Will This Be the Final Season For One of Wisconsin’s Favorite Outdoor Movie Theaters?

The Highway 18 Outdoor Theater in Jefferson, Wisconsin has announced this summer will be its final season, but there is one way it could be saved.

Favorite Outdoor Movie Theaterss

Sitting outdoors watching a movie is a great way to spend a beautiful summer night, and during the COVID pandemic, drive-in movie theaters saw a huge boom in attendance. Now that the days of avoiding public gatherings is behind us, more people seem to be forgetting about the awesomeness of an outdoor theater, and that's NOT a good thing.

Living in Northern Illinois, we are lucky to have a few great drive-in movie theaters to choose from;

• McHenry Outdoor Theater in McHenry, Illinois (Opening day is March 22, 2024!)
• Midway Drive-in in Dixon, Illinois (no word on opening day for 2024 yet)
• Sky-Vu Drive-In in Monroe, Wisconsin (no word on opening day for 2024 yet)

Since we're on the subject of outdoor movie theaters in Wisconsin, one local favorite is currently preparing for its final season, unless someone swoops in to save it.

Highway 18 Outdoor Theater In Jefferson, WI Is Closing

Highway 18 Outdoor Theater in Jefferson is a go-to summer place for a lot of people in Southern Wisconsin, and after 70 seasons, this summer might be its last.

Lee Burgess, the owner of Highway 18 Outdoor Theater for the last 25 years, recently told WISN in Milwaukee;

I'm at the point now, I'm in my 70s," Burgess said. Nobody in my family wants to take over the business. I'm not going to live forever, it's time to begin the process of turning it over.

Burgess said that he plans to operate the theater for one more season, and if no one steps up to buy it and revamp it, it will close permanently at the end of 2024.

There is a message on the theater's website, highway18.com, that says;

The Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre is now for sale.

Interested parties should contact:

Barry Luce;

Re/Max Commercial Realty

920-222-9307

Email: barryluce@remax.net

When Does Highway 18 Outdoor Theater Open For the Season?

Highway 18 Outdoor Theater will kick off its 2024 season this May (no specific date has been announced yet), and they show one movie a night.

Better put a visit to this outdoor theater on your summer to-do list now, it might be your last chance.