SPRING GUIDE
12 • THE ASTORIAN
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2021
Long Beach drive-in theater draws crowds
Neptune theater opened
drive-in in January
IF YOU GO
Neptune Movie House
By CAITLIN SEYFRIED
For The Astorian
Do you remember the last time you went
to see a movie at a drive-in?
The nostalgic pastime is making a come-
back at Neptune Movie House in Long
Beach, Washington.
Owner Kaarina Stotts had been renovat-
ing the theater for a year-and-a-half when the
coronavirus pandemic hit.
“People were asking about gift certifi cates
and asking to come buy popcorn to-go. Then
I started doing private showings. Without
the community, we would not be open right
now,” Stotts said.
Stotts also created a DVD rental program.
DVD rentals are $3 to rent, with $2 back
upon return.
“When we shut down, I brought a bunch
of DVDs from my house so that people had
something to do. When they came in for pop-
corn they could rent a movie,” Stotts said.
When she decided to build the drive-in,
Open Tuesday to Sunday
809 Ocean Beach Boulevard S., Long
Beach, Washington
Stotts put a call out for help on Facebook.
“People were walking in here for popcorn
and asking how they could help. The com-
munity is awesome,” Stotts said.
With expertise from community members
and local businesses, the drive-in was con-
structed within fi ve weeks.
The drive-in is currently more popu-
lar than the indoor showings at the theater,
according to Stotts, which she attributes to
a reluctance to congregate inside. However,
private showings have been popular in the
Neptune’s two theaters.
“I’ve done a lot of birthday parties and
groups of families that want to get together,”
Stotts said.
There are advantages to the drive-in that
Caitlin Seyfried
See Page 13 The Neptune Movie House in Long Beach, Washington.
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