Longtime owners remain at the helm after buyers withdraw
The announced transfer of ownership of the M‑F Drive‑in in Milton‑Freewater unraveled on July 17 when the prospective buyers informed the current owners they were terminating the agreement. Mike and Lorie Spiess, who purchased the drive‑in in 2015 after managing it for years, told the East Oregonian the Browns decided the deal would not proceed.
The Spiesses said they will continue operating the outdoor theatre through the end of the 2026 season and plan to put the business and the land up for sale at season’s end. They described the change as a setback but not a shutdown.
"To quote Buzz Lightyear, we are prepared to serve you 'to infinity and beyond!'"
Mike Spiess acknowledged signs in late June that the transaction might falter, and said the Browns "just didn't feel it was going to work for them." Andrew Brown declined to comment to the East Oregonian.
Schedule adjustments and community events
The Spiesses said special events planned for the season will continue, though the regular operating schedule will be altered. The drive‑in will be open to the public through Tuesday in the coming week, with Wednesday reserved to honour area first responders. Going forward, the facility will operate Friday through Monday, and the weekly carload night will move from Wednesday to Monday.
- Open days: Friday–Monday (through the rest of the season)
- Short‑term plan: continue operations through end of summer 2026
- Long‑term plan: list business and land for sale after season concludes
History and local context
The drive‑in has been in the Spiess family for decades. Mike's parents, Dick and Loretta Spiess, acquired the enterprise in 1961 and opened it for the 1962 summer season. The family took over management in 2009 and assumed full ownership in 2015.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1961 | Dick and Loretta Spiess purchase drive‑in |
| 1962 | Drive‑in opens for summer season |
| 2009 | Mike and Lorie Spiess begin managing the drive‑in |
| 2015 | Spiesses assume full ownership |
| 2026 | Planned sale to Andrew and Stephanie Brown announced, later terminated |
For the community that has used the outdoor theatre for films and special events, the immediate outcome is continuity: the drive‑in will remain open for the season under the Spiesses' stewardship. Longer term, the family's decision to market the business and land after the season will determine whether new ownership takes the operation forward or the site changes hands for another purpose.
Owners said they remain "energized to continue to be present for the community," and intend to keep programming in place while preparing for a sale process after the 2026 season concludes.
