed my first drive-​in movie experience.

this was my first time at a drive-​in. it’s a great retro date night spot (also very family friendly)!
it’s a large parking lot with two large screens. you listen to the audio through the radio– both audio and visual quality were great. there’s a concession stand to get your popcorn fix.
four movies are shown (two per screen) a night and you can stay for both.
i’m looking forward to going back!

This place is awesome. I had never been to a drive-​in theater before, and am now disappointed it took this long for me to go. They have 2 screens, and each play 2 movie per night — only open on fri and sat nights. The sound is broadcast through am FM station, so you can tune in through your speakers or a portable radio. It’s $ 10 a person, which I don’t think was bad, since you can see 2 movies for that. The concession stand is extensive (burgers, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn) and really cheap for a movie theater ($ 5 for large popcorn). We went with lawn chairs and sport sized SUV, so half sat outside and half inside the car. I thought we were pretty prepared, but was several mistaken — people who frequent here know how to do it. They came with coolers, candles, blankets, what looked like multi-​course meals — it was impressive.
Tips: There’s a schnucks right next to it, so get there a bit early, swing in a pick up snacks, cold beer, etc. Also, plan on waiting a bit (10 min or so). I will definitely be back!
Pros: cool experience, cheap consessions, great picture quality
Cons: only open on Friday and Saturday nights

This was my first time going to a drive-​in and I really enjoyed it! We got a groupon and came on a Sunday evening to watch IronMan 3. It wasn’t too crowded but the parking lot was quite full of cars parked at each spot. Others brought chairs to sit outside next to their car, or backed up their car and sat on the edge of the trunk to watch the movie.
It was fun getting buttery popcorn from the stand and returning to the car. They also gave us a trash bag to keep the car from getting messy. I was happy with the quality of the screen and audio — we didn’t want to use up my car battery so we used our phones to connect to the radio channel with the movie audio.
The only con is that I had to go the bathroom really really badly in the middle of the movie during a scary scene (the people with glowing red eyes… yes I am easily scared) and I got lost while looking for the bathroom, which wasn’t marked clearly, and it was a bit creepy to wander around in the dark in circles around the building. Now that I know where the bathroom is, that won’t happen again. Will have to bring friends here so that they can experience a drive-​in theater!

It’s a rarity and get’s 5 stars for that. This drive in however isn’t what I grew up on. No speakers on your windows. (You better have a radio with you or a car that doesn’t have to have lights on to run the radio) and their concession stand isn’t clean what so ever. Oh and you better use the bathroom before going here, which is hard because two movies is a long time to «hold it». I’ve been here several times and all but one time all stalls had no toliet paper. I’d rather pee outside in front of strangers then go in that place again.
I do like showing my daughter the experience of a drive in since it reminds me of home.

How does this place have so few reviews…
With Mary Kate A. posting a proper and complete rundown of Skyview just last week (if you’ve never been to Skyview, read their website along with her review, and you’ll be ready to go), there are only a couple of observations that I might add:
1) Seriously: remember to take cash. Payment is per person, not per car.
2) The FM signal is pretty clear within the confines of Skyview. The slip of paper Mary Kate A mentioned (that you get with your ticket) will list the stations to tune in to. Sitting on lawn chairs? Bring a small boom box if you want. Sitting on the roof of your car? This is a perfect place to use an old Walkman. Sitting in your car? Finally: a great use for a good in-​car audio system!
*Bonus tip: before the show, the theatre’s radio stations play a mix of rock and pop songs that are super summer-​feeling. Kind of worth tuning in to! (You know, if you like that sort of thing…).
3) The features are double (for the price of one admission). There’s an intermission between the first and second movies if you only want to see the first film before calling it a night. (Be on the lookout for the vintage concession on-​screen ads!).
4) Parking the first time is not hard, but do pay attention (and go early if you can). There are basically two kinds of parking spots: orange and white. When buying tickets at the entrance, you’ll be assigned to one of these and will be able to identify which kind of spot is which when looking at the posts dotting both lots (which appear to be where the speakers might’ve once sat). Trucks, SUVs and other larger cars are directed to the orange spaces while smaller vehicles are assigned to the white ones. Keep in mind that you won’t have an assigned space, but rather are asked to pull into one of the sections for your type of car. There’s a map on the back of the instruction sheet that comes with your ticket that’ll help explain where to go.
5) BBQs and open flames are prohibited. Bar-​be-​cueing at home and bringing it with you? Perfectly legitimate, as far as I can tell. Mary Kate mentioned the Schnuck’s nearby; there are a couple of other fast-​food, gas station, somewhat-​close-​by local restaurant options too, though Schnuck’s is a a great one-​stop choice.
It’s kind of a quintessential-​feeling American experience really, and Skyview’s still doing it right. The place isn’t fancy, but a lot of couples, friends and families have made it a destination and tradition that’s very accessible and quite a bit of fun.

My first ever drive-​in movie. I grew up listening to stories of my mom and dad going to them often. So, I thought this would be a great opportunity to go myself.
The way I learned about this place is completely random. I was babysitting for one of my usual families Friday afternoon. The kids were telling me how they got to see the movie Brave with their mom that morning. I love Disney Pixar movies, and I was craving to see Brave. Some how I forgot that Friday was opening day. When the dad got home to relieve me, he told me that Skyview is where I should go view it. He told me the time it was showing (8pm), and I didn’t even bother looking it up myself. Instead I took his word for it, GPSed the place, and off my boyfriend and I got to the drive-​in.
There is a Schnuck’s right beside the movies. We stopped in and got some grub to take with us in. Upon entering the drive-​in, you pull up where you get your tickets. It’s $ 10 per person in the car. For Jason and I it was $ 20. I told him next time we go, he has to get in the trunk. Keep in mind you must pay cash.
The attendant gives you a trash bag for you to discard your trash, and 2 pull off raffle ticket things. Along with your trash bag, there are paper instructions on the movie theatre and parking to guide you to your screen. Follow the instructions because if you ask the movie attendants, they turn out to be little to no help. They talk quickly and extremely mumbled. We would know after trying to talk to 2 separate attendants guiding us through the parking lot packed with cars.
Once we got to our location, we set up shop. Had dinner and continued to wait. Apparently 8pm wasn’t show time after all, but instead at 9pm. We sat there an hour eating, talking, and watching the sun set before the movie came on.
It turns out getting there an hour early is a solid idea. When we arrived, the place was already jam packed full. As time progressed, it increasingly got busier. For those who have kids, there is a playground for the kiddies to kill the time under the huge movie screen. The lights on the screen signal before the show is about to start. Good concept to have.
When here, you don’t have the speaker boxes like the old days. You tune in on the FM radio to listen to the movie. Clever if I might say so myself. Everyone has their windows down in their cars anyway, so if you do choose to sit in lawn chairs, you’re not going to have difficulty hearing the film.
Concessions and bathroom facilities are available. We didn’t use the concessions since we brought our own stuff, but I can imagine they probably have standard priced items like you would get at the normal theatre.
Right as the credits started we high tailed it out of there. Probably a rude move on my part, but I was tired and ready to hit the road. We made a clean getaway and dodged the traffic out of there.
Brave was a good movie. The experience was a lot of fun and totally worth the 25 minute drive to Belleville to see it. I would do this again and encourage you to do the same.

I had absolutely NO idea that we had a Drive-​In so close to us! Located just across the River in Belleville, IL Skyview is the real deal! Well, I’m pretty sure it’s the real deal since I’ve never been to a drive-​in before Friday night. But it seemed to be pretty authentic.
If you’ve never been to the drive-​in before, here’s how it works: cars line up to pay (and this one only takes Cash! ooops, I had to run to the Schnucks next door to get some!) and are given their movie tickets, along with a parking permit. Depending on what kind of vehicle you came with will depend on where you can park. Pick a spot in your designated area and tune your radio to the designated station.
You can bring snacks and booze, too! Since our small group met up earlier at Square One Brewery, we each took a growler to-​go with some cups — ’cause heaven forbid we see a movie without beer! I also brought some popcorn and candy. And if you do want to sit outside the car, bring some camping chairs.
Iron Man 2 was playing first, which is what we came to see. It was almost exactly two hours. And for $ 9 per person, you actually get two movies if you want to stick around for the second show. We didn’t, ’cause it was getting late and were tired. But $ 9 for two current movies is a steal!
I am SO going back again this summer before it gets too hot. Anyone care to join me?