After four years of operation, the Friends of the Midwest Theater Board of Directors voted to cease operations at the Skyview Drive-In at their January board meeting.
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, the SkyView Drive-In was implemented 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 have required the Board of Directors to make this difficult decision to close the SkyView Drive-In.
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. We 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.
We want to thank everyone who made the Midwest SkyView Drive-In Theater possible and creating a great experience for our local community. Thank you to the following for their support: 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 Farm, Ryans Welding, Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Cultural Nebraska Human Nebraska, Endowment for the Humanities, numerous volunteers and members of the staff and board of Friends of the Midwest Theatre.
