As we take the Innovation Road exit off Hwy. 61 in Cottage Grove, about 15 miles southeast of St. Paul, I'm hoping Google Maps didn't screw me over. We really seem to be in the middle of nowhere. But the disorientation lifts when we see the vintage 1960s shack-shaped billboard, with "Cottage View Drive-In" spelled out in neon lights.

As we drive up a winding gravel road and through the ticket gate, it's as if we've entered a movie set that has been untouched for decades. Cars, pickup trucks and vans are sprawled across the giant lot, parked between metal posts that lean with age, bookended by a giant movie screen and a concession stand/bathroom compound. The hatchbacks of vans flip open and lawn chairs are taken out. Pickups parked backwards have built-in stadium seating. Young families, teenage couples and groups of college students roam from their cars to grab a snack as dusk falls and the first feature of the night, "Toy Story 3," begins. Forget movies in the park -- this is a communal moviegoing experience like no other, coupled with a generous helping of nostalgia. The drive-in is the only place to watch a summer blockbuster.

Never mind that the Cottage View's speakers went out of service years ago, replaced by a low-power FM signal. You won't find HD sound at the drive-in, or digitally enhanced screens. The restrooms could use some work, as could the rather limited snacking options. There's no fountain soda, because the site is run on well water. But if you were after those kinds of things, you'd be at a multiplex, right?

Head back up to Interstate 94 and travel east, and you'll find the Vali-Hi Drive-In in Lake Elmo. Though smaller than Cottage View (with 800 car spaces to the View's 1,000), Vali-Hi is noticeably more updated, with a bigger crowd (and bathroom line) to match. Though we have to sit farther from the screen, we can scoop up a freshly grilled hot dog, a burger or a pizza at the expansive snack stand, not to mention fountain sodas galore. There are a few arcade games, a black-and-white photo booth, and a glassed-in "museum" of vintage soda dispensers to peruse between the theater's three nightly screenings.

Another perk of Vali-Hi: Unlike at the Cottage View, alcohol is allowed (but not sold), and you can bring your own charcoal grill. With screenings ending around 4 a.m., it's pretty much an all-night hangout, and the movie is almost an afterthought. The smell of weed smoke wafts through the air, probably coming from the teenagers grilling in the pickup next to us. The Angelina Jolie spy thriller "Salt" offers a perfect combination for the distracted crowd: hot chick, car chases and fight scenes. Tonight's triple-header, rounded out by "Inception" and the Cruise/Diaz caper "Knight and Day," epitomizes the feel of Vali-Hi -- we sure love our action flicks.

Drive-ins are as all-American as it gets, but with only two left within reasonable distance from the Twin Cities, they're on the endangered list. (In addition to Cottage View and Vali-Hi, which opened in 1966, greater Minnesota has four remaining drive-ins.) So when a Facebook group called "Save the Cottage View Drive-In" popped up recently, a wave of fear washed over lovers of this nostalgic institution. Is the beloved Cottage View in danger?

The Facebook page has mainly served to heighten awareness of the Cottage View. Which is the goal of the group's founder, Cottage View superfan Thomas Bonneville. A graphic designer for the Woodbury Bulletin who is unaffiliated with the theater, Bonneville launched the group after he read about the theater's struggles. "I wanted [the Facebook group] to serve as a place where people can start to organize efforts to rally against the potential end of the theater," he explained.

In reality, there's a basis for Bonneville's concern. "We've been thinking the theater was going to be leaving for a number of years," Cottage View property owner Gerry Herringer explained. "But with the current development climate, things have come to a halt." So every spring, Herringer says, he chats with Steve Mann of Mann Theatres, which operates the theater. "As long as they want to run it," Herringer says, "we'll let them run it."

Mann tells a slightly different version of the story. "The destiny is in his hands," he counters. "Every March 1, [Herringer] tells us whether we're able to operate the following year." Mann says the property has been for sale for five years.

Cottage Grove Mayor Myron Bailey seems determined to bring new development to the property, having sought out potential developers to bulldoze the Cottage View in favor of a retail compound. His motivations are understandable: The Cottage View's 110 acres make it the last big piece of open land left in town. Though there have been a couple of development deals in the works (reportedly with Target and Wal-Mart), they've fallen through due to the trying economy, says Mann. Despite the setbacks to redevelopment, it doesn't seem likely that the Cottage View will get the much-needed renovations to make it more profitable. "It's hard to do [upgrades] when you think September will be the end," Mann says. But, he adds, "We'll keep operating it as long as they let us."

For its own part, Vali-Hi is avoiding such drama. "It's not going anywhere for a long time," says Vali-Hi manager Joe Murr. "It comes down to good movies and good weather, and when that happens we get lots and lots of people."

And despite the potential for public outcry over the decline of an American tradition, it's still business as usual at the Cottage View. No one knows what will happen to the site. But one thing's for sure: The drive-in movie -- like summer itself -- is a thing to be appreciated while it lasts.

Drive-in theater tips

• Which drive-in is best?

Truth is, the Vali Hi Drive-In in Lake Elmo and the Cottage View Drive-In in Cottage Grove are mostly identical: Both are in the east metro (12 and 16 miles from downtown St. Paul, respectively), and they sometimes run the exact same movies. (Memo: Stop that, please.) Cottage View runs two movies a night; Vali-Hi does three, which can make for a looong night. We'll give the edge to the slightly more secluded Cottage View, though, especially since its days might be numbered as Cottage Grove races to become more like every other generic suburb in the United States. It comes down to which movies are showing, though. Check the theaters' websites a couple days in advance.

• What kind of movie?

This is tricky. The perfect drive-in movie is a fun throwaway that you might not otherwise go see in the theater -- but mindless drivel is still torture no matter where you are. "Inception" and "Avatar" would probably call for high-quality indoor presentation. Kids' animation, adult comedies and some horror are probably a good bet. The best time we ever had at the Cottage View was a double-header of "The Wedding Crashers" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."

• What to bring:

Food, drinks, lawn chairs, winter clothing, bug spray, a portable radio with a power source, Frisbees.

• What to wear:

We can't stress this enough: Even in summer, if the forecast shows a low of 60 or less, you will get cold sitting for hours in shorts and a T-shirt. That means dress for colder seasons, and bring plenty of fall and winter layers and several warm blankets. You'll be glad you did.

• When to arrive:

Life is short -- get there early. The first show begins at dusk, but we recommend lining up a good hour before sunset so you can get the best parking spots, hang out with friends and organize cutthroat dodgeball games with other people's little kids.

• How to set up:

This isn't the 1950s and you're probably not looking to get lucky in the front seat of a convertible. (Kudos if you do.) The point of the drive-in is actually to get out of your vehicle. Park your car backwards and get out your chairs. Open your trunk and play the sound through your rear speakers. Another option: Bring a blanket and a portable radio to the big lawn right in front of the screen, and have your own private movie in the park.

• Troubleshooting:

Running your radio for three hours might kill your battery if you don't run the engine periodically. Fortunately, there's always a friendly attendant on hand with a portable charger. You might need to remember a factory code to get your stereo back on.

• Drive-in etiquette:

Drive slowly through the grounds; there are tiny humans running everywhere, and we've been busted before. Running your SUV's engine just so you can sit inside with the AC is ridiculous and disruptive to your neighbors. Come on, get outside. And don't turn your headlights on the screen for several minutes during the movie -- that's a no-brainer.

• Simon Peter Groebner