SANTEE, Calif. — The iconic Santee Drive-In Theatre showed its last movies Sunday evening as residents closed out the year by saying goodbye to a beloved San Diego County landmark.
Farewell, Santee Drive-In
The theater and swap meet shuttered its doors after 65 years because of financial challenges, according to a message posted on the drive-in's website.
"Sadly, due to the loss of customers, higher costs of business, and competition with streaming services, we can no longer afford to stay open," the message said. "We want to thank the Santee community for many years of support and ask for your understanding of our family’s decision."
The region now has just one drive-in movie theater, the South Bay Drive-In Theatre.
The Santee Drive-In will be replaced by a nearly 300,000-square-foot business complex. CBS 8 previously reported the Los Angeles-based developer North Palisade Partners plans to develop an industrial building involved in manufacturing, research and development, distribution and related office uses.
According to the Santee Drive-In's site, guests at the final showings Sunday evening viewed Aquaman and Trolls.
"We never expected this much support from the community and want to thank you all for selling us out these last couple of nights," drive-in staff wrote in a Sunday Instagram post, "just like the good ol' days!"
Watch related: Lights set to go out at beloved Santee Drive-In movie theatre (December 8, 2023)
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