At McKinney's Wayback Drive-In, the Ticket Is Mostly for the Barn
November 12, 2026
November 12, 2026
A car spot at Wayback Drive-In costs $49, and Wayback's own ticket page breaks that into two parts: $30 for "WayBack Barn venue & facility access" and $19 for "movie broadcast admission." So more than 60 percent of a drive-in ticket pays for the barn, the yard games and the four acres around them, and less than 40 percent pays for the film.
That split tells you how to plan the night. Wayback is an existing barn venue on County Road 168 that added a screen. The movie is the last two hours of an evening that is meant to start well before dark.
McKinney couple Ryan and Laura O'Dowd opened Wayback Barn in 2023 around a red barn on a four-acre property, reached by a tree-lined gravel road and shaded by Bois d'Arc trees, as Community Impact reported in October 2025. The drive-in was part of the plan from early on. In Community Impact's December 2023 story, the owners already planned to add a drive-in theater next to a mini-golf course and a bar inside the old horse barn.
The mini golf and the bar came first. The Hayloft Bar & Grill inside the barn serves finger food like a Texas-shaped charcuterie board, pizza grilled cheese and panko fried shrimp. It also has cane-sugar sodas in glass bottles and a rotating whiskey list. Laura O'Dowd described the business to Community Impact this way:
"We're primarily a gathering place that offers food versus a restaurant that offers a play area."
The drive-in follows the same idea. Visit McKinney's grand-opening listing set the opening weekend for Nov. 6 through 8 and calls Wayback the only drive-in movie theater in McKinney.
Because the venue fee is built into a flat per-car price, the cost per person drops as the car fills up. The vehicle ticket has no per-person limit and covers barn entry for everyone inside.
Here's how the four ticket types compare before sales tax:
| Ticket | Price | Booking fee | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle spot | $49 | $4.27 | Everyone in the car |
| Premium center bench swing | $49 | $4.27 | Up to four |
| Bench swing | $25 | $2.86 | Two |
| Outdoor seat | $12 | $2.10 | One |
With five people in the car, the vehicle spot works out to about $10.65 each before tax. That's less than the $14.10 a single outdoor seat costs with its fee. With two people, the car costs about $26.64 each, and a bench swing costs about $13.93 each. Couples and solo moviegoers come out ahead in the front-row seats. Families and friend groups come out ahead in the car.
The barn's own pricing is a useful comparison. When Community Impact profiled Wayback Barn in October 2025, general entry was $6 a person. At that rate, the $30 venue share of a car ticket equals five walk-in admissions. A full car pays about what the barn would charge anyway, and the movie costs $19 on top.
Extras are priced separately, as the event page lists them. Mini golf is $6, ax throwing is $15 for ages 10 and up, and food and drinks are extra. Gaga ball, nine square, cornhole, horseshoes, bocce, tetherball, foosball and ping-pong are all included with the ticket.
Every listed screening starts at 6:30 p.m., and the listings show the evening ending at 8:30. The arrival rules are designed to get people there early:
If you bought a single seat or a bench, park in the general venue lot and walk to the front row. Benches are reserved to your ticket, and single seats are open seating.
Food has a rule of its own. Outside food and drinks aren't allowed. The ticket page says plainly why: "Licensing fees take a huge bite out of ticket sales," and concession sales are "what actually keep our screens glowing and our family business going." The movie menu has warm popcorn, boxed candy, chicken bites, a hummus board and grilled cheese baskets, plus the barn's full bar. If your night starts at the barn at 5 p.m., plan on dinner there.
Movies run rain or shine. Tickets are date-specific and non-refundable, and that includes car spots in bad weather. Seats and benches are the exception and can be refunded for inclement weather. Once you've bought a car spot for a November Friday, you're committed to it. A front-row bench is the more flexible ticket if the forecast looks iffy.
The listings are also all on weekends. Screenings fall on Friday, Saturday or Sunday evenings, and some weekends skip a night.
The grand-opening weekend was scheduled with The Sandlot, Top Gun and Toy Story. The rest of the listed run on Wayback's showtimes page moves from family favorites into holiday films:
Thanksgiving weekend is the one to plan around. The 46th annual Home for the Holidays… A McKinney Christmas runs Nov. 27 through 29 on the downtown square, and its Community Christmas Tree Lighting is Friday, Nov. 27, at 6:15 p.m., according to the City of McKinney's release. That's 15 minutes before Home Alone starts at Wayback, so on that Friday you'll have to choose one or the other.
Sunday fits both. The festival's new City Hall shuttle at 401 E. Virginia St. runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29. You can spend the afternoon at the square's Ferris wheel and carousel and still get to County Road 168 in time for The Santa Clause at 6:30.
If Nov. 29 doesn't work, The Santa Clause gets a second showing on Friday, Dec. 4, and Elf on Dec. 6 is the last date currently listed. Wayback posts new showtimes on its site, and full venue details are at waybackbarn.com/drivein.
Harman Cheema at HXC Real Estate follows what opens around McKinney, from new spots like Wayback to the neighborhoods closest to them. If a north McKinney weekend like this one is part of what you want near home, message Harman on WhatsApp to start your DFW home search or investment plan.
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
Your dream home is closer than you think. When you work with me, you’re choosing a partner who combines local market knowledge, cutting-edge technology, and a passion for delivering success. With my expertise, dedication, and personalized service, your buying and selling journey will be smooth, seamless, and enjoyable. Contact me today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward your future!