61 Drive In Theater Hopes to Open Soon

There are three sure signs of springtime in Iowa:

• The tulips bloom in Pella
• The eagles nesting in Decorah
• and the reopening of the 61 Drive In Theater in Maquoketa.

This Drive In movie theater first opened 70 years ago. The seasonal opening usually happens by late April, but was postponed this year due to the coronavirus.

In his Daily Report blog on the KMAQ radio website, local business leader and theater owner Dennis Voy says he hopes to have the 61 Drive In open by mid-May.

He also reports that some new amenities will be added this year, including a softball diamond and a basketball court, thanks to local contractor Casel Construction of Maquoketa.

As the state of Iowa carefully reopens it businesses, a trip to the 61 Drive In Theater is one that checks all the boxes. It's affordable outdoor entertainment that allows for social gathering along with the safety of social distancing.

Many Maquoketa businesses are following a similar plan of slowly reopening, with local shops and restaurants each choosing their own best path by keeping their customers safety their highest priority.