Metro Vancouver’s last drive-in theatre will close permanently later this month, according to a report.

The Daily Hive reported that the Twilight Drive-In, located in Langley, B.C., will close permanently after the theatre’s operators made their intentions known in 2023 and confirmed them earlier this year.

Owner Jay Daulat and his sons Vesham and Vijay operate the drive-in. Twilight social media posts have stated that the business will close after negotiations with the property’s landlord failed to produce a lease extension.

According to the social media posts, the landlord wanted to raise the rent by more than double because of high property taxes. Twilight social media posts state that the property taxes increased 260% over a three-year period, including a 72% hike in 2023.

The property’s assessed value increased to about $46.2 million from approximately $38.9 million between 2022 and 2023, according to BC Assessment. The $46.2-million figure represents the property’s 2024 assess value.

Township of Langley councillors voted unanimously in 2023 for the municipality to help the Daulats find a new location. At that time, Mark Bakken, the township’s since-retired administrator, told Postmedia that the Daulats’ biggest challenge was the value of the property.

But the Township’s attempt to help the Daulats find another location did not yield suitable results.

The Dalauts opened Twilight in 2005 after closing Surrey’s Hillcrest Drive-in to make way for a redevelopment project, Postmedia reported.

Photo: Twilight Drive-in