Weirs Drive-In sale falls through

By RICK GREEN, LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — A businessman has backed out of a $2.5 million deal to buy the Weirs Drive-In Theatre after an initial study showed it to be in an archeologically important area where the potential for Native American artifacts could increase the costs of development.

Al Mitchell, who agreed to acquire the 12.5-acre property as part of plans for condominiums and commercial development, said Wednesday he was “beyond disappointed” that the deal fell through.

Mitchell said he didn't want to go into details of his decision, made after discussions with Richard Boisvert, New Hampshire's state archeologist.

He said that even without this property, he still has land in the area he would like to develop, including nine acres on nearby Tower Hill.

The drive-in property has been placed back up for sale, now with a $2.6 million asking price.

Patricia Baldi, who has owned the outdoor theater since 1974, said she was “talking to several parties” who may be interested in purchasing it.

The property had been on the market for more than a year when Mitchell said last month he would be buying it. His offer came after another party offered $2.5 million for it. Mitchell had a right of first refusal and matched that offer.

Baldi questioned how expensive it would be to clear any archeological complications.

“I don't know exactly what's involved, but I don't think there's too much of a problem,” she said.

Before the site could be developed, archeologists would have to do more extensive studies and testing. Any discovery of artifacts, or ancient remains, would further slow development.

If no buyer emerges, Baldi said there is even a chance she could re-open the drive-in next summer.

When the deal was first announced, many local residents said it was a shame one of the last drive-ins in the state, a local landmark since 1948 and a family-friendly venue, was being redeveloped into high-end condos and shops. Others said the property hadn't been maintained properly and that it was time for a change.

At the time, Mitchell said he hoped his plans would lead to an economic renaissance, similar to what happened in nearby Meredith in the 1980s.

Native Americans used Weirs Beach as a summer camp for hunting and fishing as long as 10,000 years ago, according to the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum. They built a special type of basket, called a Weir, to capture fish that migrated through the channel.

The native Abenaquis, members of the Penacook tribe, called their village Aquedoctan, meaning "place of good fishing."