The Friends of the Midwest Theater Board of Directors voted to cease operations at the Skyview Drive-In at the January board meeting. The drive-in had been in operation for four years, according to a press release.
In March 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the theaters were closed. Friends of the Midwest Theater responded to the community's need for safe gathering by opening the first SkyView Drive-In at Legacy of the Plains. That same summer, SkyView Drive-In opened at the Western Nebraska Regional Airport. With the help of many local businesses and community members, the drive-in has become a favorite destination not only for local residents but also for visitors from around the region looking for a way to bring some normalcy to life during the pandemic. Unfortunately, over the past two years, rising operating costs and declining drive-in ticket sales required the board to make the difficult decision to close SkyView Drive-In, according to the press release.
With post-pandemic life returning to normal and the renovation and repair of the Midwest Theater's historic marquee, there has been a resurgence of attendance and interest in the Midwest Theatre. In the press release, Midwest Theater Executive Director Tina Worthman said board members and staff encourage those who enjoyed the SkyView Drive-In to visit the Midwest Theater.
“We will partner with local businesses and organizations to provide family-friendly movie entertainment throughout the summer months.”
The Midwest Theater Board of Directors thanked those who made the Midwest SkyView Drive-In Theater possible for their support: the Shane & Annette Aulick family, StorAul, Western Nebraska Regional Airport, KNEB, R&C Crane Service, Scottsbluff Landscaping, DynaTech Electric, MC Schaff Companies , Gering Valley Plumbing & Heating, The Steel Grill/Weborg 21, City of Scottsbluff, Infinity Construction, Superior Construction, Sandberg Implement, Rusch General Construction, VanPelt Fencing, H&H Ventures, Viaero Wireless, The Pumpkin Patch at BE Welding, , Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Cultural Endowment, Humanities Nebraska, National Endowment for the Humanities, numerous volunteers, staff and board members of Friends of the Midwest Theater.
