Sadly, It Looks Like The Bangor Drive-In Will Not Reopen This Summer

There's something magical about getting to share the experience of a drive-in with your family. I'm disappointed we won't be able to make those magical memories again this summer.

According to the Bangor Daily News, the Bangor Drive-In will not be reopening for business this year. And they're really not sure if it will ever open again.

"It will remain closed for an indefinite period of time, as the owners assess whether the theater can sustainably run in the future," Scott Warren of Bangor Mall Cinemas tod the BDN.

Located on Hammond Street not too far from the Bangor/Hermon town line, the Bangor Drive-In originally opened in 1950 and then closed for a while in the 1980s.

In 2015, after 30 years, it opened again, with a viewing of Jurassic World, Ted 2, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Inside Out.

Since reopening, the Bangor Drive-In has not only shown movies upon its big screen, but also played host to many a concert, trunk-or-treat, and even some "drive-thru" graduations.

This news that it might not reopen really bums me out. My kids and I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to pile into the van, grab some snacks from the concession stand and watch a movie on the big screen from the back of the car. It's kind of been a special tradition.

It was especially awesome that they were able to offer screening during the pandemic, and allow folks a chance to get out of the house and enjoy a change of scenery. For many of us, who had essentially spent that first big chunk of time, when Covid-19 showed up on the scene, locked up in our houses for hours with what seemed like the longest Netflix-and-chill session ever (add kids to that equation and you know the madness of which I speak), a trip to the Bangor Drive-In was a fantastic way to spend some time outside of the house, while still keeping a safe distance from those around us.

The BDN Article says the owners cite on-demand movie streaming services as luring people away from the movie-going experience. And I believe there's quite a bit of merit to those claims. It's easier and more convenient for a lot of folks.

It's sad that so many of the things that we've historically enjoyed participating in, like going out to movies or restaurants, have become less appealing to some, and that small businesses, like movie theaters and drive-ins, are having to close because of it.

Looks as though there will be one less family-friendly outdoor activity in Bangor this summer, as a result.