Big screen in Ruskin getting new lease on life
RUSKIN, Fla. - The biggest screen in Tampa Bay is about to tell a new story.
Ruskin Drive-In coming back to life
The backstory:
The Ruskin Family Drive-In was damaged during Hurricane Milton.
On Wednesday, their new screen started going up.
"Finally, we're getting back on our feet," said owner Karen Freiwald.
The first step is taking down the wooden poles that were damaged in Hurricane Milton. Seven brand new metal ones are waiting to go up.
They'll go 50' in the air to support the 64' by 28' screen.
The projector will shine the movies onto the 56 plywood panels that make up their new screen.
What they're saying:
Each panel takes four coats of white paint.
"It took a couple of months to get it all painted."
Karen and John Freiwald have owned the drive-in since 1952.
It's one of four drive-ins left in the state.
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"Our customers have been raving on Facebook, about how happy they are that we didn't fold and go away, that we're keeping their little piece of history alive."
GIven the amount of work the owners of the Ruskin Family Drive-In have put into their theater, they're starting to think the story of the drive-in is even more entertaining than the movies they show.
"People come just to hang out with their friends and family," said Freiwald. "They don't even care what's playing. They're out here with their families and kids. And they say, 'yeah, we will watch the movie too.'"
In good times, ticket sales can hit $100,000 for the year.
In tougher times, sales can be half that.
Since the storm hit in October, which took the screen down for the tenth time, they, of course, haven't sold any.
That's about to change.
"Their grandparents and their great-grandparents brought them here as little kids," said Freiwald. "So now they're bringing their kids and hopefully their kids kids will be here."
What we don't know:
They have not yet set a date as to when they'll be ready to re-open, but the star of the next show will be the screen itself.
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