Weirs Drive-In fans 'never say die': Outdoor movies return this summer, fall

LACONIA — The most iconic place to catch a flick in the Lakes Region is still for sale, and will likely be acquired by a developer with designs on something more profitable than a drive-in movie theater. But it hasn’t been sold yet, and there are still a few dates on the calendar for local cinephiles to take in a film through their windshield.

Cindi Baldi, a member of the family which has owned the theater most of its existence, said while the property is marketed to potential buyers, it will open this summer and fall for a few more flings with film, and the site of a skills competition.

Skills will be on display first, during the New Hampshire Towing Association’s 53rd Tow & Trade Show. The event was previously held at Hampton Beach, but relocated to The Weirs last year. Taking place Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, the Tow Show includes vendors, beauty contests, demonstrations and a parade.

The main attraction for the theater will be Thursday, July 3, just before the Weirs Beach fireworks, when the drive-in will fire up their long-dark projector to screen the 1985 classic “The Goonies.” The next entry on the drive-in calendar is in October, when Baldi said Friday and Saturday nights throughout the month will be filled with screenings of Halloween-friendly films.

The Weirs Beach Drive-In has featured in the memories of generations of visitors, having opened in 1949 under the ownership of Henry Gaudet, and continued operating under the Baldi family since 1974.

It’s a large property, with more than 12 acres, and though the family has always been able to sell tickets to both visitors and loyal locals, the New England climate isn’t suited to cinema al fresco.

The property has been for sale for years — it’s currently offered for $7.5 million — and while it continues to attract queries of interest, no one has yet sealed a contract with the Baldis.

Until it sells, Baldi said, they will look to find ways to utilize it, including as a drive-in theater. She and her family are looking at other opportunities to keep the property making new memories.

“We love the place,” Baldi said about dusting off the projection equipment and opening the ticket booth again. “The drive-in is just too big as it stands right now. No drive-in that survives as far as I’ve known has survived as just a drive-in.

"It needs to be developed into something.”

She said her family’s motivation for running the business has never been purely about realizing revenue.

“There’s always been a motive beyond profit,” Baldi said. “It’s not a good business model, you have to actually love it.” Drive-ins throughout New England can operate for about 10 weeks per year, and operators can subtract any rainy days from that.

“You have to love this place,” in order to run it, Baldi said. “It’s not the smart economic thing to do.”

In March, Baldi took to Facebook, via the Weirs Drive-In Theater account, to float the idea about showing a movie this summer. The response was strongly supportive, with the popular consensus forming around “The Goonies.” There was also a vigorous push behind “Jaws,” but since the film is turning 50 this year, Baldi said, she wouldn’t have been able to get the rights to it anyway.

This October, Baldi said, she plans to show double features, with films planned to appeal to different audiences: One weekend will be “silly” movies for all ages, another weekend for fans of classic horror flicks, a third for child-focused Halloween movies, for example.

Baldi plans to offer tickets first to the people who responded on Facebook to help pick “The Goonies,” and will make them available for sale to the general public by mid-April.

She encouraged interested people to watch the Weirs Drive-In Facebook page for more details, including other ways the property might be active this summer.

“It’s a special place to us,” Baldi said. “I think it’s nice for The Weirs to have it.”