P.E.I.’s newset drive-in gets a big screen upgrade
SLEMON PARK — After navigating opening a business mid-pandemic in 2020, The Runway Drive-In has reopened for the 2021 season with a new movie screen.
Paul Arsenault has replaced the inflatable screen he used last year with a newly constructed screen made from sea cans (shipping containers) six high and two wide.
“The first two cans are fixed to concrete pillars,” said Arsenault. “The rest are stacked on one another and welded together.”
Arsenault used sea cans to create the bathrooms and the canteen at the drive-in and took the same idea for the screens, he said.
“We tried the old-school wood method but the sea cans were much cheaper option considering the price of the building materials.”
The screen stands 52 feet high and 29 feet wide, around a third bigger than the inflatable screen. Once the cans were stacked and welded; Arsenault was more worried about keeping them upright.
“Slemon Park gets unbelievable amounts of wind,” he said. “So, we secured five, 40foot quarter-inch metal tubes on the backside of the cans down and fixed to the concrete to keep the wind from blowing it over.”
Arsenault, who also owns Clinton Hills wedding venue, was originally planning to put the screen on his 92 acres in Clinton but ultimately chose Slemon Park for its location, he said.
“We get all the traffic from the western part of the Island including Summerside and Kensington. We also see people willing to make the drive down from farther east to check out what’s going on down here.”
Once the big screen was complete, Arsenault opened the drive-in for the season to a crowd of 24 cars on May 21.
“Opening night was cold and raining, so we are planning a Grand Opening later in June.”
Despite starting the business only eight months ago, Arsenault has had many visitors come to check out P.E.I.’s newest drive-in.
“We opened during the pandemic because we figured people needed something to do,” he said. “We had a great response in 2020 and now it’s a Hail Mary pass to try and let people know we are here for 2021.”
The Runway Drive-In has been using its Facebook page as the main source of advertisement since opening in September of 2020, he said.
“Our page just it 5,000 likes, which, in a short time I think is pretty good.”
Facebook is where Arsenault announces which movies will be playing, along with updates surrounding the park.
Slemon Park used to be a Canadian Forces base before closing in 1991. Themed after its military roots, the drive-in offers “birthday boot camp” for kids. It has Arsenault booked well in advance, he said.
“Boot camp is an obstacle course for the kids and of course we offer birthday treats, then they can enjoy a movie afterwards,” he said. “We have almost every weekend booked from now until September with birthdays.”
Another feature of the military-themed theatre is the discount for those who have served.
“We offer a 15 per cent discount at the gate for anyone who is currently serving or has served in the Canadian Forces.”
With the ever-growing interest, Arsenault said he’s working to get the licensing to play brand-new movies.
“For now we are playing some older ones and a few classics,” he said. “But in a couple of weeks, we’ll be working to play brand-new movies as we get permission.”
The drive-in can be found on Facebook at The Runway Drive-In and the web at therunwaydrivein.ca.