SODA SPRINGS — Drive-in movie theaters first made a popular appearance in 1933 along the coast of New Jersey.
The idea of getting to relax in the privacy of your own car with the family in pajamas was priceless. By the late '50s there were 4,000 drive-ins across the United States. Surprisingly less than 20 years later their popularity dwindled as indoor theaters made a surge in the 1970s and forced many drive-in theaters to start closing.
Fast forward to 2024 and less than 200 drive-ins are operating nationwide.
Idaho houses the most drive-ins per capita today with six still running. One of those is the Idan-Ha Drive-in right off Highway 30 in Soda Springs.
The Idan-Ha was originally built in 1954 by Donald M. Mendenhall and was then named the Dawn-a Vu Drive-in, named after his daughter, Elnora Dawn. The Dawn-a-Vu was a 300 car drive-in in its prime and the original snack shack was rumored to be set up for a place to stay and sleep after a long feature and then would offer breakfast as well as opening the grill at night for dinner.
By the '80s Jeff and Shauna Bowen owned both the indoor and outdoor theaters in Soda Springs and by then the Dawn-a Vu had been renamed the Idan-Ha Drive-in. The Bowens sold pieces of the drive-in property to Hunzeker Ford, reducing the outdoor theater's capacity to about 100 cars.
Jared Davis, a Soda Springs native, wasn’t a stranger to movie theaters when he and his wife Alisha bought the Idan-Ha from the Bowens in 2014. Davis grew up working at the Bowens' indoor and outdoor theaters for years in high school. He helped manage the theaters and learned the ins and outs of projectors and running the business.
Davis said a committee of local residents started a “Save the Drive-in” campaign around the time he and his wife bought the Idan-Ha because they immediately needed to obtain a working movie projector so that the outdoor theater could operate.
He said the committee was able to raise just enough money to buy a projector so that the Idan-Ha could continue.
Davis chuckles as he shares all the frustrating struggles that come with ownership of a 70-year-old drive-in theater.
In 2016, Davis’ job at the Idaho National Laboratory caused him and his family to move from Soda Springs to Idaho Falls. Davis knew he had to do whatever it took to keep the drive-in open despite the move.
He said he has a deep rooted love for the community and the hometown tradition the Idan-Ha has become.
Though they currently still reside in Idaho Falls, Davis, often with family in tow, still comes to Soda Springs on the weekends to keep the movies playing at the Idan-Ha.
The drive-in is open every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Davis said, “We have a lot of loyal customers we enjoy seeing week after week, year after year. I really appreciate the opportunity to give youth a place to work, teach them responsibilities, and share what I know about owning a business.”
Davis said keeping the historic drive-in open isn't about turning a profit.
“We really do what we do to just keep this open to the community," he said. "By the time we travel every weekend all summer to run the 'show,' turning a profit isn’t why we do this. We understand it’s not a glamorous snack shack or property, but that’s not what you come to see. You come to see a movie under the gorgeous backcountry Idaho stars. We are grateful so many still appreciate what we do. We are always impressed with the area and their support. We have many who drive from Star Valley (Wyoming) or farther just to come see a movie at our drive-in.”
Davis is honored to own one of the last original drive-ins in Idaho and says he will continue to do all he can to keep it open.
He and his family continue to somehow push through season after season, always wondering if this could be their last.
This year they're celebrating their 10th anniversary of owning the Idan-Ha as well as the drive-in's 70th birthday.
Davis hopes to hold some special events at the Idan-Ha to commemorate the milestones when it opens for the summer season, so stay tuned.
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