The Spud is Coming Back to Teton Valley

The Spud Drive-In is officially on its way back. Teton County, Idaho, commissioners voted unanimously to approve a rebuilt theater on the landmark's historic Highway 33 site south of Driggs, with movies targeted for August 2027.

If you've lived in Teton Valley for any length of time, you know the Spud isn't just a theater. It's the giant potato on the old Chevy truck, the summer-night ritual, the place you take out-of-town guests. Since the screen blew down in an April 2022 windstorm, that corner of Highway 33 has felt a little empty.

But the Spud that's coming back is not exactly the Spud you remember. Here's what was approved, when it's expected to open, and what it could mean for the neighborhoods around it.

What was approved

The new Spud is roughly twice the footprint of the original: about 8.5 acres, compared with the historic 4.2-acre theater. Beyond the screen, it adds a restaurant and bar, overnight camping and an event venue for concerts, weddings and community gatherings.

The project runs under two special-use permits. The first, approved in 2024, covers the campground. The second, approved this fall, covers the drive-in, screen, restaurant, concessions, parking and events.

The owner is MD Nursery and Landscaping, which bought the property after the 2022 windstorm and already operates its landscaping and retail business on surrounding land along Highway 33. The Spud itself opened in 1956 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

When it opens

Movies are targeted for August 2027, with the full restaurant following in summer 2028. The developer has laid out this schedule:

1. Fall 2026: Grading and infrastructure work begins.
2. April 2027: Construction resumes after winter.
3. May 2027: Construction starts on Murph's Mountain Diner, the restaurant, bar and permanent concession building.
4. August 2027: First movies, with food trucks handling concessions in the meantime.
5. June 2028: Murph's Mountain Diner opens.

The plan is to start with two showings a night, Wednesday through Sunday.

What neighbors said, and what the county required

Most public comment welcomed the Spud's return. The worry was about the concerts, not the movies. Residents of the nearby Mountain Meadows subdivision asked the county to treat a drive-in and a concert venue as two different uses, pointing to late-night noise, traffic and intoxicated attendees from past shows. Other neighbors whose homes face the property raised noise, dust and litter, and noted that drive-in sound mostly stays inside the cars.

Supporters saw the restaurant and event space as a boost for local jobs and a gathering place for community celebrations. Valley Advocates for Responsible Development supported the permit but asked that its safeguards be written in as formal conditions.

The approval includes several of those protections:

• Event cap: Shows expected to overflow on-site parking need separate county approval and are limited to 12 days a year.
• Turn lanes: A southbound left-turn lane and a northbound right-turn lane from Highway 33 into the north entrance. Final lengths are still to be set.
• Other safeguards discussed: Sound curfews, traffic controls, landscaping before large events, and having organizers cover added sheriff, fire and EMS costs.

Commissioners said they felt the conditions addressed neighbors' concerns, and expect maturing landscaping to buffer much of the noise and dust over time.

What it means if you own or are buying in Teton Valley

A revived Spud is a real amenity, but its effect on a given home depends a lot on how close that home sits. Here's how I'd think about it.

For the valley as a whole. Amenities like this shape why people choose Teton Valley over other mountain towns. A restored landmark with a diner, summer movies and community events adds to the Driggs and Victor lifestyle story, for full-time residents and visitors alike.

For homes right next to the site. Proximity cuts both ways. Walking distance to summer movies is a perk; event-night traffic and sound may not be. If you're buying near Highway 33 south of Driggs, look at sightlines and which way bedrooms face, and read the permit conditions so you know the event limits.

For sellers nearby. Buyers will ask. Being able to explain the event cap, the turn-lane requirements and the landscaping plan with confidence goes further than avoiding the topic.

For short-term rental investors. A busier summer calendar in the south end of the valley could support visitor demand. Idaho has its own rules on short-term rentals, so check what applies to a specific property before you count on that income.

Spud Drive-In FAQ

When will the Spud Drive-In reopen? The developer is aiming to show movies by August 2027, with food trucks at first and the permanent Murph's Mountain Diner opening in June 2028.

Where is the Spud Drive-In? On Highway 33 just south of Driggs, Idaho, in Teton Valley, at its original historic site.

Why did the Spud close? Its screen toppled during an April 2022 windstorm with gusts around 55 mph. The property sat mostly vacant afterward, apart from the famous potato truck.

Will the Spud host concerts? Yes, possibly up to 12 summer concerts. Events expected to exceed on-site parking need separate county approval and are capped at 12 days a year.

Can you camp at the Spud? The plan includes 10 Airstream-style campsites, approved under a 2024 permit.

Is the Spud a historic landmark? Yes. It opened in 1956 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The bottom line

The Spud's return is good news for Teton Valley, and a reminder that the valley is still growing and changing. The version coming back is bigger and busier than the one many of us grew up with, and the county has put real guardrails around it.

If you're thinking about buying or selling near Driggs or along Highway 33 and want to talk through how projects like this affect a specific property, we're always happy to help. -Jennifer and Rachael

Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide