THE BIG SCREEN If it weren’t for the new releases, you might think you’d been transported back in time at the Winchester Drive-In . Ever since the summer of 1968, the outdoor theater has been a weekend tradition for friends and families who follow the vintage neon sign, Chester the Cowboy, to catch double features. The Winchester remains the only operating drive-in theater in OKC, and despite the fact that it plays modern-day movies, it looks utterly preserved in time — from the drive-thru ticket booth to the buttery popcorn. In Stockyards City, Rodeo Cinema is so historic that it makes the Winchester seem young. Originally built as a silent movie house in 1924, pre-dating Route 66 by two years, the single-screen theater now runs as a non-profit putting the spotlight on independent film. Today, it’s one of the most unique theaters in the city, showing occasional newer releases along with black-and-white oldies, Oklahoma-made films, documentaries and creative seasonal fare (like “Scooby-Doo” and “Night of the Living Dead” for Halloween).
winchester drive-in
ROADSIDE ICONS In OKC, some of the most eye-catching attractions have stories to share. Like the Lake Hefner Lighthouse , one of just two lighthouses in land- locked Oklahoma (the other is in Elk City), built in 1999 as a direct homage to the Brant Point Lighthouse in Nantucket. The latter was established in 1746 and still operates today, making it one of the oldest in the nation. Standing 36-feet-tall (which is 10-feet taller than Brand Point), with a working red light at the top, the Lake Hefner Lighthouse is designated as an official lighthouse by the Coast Guard, although its primary use is for photo ops and sunset backdrops. In the Wheeler District, the Wheeler Ferris Wheel had a Route 66 journey of its own. Before it soared over the Oklahoma River, offering panoramic skyline views, it stood on Santa Monica Pier, where it was featured in countless commercials and blockbusters, like Iron Man. When the pier switched to another model, they literally sold it on eBay to the Wheeler District for $132,400. Once disassembled, it traveled across the country, and underwent $1 million in renovations before opening in its new home in 2016. Nowadays, it’s a marquee attraction, surrounded by hammocks and an iconic “OKC” sculpture.
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