- Gets dark7:27 pmGates open 7:45pm
- Google rating4.60123456789,012345678901234567890123456789reviews
- Screens1
- Price$10*a carload
- Outside foodAllowed*
- Sit outsideYes*
- Car spots415
- This week's moviesOn Facebook pageWeekly
- Opened1950
Wes-Mer Drive-In sits on Business Highway 83 in Mercedes, in the Rio Grande Valley. Admission is $10, and as of 2026 Tuesday is bargain night at $5.
Reviewers say the $10 covers everyone in the vehicle for a double feature. There is a concession stand, and the box office takes cards, cash, Apple Pay, Google Pay and tap to pay. Check the theater's own page or call ahead for what is showing, since the site does not keep a current lineup.
Location
Where is Wes-Mer Drive-In Theater?
Wes-Mer Drive-In Theater is at 2090 Business Hwy 83 E, Mercedes, TX 78570. The entrance is at West 2nd Street.
Loads Google Maps when you tap it
Where to eat nearby
If you would rather eat before the movie than at the counter:
- Tacolandia
Start time
What time does the movie start at Wes-Mer Drive-In Theater?
What Wes-Mer Drive-In Theater says: The theater posted 8:00 pm for the first movie for the week of September 11 to 17, 2026. Full dark was 8:04 pm on September 11, so the movie started about 4 minutes before dark. Full dark was 7:57 pm on September 17, so the movie started right at dark.
In October the sun sets around 7:04 pm and it gets dark around 7:27 pm.
Dark means full dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. It is not a time Wes-Mer Drive-In Theater promises, and some drive-ins start the movie before it. Plan to be parked by sunset.
Here is when it gets dark in each month, from April to October, on the 15th.
| Month | Gets dark |
|---|---|
| April | 8:18 pm |
| May | 8:35 pm |
| June | 8:51 pm |
| July | 8:51 pm |
| August | 8:32 pm |
| September | 7:59 pm |
| October | 7:27 pm |
For more on what time it gets dark and when drive-ins really start their movies, read our start-time guide.
Prices
How much Wes-Mer Drive-In Theater costs
- Per car$10*One price for the whole car
Amenities
Food, restrooms and rules
- Snack bar
- You can bring your own food and drink
- Restrooms in a building
- You can sit outside your car
- Payment methods: cards, cash, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Tap to Pay
- Staff hand each car a concession menu at the entrance and tell you where to park
- Closed Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, open Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Showtimes
What's playing at Wes-Mer Drive-In Theater this week
Wes-Mer Drive-In posts this week's movies and start times on its Facebook page, usually weekly. Check there for tonight's show.
Reviews
What visitors say about Wes-Mer Drive-In Theater
From 2,275 visitor reviews, 4.6 stars.
Price and value
- Ten dollars per vehicle covers everyone in the car and two movies.
- Tuesday is bargain night at five dollars a vehicle.
Concessions and facilities
- Reviewers call the snack bar prices low and the food good, with turkey legs named more than once.
- Several reviewers mention updated restrooms and clean facilities.
- The concession line can run long on a busy night.
Atmosphere
- Regulars describe it as a nostalgic, family place they have come to since childhood.
- People sit outside their vehicles in lawn chairs or in the trunk.
Before you go
Know before you go
- The box office opens 7:45pm
- Rain or shine, the movie plays
- Arrive 30 to 60 minutes before showtime to park closer, the lot fills back to front.
- Bring your own snacks if you do not want to wait, reviewers report concession waits up to an hour.
- Approach from the Wes-Mer side of the road to join the line without making a U-turn.
- Many cars leave after the first movie, so you can move up for the second.
History
The history of Wes-Mer Drive-In Theater
The Wes-Mer Drive-In opened on July 6, 1950 in Mercedes, Texas, with Linda Darnell in Everybody Does It. Archer Theatres Inc. operated the single-screen theater, which held about 400 to 430 cars. The drive-in went dark in 1984, sat idle for ten years, and reopened in 1994 under new owners. The Wes-Mer changed ownership again in 2004.
FAQ
Questions about Wes-Mer Drive-In Theater, answered
How many screens does Wes-Mer Drive-In have?
Wes-Mer Drive-In has one screen. Everybody on the lot watches the same film, so there is nothing to choose when you arrive. Park where you like, tune your radio and wait for the light to go.
What time does the movie start at Wes-Mer Drive-In?
What Wes-Mer Drive-In says: The theater posted 8:00 pm for the first movie for the week of September 11 to 17, 2026. Full dark was 8:04 pm on September 11, so the movie started about 4 minutes before dark. Full dark was 7:57 pm on September 17, so the movie started right at dark. In October it gets dark around 7:27 pm. Check with the theater on the day you go.
How much does Wes-Mer Drive-In cost?
Admission to Wes-Mer Drive-In is $10 a carload. That is one price for the whole vehicle, so five of you pay what two would.
Can I bring my own food to Wes-Mer Drive-In?
You can bring your own food and drink to Wes-Mer Drive-In at no extra charge. Pack a cooler and the tickets are the only thing you pay for. The counter is still there if you would rather buy dinner when you arrive.
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