The Twin Rivers Drive-In at the Tournament Capital Ranch in Rayleigh. (Photo via Daniel at Kamloops KIA/Facebook)

A premature end to the Twin Rivers Drive-In’s season at the Tournament Capital Ranch in Rayleigh.

Kamloops Film Society Executive Director, Dusan Magdolen, says they ended things a month early – in part due to the smoke – but also because their inflatable screen wasn’t doing too well with the winds.

“Last year we only ran in September, and we were in a different spot, so may how the screen was placed and where it was, maybe the wind wasn’t doing as much damage but this year, yeah, even getting it to stand up has been an issue basically every night,” Magdolen said, on the NL Noon Report.

“And then yeah, multiple holes as the wind pulls on it have ripped in it.”

Last month, Magdolen told Radio NL it was too soon to say if the drive-in could find a permanent home in Rayleigh. That will not be case though now, as he noted the Kamloops Film Society is also looking for a new home for the drive-in.

Magdolen says they’re looking for someone with three to four acres of land that is flat or sloped to one side – with 30 minutes of Kamloops – that can be used in July, August, and September. They’re also hoping for a three year commitment to give the drive-in some stability as Rayleigh was the third location it operated it in four summers.

“Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc have been amazing partners, they have exciting plans for all of their land and can’t make multi-year commitments at this time,” Magdolen added.

“The spot where we were in this year, some of the iterations of plans in the future do include a drive-in, but they don’t know exactly which spot. They are definitely game on a year by year basis but just need somewhere where we can put down a little bit of roots because its clear that this blow up trajectory isn’t going to work.”

He says parking lots or farmers fields are all possibilities, noting while the Film Society expects to be on site from July to September, it will be leaving things like that permanent screen and perhaps a concession or box office structure on-site around the year.

It would also require vehicle access from at least one, but ideally two points, with other amenities like washrooms and power an asset, but not necessary.

Magdolen says the Kamloops Film Society is only able to offer a small lease payment as it is a charitable not-for-profit, though it is also able to offer a sponsorship credit.

“I think there are people who miss the nostalgia of the drive- in and who’d really enjoy it. People go out to the Enderby one so if they’re willing to drive an hour and a half to a drive in, I think they would like something local,” Magdolen added. “But I do think we have to build on our momentum and be someone where for multiple years, and within a given year, actually play movies every weekend and not constantly be hitting issues and hurdles.”

“We might have gotten through to September and not had any more issues but the risk of having to shut down or cancel again, we just didn’t want to do.”

You can find more details about the Film Society’s plan for the drive-in theatre here.