Killarney's Shamrock Drive In theatre loses screen to wild weather, again

The Shamrock Drive In theatre in Killarney, Man., was preparing for their first season with a digital projector when the weekend's wild weather took out their screen on Friday.

"My husband and my children that were still at home were watching movies late at night kind of keeping the eyes on the storm," Joanne Struss said.

"[My husband] looked outside, saw a huge flash of lightning and the screen was down. The remaining structure just fell on our playground again."

Struss and her husband own the theatre and run it with their children. It is one of only three remaining drive-ins left in Manitoba.

• Killarney's drive-in theatre to close this summer
• Lightning damages Killarney's drive-in theatre screen
• From the CBC archives: Manitoba drive-ins struggle to survive

In 2015, they fundraised for a new digital movie player and had to replace their screen after it was hit by lightning.

"When it happened last time too, it was like you just feel … kind of defeated, wondering what's going on," Struss said.

"You are in shock for a little while."

The family is remaining optimistic, especially after receiving support online.

"In one way, it was like, 'Darn,' and then in the other way it was like, good" Struss said.

"Now, we can do something totally new because all of those posts needed to be replaced at some point and time."

It will take some time to figure out insurance and get the funds for a new screen, Struss said, but they are determined to open up next year.

Until then, Struss added, she's found the bright side realizing she won't be up until 3 a.m. to run movies all summer.

"You just have to take life as it goes and look at the positive," she said.

Shamrock Drive In has already started fundraising online.