LIBERTY CENTER, Ohio — Many businesses took a hit during the pandemic, but one American pastime experienced a comeback, as drive-in theaters saw a 2020 resurgence.
Early on in the pandemic, they were some of the only places to go see entertainment because you were able to easily stay six feet apart.
Rodney and Donna Saunders, owners of the Field of Dreams Drive-In Theater in Liberty Center, said Friday they're more excited than ever for this year.
Last year, they said they did better than expected despite Hollywood being on shutdown with no new movies coming out. Instead, they got creative and used their drive-in for more than just movies: hosting graduations, homecomings, craft shows, concerts and even company board meetings. They discovered it can be so much more than a novelty movie-going experience.
"One of the graduations, we had a mile and a half line of cars just having a big parade for the kids," Rodney Saunders said. "That was pretty cool to see. The kids really enjoyed that. The encore night concerts which we're going to pick up again. They really helped. So finding other ways."
The Saunders are even more excited since Hollywood is back open and they can expect big blockbusters once again. They plan to open by March 31, but say it could be open sooner weather permitting.