The Freeman family owns a plot of farmland used to support Bloomington community activities such as pumpkin picking, hay rides, guided jeep tours and opportunities to pet the farm animals in the fall. They have the drive-in when weather permits.
“The Starlite Drive-In is fighting for its life,” Yvonne Freeman, wife of owner Mark Freeman, said.
A GoFundMe page was set up in an attempt to raise money to keep the business from closing completely. As of Sunday, $1,515 of the $80,000 goal had been raised.
This contribution so far was made through a compilation of 34 people in the span of two days.
Due to the heavy increase of easy access to movies and an increase in land values, business has been declining for quite some time.
The final blow to the business’s success, according to Freeman, was the digital conversion in Hollywood. Once 35mm film was considered outdated compared to digital, the public interest in drive-ins in general started to decline, Freeman said.
“Just because the world is changing, doesn’t mean Starlite has to go,” ?Freeman said.
There have been more than 2,400 total shares of the GoFundMe page, a number that has been increasing every day since its creation Thursday.
Some local businesses in Monroe County have started to contribute to the cause. Harley-Davidson of Bloomington donated $100, along with PEI Maintenance and Contracting, who added another $100 to the efforts.
The majority of the other donations have been collected from local families or people who have fond memories of Starlite and want other generations to have the opportunity to enjoy it as well.
Ninety percent of all proceeds collected at the theater go toward the company that creates the movies, like Disney, according to the theater’s website.
With the funds currently being collected, the owners hope to acquire a projector, sound system, operating source, new phone lines, a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system and filters for a lab-type room to house the unit.
“Families need a place to bring the kids that you can connect to also,” Freeman said.
Freeman said she believes the decline of the family activity is also a big contribution to the issues that Starlite is currently facing.
“As a community, Starlite can be saved,” ?Freeman said.
