After nearly six decades of screening films for the community, the Santee Drive-In may have projected its last movie. UC San Diego student Gage Swaner is leading an effort to save the historic site, rallying the community through a petition aimed at securing a historical designation for the property. With plans to present his case to the Santee City Council on November 14, Swaner hopes to preserve the drive-in and transform it into a vibrant cultural hub for Santee and the surrounding area.
Swaner's petition, hosted on Change.org, highlights the site's nostalgic elements, from its towering 70-foot movie screens to its classic concession stand, arguing that these features possess invaluable historical merit. He believes the drive-in offers more to the community than another industrial development could and hopes to see it repurposed as a space for film festivals, food markets, youth events, and other gatherings that foster local connection and culture.
Since closing to films on December 31, the Santee Drive-In has only operated weekend swap meets. Los Angeles-based developer North Palisades Partners is actively pursuing a purchase of the property, aiming to replace the drive-in with a 300,145-square-foot industrial complex. Although the developer hasn't specified a tenant, Swaner suspects the site may serve as a warehouse, possibly for Amazon.
In Swaner's view, the drive-in could evolve as a unique community space, preserving its mid-century architecture and transforming it into a location for diverse events that engage San Diegans of all ages. This concept has parallels to past preservation efforts, such as a 2002 attempt to save the Azusa Foothill Drive-In Theatre. While the Azusa site was ultimately demolished to expand a university campus, its recognition as a historic landmark provided valuable precedent and inspiration for Swaner’s mission.
To showcase the drive-in's potential, Swaner organized a music and art festival on the property in May, drawing around 1,000 attendees. However, noise complaints from neighbors led to city and developer concerns, with officials stating that the event’s sound levels exceeded permit allowances and indicating a reluctance to approve similar gatherings in the future. Despite this setback, Swaner views the event as a learning experience and is already exploring ways to enhance noise control in future events.
As North Palisades Partners proceeds with development plans and awaits final approval, Swaner continues to gather community support. He has already collected nearly 1,000 signatures and hopes to reach 4,000 to 5,000 before presenting his petition to the Santee City Council. While the future of the drive-in remains uncertain, Swaner hopes his initiative will inspire the community and city officials to consider the drive-in’s potential as a landmark and gathering place for years to come.
The Santee Drive-In was one of two drive-in movie theaters located in San Diego County. The South Bay Drive-In Theater, also opened in 1958, is located outside of Imperial Beach off the I-5 Freeway in South San Diego County. There are approximately 321 drive-in movie theaters remaining in the United States.
