Iconic Showboat Drive-in to Project Final Movie in Harris County Before Closure

The Showboat Drive-in, situated northwest of Cypress, is slated to showcase its final film on Sept.14 before shutting down. Citing a range of issues from the COVID-19 pandemic impact to property taxes and development-induced light pollution, owner Andrew Thomas has confirmed the closure of the theater to ABC13. Thomas explained that the significant reduction in major movie releases in recent years has made it impossible to sustain the drive-in’s operations.

"The property that we're on right now is 32 acres, but the drive-in itself really only takes up like 10 of those," Thomas said in an interview with the Chron. It reflects a story of adaptation and resilience in the face of a business model that COVID-19 irrevocably altered. Thomas mentioned that at the current expense level, without a shift in product availability, staying afloat is a challenge.

Gone, for now, will be the experience that generations of movie-goers enjoyed since the drive-in first opened in 2005. In the wake of this transition, twelve employees such as Kendall Carty, who started as a teenager and rose to manage the facility, will lose their jobs and homes. "It is essentially my life," Carty told ABC13. Thomas and his wife are however committed to continuing Showboat's legacy at two new locations.

Thomas plans to add at least one more location on the city's south side and in the Waller area. If all goes well, the Showboat may reopen in Spring 2026. Meanwhile, the theater aims to make its final days memorable, encouraging patrons to enjoy a few more shows before it closes.