There’s not much to do in the new age of social distancing. With recommendations to avoid large crowds, stay at least 6 feet away from others or just stay at home, options aren’t abundant. However, one option has been there for some 80 years: Your local drive-in. In fact, here are 9 reasons why the Highway 21 Drive In is the place to be right now.
According to reports, drive-in theaters across the country are experiencing a surge in interest as movie theaters, theme parks and other entertainment options are forced to close because of governmental advisories designed to increase social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak.
It’s actually a brilliant idea.
Beaufort has a really good one in the Highway 21 Drive-In. With two screens and a way-above-average concession stand, the open-air entertainment spot has always been an affordable year-round good time. It’s even been named the #2 Best Drive-In in the USA.
Going to see a couple of movies at the drive-in requires little to no human contact, largely because patrons are, of course, confined to their cars during the showing. Curbside pickup of your corn dogs, burgers, nachos, soft pretzels, funnel cakes and root beer floats is helpful also.
It’s still one of the few things we can do while making sure we stay away from other people and play our part in trying to halt the virus’s spread.
“We are hearing a lot of positive feedback from our customers who are happy we’re still open,” said owner Joe Barth. “We’re doing our best to balance everyone’s safety while offering an option to sitting at home.”
Others have noticed the benefit of the outside venue. Barth also said that a local church will be holding its services on the drive-in grounds on Sunday morning.
Here are 9 reasons we thought of to enjoy our local drive-in during our current national emergency.
1. You’re safe, you’re in your own car.
2. You get curbside pickup for your concession stand order.
3. Everybody is getting out of the house and doing something together as a family.
4. It supports a local business.
5. It strengthens that local business so that they will be around in the future.
6. It’ll be a great distraction from the current crisis.
7. You’ll get to go out yet still be distant from other people.
8. You’re showing your kids something that you did when you were growing up.
9. It will give you the feel of just “being normal.”
Having the Highway 21 Drive-In right here in Beaufort is something we treasure because there aren’t too many of them still in business these days across America.
In the 1950s, outdoor movie venues were at the height of their popularity with 4,000+ screens across the U.S. with most of them in small, rural towns. Their popularity began to decline in the 1970s as America’s movie habits changed.
It’s estimated that only 305 drive ins with a total of 549 screens remain.
Whether many of the drive-ins still operating amid the pandemic will be able to keep doing so in the days ahead remains an open question, in large part because of the rapidly changing nature of the nationwide response to the outbreak.
You might want to grab a bit of normal and get there while you can.
