RI drive-in theaters prepare to open Friday with restrictions

Rhode Island's drive-in theaters are preparing to start their season this weekend with new restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

WESTERLY, R.I. (WLNE) – Rhode Island’s drive-in theaters are preparing to start their season this weekend with new restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Rustic Tri-View Drive-In in North Smithfield took to Facebook to list their restrictions that include:

• one open space between vehicles
• watching the movie from inside your vehicle OR in a chair directly in front
• masks worn at all times when windows/hatches are open and anytime outside your vehicle
• no congregating
• social distancing at concession stand with walk-up or phone orders
• only 3 people allowed in each restroom at any one time

At the Misquamicut Beach drive-in, the restrictions are similar, except they will not be providing concessions for a few weeks and restrooms will have a limit of five people.

Caswell Cooke, executive director of the Misquamicut Business Association, said they’re looking forward to the drive-thru bringing the seaside community some much-needed revenue.

“We are literally operating on whatever we can profit from the drive-in. We’re kind of up a creek so to speak but we’re thankful for the drive-in because it’s given us one little bright spot in the midst of all this stuff.”

Major events at Misquamicut like their annual concert series and Spring Fest were canceled, and the drive-in is one of their only saving graces during the pandemic.

“We’re just thankful that we actually get to do an event because we’ve had to cancel everything down here in Misquamicut, all these cool things that we’re known for we can’t do. But we can do the drive-in so we’re very excited.”

Cooke said instead of fitting 100 cars into the lot, they’ll only sell 50 tickets for each show, and purchases must be made online. They’ll start with their traditional showing of Jaws and Jaws 2, and tickets are already sold out for their first five movies.

They’re also getting requests to hold events in town.

“We kinda knew pretty early on that this would probably be the safest thing to do this summer and everybody and their brother has been contacting us,” Cooke said, “‘Can we use your theater for our dance class, for our high school graduation?’”

Cars will be parked 6 feet apart in every other space, and if people choose to sit outside they must wear face masks.

Right now the Misquamicut drive-in is only showing movies on Fridays and Saturdays, but Cooke said the association’s Board of Directors gave them the green light to open every day of the week to bring in more money. Cooke said while he’s not ready to do that yet, they may open on additional days as the summer progresses.

“We’re excited, we’re not exactly sure how this is going to go but we have all of the rules in place and the best intentions so Friday night here we come.”

Both drive-ins open on Friday. Visit Rustic and Misquamicut’s Facebook pages for more information and to get tickets.

© WLNE-TV 2020