After 69 years of movies and memories, it seemed as though the Weirs Beach Drive-In Theater was going to play its last movie this past Labor Day. However, that plan has since changed.

After running the drive-in for nearly her entire life, owner Patricia Baldi had claimed that she was tired, and ready to retire. She went on to say that the land the drive-in sits on is worth more money than it is capable of producing. This was why she felt ready to sell her business and land to Al Mitchell, a local business owner who already owns 10 acres of land in the surrounding area. Mitchell had planned to purchase the property for 2.5 million dollars, and develop the property into condominiums.

Upon hearing this news, locals were immediately outraged by these plans. Mike Keefe, 33, has spent the entire course of his life working all over Weirs Beach, and the drive-in always had a presence in his life. “I feel that they have sold off one of the last great attractions to the Weirs, and that as a tourism destination, it’s no longer up to par with other areas throughout the state, or other states for that matter,” Keefe said. As it turns out, locals like him have nothing to worry about.

In a meeting, which was set up after an initial survey of the 12-acre property, Richard Boisvert, New Hampshire’s state archeologist, discovered that development of the property may take longer than expected. This is due to the discovery of Native American artifacts. This could increase costs as well, which ultimately forced Mitchell to back out of the business deal, leaving the fate of the drive-in up for grabs. Miranda Howland, 30, a business owner of the local sub shop and bar Weirs the Beef & The Hideout Saloon, was ecstatic at this news. “I am extremely excited that the sale of the drive-in fell through,” Howland said, “The downward spiral of the Weirs Beach area would not be benefitted at all by removing one of the only family activities left.”

And, so it stands, while archeologists perform a much more detailed study of the area, that the Weirs Beach Drive-In stays for now. Patricia Baldi has claimed that if no other buyer steps forward to purchase the land while studies are being conducted, that she may keep the drive-in open for another season.