Another Man’s Treasure at the Redwood Drive-in Theatre Swap Meet

I know zip about fashion. My only reference points come from my three vogue-centric sisters and binge-watching many seasons of America’s Next Top Model. And we all know how well that show aged… The way I see it, fashion is just one overpriced, trendy circle: What’s not a fad right now will be later, as the dominant cultures continue to harvest the subordinate ones. However, let me kill two birds with one bedazzled stone with a shop-til-you-drop honey hole that’s both cheap and “with the times.” Let’s burn down to West Valley City and head northbound to Redwood Drive-in Theatre for their year-round, weekend swap meet.

Since 1960, Redwood has been hosting this acre-wide flea market, featuring over 500 different vendors to boot. What those vendors might be selling, though, is anything and everything you could imagine. The range of items varies between every visit, both secondhand and brand-new, but that’s the beauty of it! With some pocket change for entry and a few Andrew Jacksons withdrawn on Saturday morning, you could be walking out with a brand-new wardrobe and a few trinkets to spare.

I normally go searching for antiques and oddities on my Sunday adventures. Previous purchases include but are not limited to: retro wind-up tin robots, a piranha head frozen in a block of resin, spring-locked switchblades, a rusted-out Gremlins lunchbox, a complete DVD set of Cowboy Bebop and a raggedy copy of a BDSM pornographic magazine that was strictly AGAINST vendor guidelines. Aside from the bizarre and peculiar, the swap meet supplies a range of vintage and high fashion. Catch some screen printed band tees from the OliFer Rock tent, where I got both a Gorillaz and an Elvira shirt. Scope out the few vendors that come equipped with belts and handbags from highbrow brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton (I can neither confirm nor deny that these were legitimate products). If you feel the need to indulge in both of your secret fandoms, the NFL jersey tent and Hello Kitty stand are both a stone’s throw away. I can’t emphasize it enough when I say you can find almost ANYTHING.

Now, buying used and pre owned items is nothing new. We saw this craze when Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” hit number one in the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and scalpers began reselling our childhoods back to us like bastards, but Redwood is different. Instead, “take it or leave it” offers don’t really exist here. You can haggle and barter for better prices, but please be reasonable. You may be getting a deal, but some vendors rely on the swap meet as a secondary (sometimes primary) source of income. Practice this unspoken word of respect between buyer and seller. You’re not Rick Harrison, and this is not Pawn Stars.

Sadly, to end on a sour note, Redwood is now facing its biggest buyer of all: EDGEhomes. As of June 2024, the community of West Valley City has been fighting tooth and nail against a rezoning proposal that will demolish the drive-in into a row of “affordable housing.” Many petition signatories and upset community members have urged the West Valley Planning Commission to say no, but this is just the beginning. My advice to first-timers or veteran patrons is to continue the early-weekend wakeups, drive down to this antiquity goldmine and show your appreciation through secondhand hauls (or even just with your one-dollar admission fee). Just like the treasures inside, if you don’t keep a wary eye out for this Wasatch Front staple, it’ll vanish without a trace.

To show your love and support for fellow treasure-hunters like yourself, check out the Redwood Drive-in swap meet every Saturday and Sunday morning at 3688 South Redwood Road. Exact times may vary depending on the season. Happy hunting!

Read more from the September Local Fashion Issue:
Hannah Ruth Zander: The Next Kate Spade
Heavenly Hightops and Haute Couture at FICE Gallery