By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
WaKeeney is hoping to welcome back the big screen.
A local committee has kicked off a pledge drive to raise $160,000 to build a new drive-in movie theater in WaKeeney.
Although WaKeeney at one time had a drive-in theater, it's been years since the community has had a movie theater of any kind.
The nonprofit raising funds for the project hopes to show both first-run and classic movies. Some theme nights are also planned.
Drive-ins used to be common across Kansas, but the advent of digital movies killed many of the small operations, which could not afford to invest in new equipment.
The nearest drive-ins to WaKeeney are in Kanpolis and Dodge City. Wichita, Kansas City and Paola are the only other remaining communities in the state with drive-ins.
Lynelle Shubert, director of Trego County Travel and Tourism, is a spokeswoman for the project. She said she thinks the drive-in will be a regional draw for the community.
"It's really about bringing entertainment to rural Kansas, and giving people in rural communities something to do on the weekends during the summer," she said.
Drive-in movies are undergoing a revival, she said, and she sees the WaKeeney project beings a destination attraction.
During the pandemic shutdown, Garth Brooks and AC/DC offered concerts to drive-in audiences in lieu of live concerts.
"I think there are people who still want to go out and do something," Shubert said. "I grew up on drive-ins. When we had babies, we were broke. We didn't have any money, so we threw the kids in the back of the car and we went to the drive-in."
She said the committee has yet to set admission prices for the theater, but the consensus is to keep prices affordable for families.
Shubert said the site could be used for other events. The drive-in committee has already been contacted about using the site for a car show. Some drive-ins also use their sites for flea markets.
The drive-in will be recruiting non-profit groups to offer concessions. The groups will keep the proceeds. There will be a no alcohol policy.
"The movie theater is not set up to make money," Shubert said. "The movie theater is set up for quality of life for our community and the surrounding communities."
The land on which the drive-in will be built is south of Interstate 70 at exit 128, which is the east WaKeeney exit. Trego County owns the land. Whether that land will be leased or gifted to the nonprofit has yet to be determined, Shubert said.
The project has raised $4,300 plus $14,848 in pledges as of Monday. The committee just launched the pledge drive last month and also plans to apply for grants.
Those who wish to donate to the project can send checks to Trego Sky View Drive-in, P.O. Box 83, WaKeeney, KS 67672. Pledge letters or cards can be sent to the same address. Please include your name, address and phone number on all pledges.
Pledge cards also are available on the drive-in's Facebook page. You can also send questions to [email protected].
The timeline for the project is dependent on fundraising, Shubert said.
Once the money for the project is raised, construction should move forward quickly. Because of the topography of the land, little dirt work is expected.
A screen will be erected, as well as a projection building. Because there are no sewer lines in the area and to save on construction costs, the drive-in will use a restroom trailer, much like the bathrooms in a camper.
The committee would like to eventually build a small playground at the site.
If the theater would ever reach a point where it is making more money than is needed for the upkeep and operation of the theater, as a nonprofit, the organization could grant funds to other agencies in the community.
Shubert acknowledged the drive-in is a big dream. As an homage to this optimism, the committee has tentatively set "Field of Dreams" as the movie for its soft opening.
"This is truly an act of faith," Shubert said. ... "I'm a dreamer, I get that, but if you don't dream, nothing happens."
Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay