West Wind 9: All about the only drive-in movie theater left in Arizona

Arizona’s last-remaining drive-in movie theater brings movie magic to Maricopa County 365 days a year. Here’s what to know about the West Wind 9.

When warm weather settles in, it’s time to head to the drive-in for a rom-com, action-adventure thriller, or even the latest creepy horror flick. Luckily for those in the Southwest, all year is drive-in movie weather, but this sadly doesn’t mean that drive-in theaters abound. Arizona’s down to a single theater: the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In.

The good news is that West Wind 9 is open all year and plays the latest releases, so Arizonans can catch brand-new films on release weekend or come snuggle up for a weekend treat for that movie you were too busy to see when it came out a few weeks prior. Like with traditional theaters, West Wind 9 lists its current films and showtimes neatly on its website, and if you scroll down a little further, you can see the theater’s upcoming movie offerings. Once you’ve decided what film you want to see and what time you want to see it, you can easily select your date, time, and number of tickets before conveniently checking out on the theater’s website.

Ready to run — er, drive — not walk to West Wind 9? Here’s everything you need to know about Arizona’s last-remaining drive-in theater before booking your tickets.

What and where is the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In?

Arizona rarely sees rain, and the state is warm year-round, so heading to the drive-in is always a good move. Unfortunately, not everyone in the state has access to one, but folks living in one particular city have the state’s last theater of its kind: Glendale. More specifically, West Wind 9 is located at 5650 N 55th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301. Luckily, Glendale is close enough to Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Chandler that this drive-in can pull in a lot of moviegoers. 

As you might assume because of the “9” in its name, Glendale’s West Wind is part of the United States’ — and the world’s — largest drive-in theater chain, which consists of just six theaters. Three of its sister theaters are located in California, while the other two bring movie magic to folks in Nevada, and they’ve been capturing this magic since the chain was founded in 1952. That’s 72 years of first dates, anniversaries, friend hangouts, solo trips, family outings, and everything in between. (And if you noticed the number of theaters doesn’t add up to 9, that’s because the 9 actually represents the number of screens at this drive-in. That’s a lot of drive-in movies!)

When does the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In open & what are its hours?

Drive-in theaters are largely products of a bygone era, but anyone who remembers their heyday likely also remembers that drive-ins used to mostly — if not only — be open at night. Such is the case for West Wind 9, which operates daily from 5:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. 

That said, a closer look at the theater’s movie times indicates that the average start time, both on weekdays and weekends, isn’t until about 8 p.m. Moreover, some showtimes don’t start until past 11 or 12 midnight on occasion, so it’s safe to say West Wind 9 doesn’t turn into a pumpkin — or close if you’re not a fan of “Cinderella” — when the clock strikes midnight.

Don’t be alarmed if you drive by and spot coffee flowing and knick-knacks trading hands. Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons see the property transformed into the Glendale Public Market, a local hotspot featuring a café; vendors selling fresh produce, handmade clothing, and baked goods; folks offering resale items; live music; and more. You can take part from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every weekend and then come back a few hours later to catch the newest and hottest movie release.

How do you hear the movies at the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In?

Drive-in aficionados know there have long been two ways to hear sound at this type of theater: either through outside speakers or your car’s radio (which is basically magic, but we digress). So, how does it work at West Wind 9? The magic way, of course. When you arrive for your movie, you’ll receive instructions on which FM channel to turn to, and once your movie starts, you’ll hear its sound flow directly from your car’s speakers. This way, you can control the volume with your own speaker, and you don’t have to worry about outside noise interfering with your moviegoing experience.

Does the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In run double features like old-school theaters?

If you’re in the market for a double feature, look no further than West Wind 9. Movie tickets have only gotten more expensive, but seeing a double feature at this drive-in theater may be the best bang for your buck you can find in the state. According to the pricing scheme submitted by the theater for its official Google business profile, double features cost just $7.95 for adults, while tickets are a lowly $1.25 for kids between the ages of 5 and 11. Anyone under 5 will receive free admission. That’s not all, though: West Wind 9 even shows triple features sometimes, so you’re never far away from a movie marathon if you live in the greater Glendale area.

How much do movies at the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In cost?

We’ve established that West Wind 9’s double features are affordable, but what are its normal ticket prices like? We’re glad you asked because they’re also quite reasonable. When one adds an adult ticket to their cart on the theater’s website, they’ll see it ring up to $8.50 with a $1.25 booking fee, bringing the total adult ticket to $9.75 per person. Children’s tickets are $2 with no added booking fee, but do note that the $1.25 booking fee will be added to every adult ticket. So, if you purchase 2 adult tickets, the booking fee will be $2.50.

Important to understand is that the single ticket covers one showing, a double feature, or a triple feature — whatever is being offered by the drive-in that night. A double or triple is a better deal overall, but $9.75 for an adult ticket for a single show is still a steal, especially considering that primetime tickets in specialty formats (such as IMAX or Dolby) can run for over $20 next door in California (and perhaps even in parts of Arizona). Ultimately, while it might feel weird at first that the same ticket price could mean three different amounts of movie-going time, it’s best to consider the double and triple features as bonuses rather than the solo showing as a ripoff.

What food does the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In offer?

The best part of any movie is arguably the concessions you eat with it. At home, you can eat a full meal, but movie theaters are typically relegated to popcorn, nachos, pretzels, and other easily snackable options. But what about West Wind 9?

As it turns out, West Wind 9’s food is a good mix of traditional theater fare and more filling options. Popcorn, pretzel bites, and French fries all grace the menu, and the latter can be customized with toppings like chili, cheese, sour cream, and more. Then, the hot menu includes cheeseburgers, tacos, nachos, quesadillas, personal pizzas, and chicken tenders, but the standout item, especially for a movie theater, might just be the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. Spice lovers don’t often have a good go-to item at the theater, but West Wind 9 has them covered.

To cool down after the Nashville Hot ‘wich, you can nosh on one of the drive-in’s many ice cream options, which include sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, cones, and easily poppable Dibs. Not into ice cream? You can sate your sweet tooth with cookies, churros, cookie cakes, and Crispy Cakes, which are essentially very luxe Rice Krispie Treats in flavors like Cocoa Concoction and S’mores. There are even bags of chips and bagged pickles for those who want a snack but don’t want — or can’t have — popcorn. 

How much does the food at the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In cost?

At this point, you might be thinking that the food is probably very expensive, especially because the menu is pretty big and the movie ticket prices are pretty cheap, but West Wind 9’s food prices are actually comparable to other theaters. A large popcorn will put you out $8, and a large fountain drink is $5.75. However, like other theaters, West Wind 9 offers combos to help you save a little money when you buy both popcorn and a drink. For instance, the Large Popcorn & Large Soda combo is $12, saving you $1.75 compared to if you bought the two items separately.

The rest of the menu items are priced similarly akin to traditional theaters, too. Bags and boxes of candy cost between $4 and $6, while the ice cream options range from $3.25 to $5.25. On the hot side, personal pizzas cost $7 or $7.50 depending on toppings, and the chicken sandwiches and burgers land in the $7 to $8 range. If you just want a snack, though, plain French fries are just $4. Overall, you’re still paying theater prices, but they could be a lot worse.

Does the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In sell alcohol?

Does it ever. The West Wind 9 sells a variety of beers, as well as mixed drinks and cans of White Claw in myriad flavors. In fact, three distinct yet delicious flavors of margarita — classic, strawberry, and mango — keep folks coming back time and time again. 

What’s even more fun is that West Wind 9 is committed to elevating its guests’ experience, and it does so, at least in part, by developing new menu items. Case in point, the drive-in announced on Facebook this February the arrival of two new drinks to the permanent menu: the Paloma and Ranch Water. For the uninitiated, Palomas typically contain a mixture of lime juice, tequila, grapefruit soda, and salt, while ranch water is often just lime juice, tequila, and sparkling water (specifically the Topo Chico brand). Refreshing!

How much do the alcoholic bevvies cost, you ask? Not much, surprisingly. All of the adult drinks fall in the $7 to $10 range, with almost all of the drinks, including this year’s new Paloma and Ranch Water, being on the low end. The exception is the Michelada — a beer-based cocktail traditionally featuring lime juice, spices (extra black pepper, please), and sauces (Worcestershire, for example) — which sits at the top of the price range at $10.

Can you bring your own food to the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In?

West Wind 9’s website doesn’t mention prohibiting bringing your own food or drinks — except outside alcoholic beverages, which are strictly prohibited. Because you sit in your car the entire time, sans ordering concessions or using the restroom, bringing your own food and drinks shouldn’t be a problem. Just note — and this might seem like common sense, but it needs to be said — that you shouldn’t attempt to cook anything at the theater. West Wind 9’s FAQs page specifically references grills and other BBQ equipment not being allowed on the premises. 

Can you bring your pets to the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In?

Unfortunately, no. According to West Wind 9’s website, only service animals are allowed at this drive-in theater, so your puppies, kitties, and other animals will need to remain at home for the duration of your visit.

What do reviewers have to say about the West Wind 9 Glendale Drive-In?

A drive-in theater sounds like it should be a guaranteed hit — a box-office smash, if you will — but just like restaurants and other attractions, reviews can be hit or miss. On Yelp, West Wind 9 holds a 4.1-star rating from over 250 reviews at the time of writing, 128 of which rate the theater a full 5 stars.

What do people love most about West Wind 9? For starters, “this place deserves 5 stars simply because they’re a drive-in movie theater,” as one reviewer put it. Other than simply existing, this theater’s prices, cleanliness, staff friendliness, and size contribute to its high star rating. Nostalgia plays a factor, too, of course, but you really can’t beat a bargain with kind, helpful staff to boot. “Definitely recommend this place!!! You will not be let down!!” one reviewer summarized it.

Now for the negative reviews. West Wind 9 only has 20 1-star reviews, and most of them are related to specific incidents that the reviewers experienced with a staff member or with, for example, feeling the movie screen was too dark. “You can’t see the screens. Everything looks like it’s recorded on a potato,” one reviewer wrote, while another described their trip as “[a] hassle with a side of attitude.” 

Ultimately, the truth must come down to personal experience, but it’s worth noting that West Wind 9’s management team responds to a lot of Yelp reviews — positive and negative alike — to thank visitors and to make things right when someone has a negative experience. At least you can’t say the team doesn’t care!

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

READ MORE: Which movies were filmed in Arizona?