At their peak in the late 1950s and early ’60s, there were about 4,000 drive-in movie theaters throughout the United States, with seven in the Toledo area alone. But the days of the drive-in seem to be long gone.

Now, there are fewer than 400 left in the United States, and just one in the Toledo area: the Sundance Kid Drive-In in Oregon. (There is also another drive-in in the region: the Field of Dreams Drive-In Theater in Liberty Center.)

Though approaching the last of its kind, the Sundance Kid is thriving, said Jim Walter, the theater’s owner, who said 500 to 600 cars usually turn out on a night with good weather and good movies.

“I watch the weather six months a year,” he said.

The Sundance Kid Drive-In opened in 1956 as a single-screen operation. In the 1970s, the owners added a second screen to accommodate more demand. Now, the property can welcome about 550 cars on the front screen and about 400 on the back.

Mr. Walter noted that the drive-in’s prices — $9 for adults, $3 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children 4 and under — are a bargain, given that there are two movie showings on each screen per night. This fact hasn’t been lost on the theater’s regulars.

“You get two first-run features for a lot less than at a movie theater,” said Ken Sholer, who has been coming to the drive-in in Oregon for the past 10 years.

Mr. Sholer said that for him, drive-in theaters bring back old memories. He grew up next door to a drive-in theater in Taylor, Mich., and used to watch the movies over the fence.

The old drive-in theaters carry a retro vibe, and it’s true that drive-ins don’t have to worry about other innovations in the movie theater business like upgrading seating. But they have undergone a set of technological changes recently: When the film industry began to make the complete switch to digital movies instead of film projections, many drive-ins that had refused to upgrade their equipment went out of business.

Vicki Porter also appreciated the nostalgia that comes with seeing a drive-in movie. She said she used to go to the drive-in all the time and recently took Cayden Fay, her young nephew, for his first drive-in experience.

The family aspect is another draw for customers: Mr. Walter said about 70 percent of adults bring kids with them, who can fall asleep in the car while their parents watch the second movie of the night.

A key difference between a drive-in operation and a regular indoor theater is that drive-ins place a greater emphasis on food, Mr. Walter said. The theater offers hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, fries, onion rings, and other snacks, whereas most indoor theaters have more limited offerings.

Mr. Walter said the people who frequent drive-ins tend to be different from patrons at indoor movie theaters. Those who prefer the drive-in like being outdoors, in their own car, and doing their own thing, he said.

Ms. Porter said one of the things she likes best about drive-ins is being able to watch from the comfort of her car.

Jose Villarreal, 46, has been coming to the Sundance Kid Drive-In since he was 10. He said his favorite part is being outside and looking up to see a sky full of stars.

“I think it’s the best way to watch a movie,” he said.

First Published August 14, 2016, 4:00 a.m.