MAINE, Maine — After an uproar in their communities, calls to revive a couple of iconic spots for family fun in Maine are being answered.
The Saco Drive-In in Saco and Happy Wheels Skate Center in Westbrook closed for good, but redevelopment plans have been announced by new owners to bring back both businesses.
The historic drive-in movie theater, which is the second oldest in the United States, opened more than 80 years ago in 1939. Early this year, the owners announced it would not re-open again. But last week, the owners of the nearby Aquaboggan Water Park decided to give it another life on their property.
Aquabbogan manager Ethan Mongue said they want to preserve as much of the drive-in's history as possible in the process of reopening it across the street on the water park's property.
Mongue said he is not too sure whether they will be able to use the same screen, but they want to provide the whole drive-in experience for many generations to come.
Aquaboggan's parking lot can fit about 200 to 250 cars and could expand if needed, he added.
"The key here is preserving the history. Obviously, this is a great opportunity, but most importantly this is a staple that this community has had for more than a century," Mongue said.
When asked when the first movie will be projected, Mongue said they are still working on nailing down all the details and logistics.
"Right now we are still working on permits. We are still in communication with the city, so for us that's a big question mark. We'd like to do it this summer," Mongue said.
The historic sign and several other landmarks, including the deer and the fountain, will be donated to the new location across the street.
"Our plan is when you enter our parking lot, to the left there is a grass area on the back, and what we'd like to do is put the screen up there," Mongue added.
Another treasured place that closed and announced a re-opening was Happy Wheels Skate Center.
"I grew up skating, my mom grew up skating. It was a very important part of my life. I've watched a lot of people grow up skating. Now their kids skate, their grandkids skate. It's an important part of the community," Derek Fitzgerald, the new owner, said.
Fitzgerald has been with the skating business in Maine for many years, he worked in Scarborough, Augusta, and Portland. He said if someone was going to take on the business, it was going to be him, and he's excited about the challenge.
"A lot of birthday parties and school functions and weddings and celebrations of life, that type of thing. It's really important to keep something that is a staple in a community alive," Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald himself is working hands-on at the new skate rink in Westbrook to get it up and running as soon as possible. He hopes to open later this year.
"We're building a brand new facility from the ground up," he said.
"It's the smiles on the kids' faces and the awe in their eyes and in their faces when they come through the door. That excites me a lot," Fitzgerald said.
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