Now playing in Bath
Bath drive-in to reopen in July
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - Mike Buck remembers riding his bicycle with friends to watch Burt Reynolds movies at the old Bath Drive-In on state Route 415. "And then," he recalls, "when we got our licenses, we started driving to watch the movies."

Those days are long gone - Buck now is 47 with grandchildren. But now, the owner of the local excavation company Buck's Excavating is returning to his entertainment roots, this time as owner of the Route 415 drive-in theater. He bought the property from its previous owners on June and has been renovating the property, with the help of his two sons, Joshua and Dustin, since mid-spring.

When the theater reopens in mid-July, it will no longer be known as "The Bath Drive-in." Buck plans to call it "Papa's Place Drive-in Theater" - a salute to his grandson Owen, who calls him Papa.

It will sport a fully refurbished kitchen and rest rooms, and Buck hopes to show popular, mainstream movies that already have hit the major theater chains but aren't yet released on DVD.

In addition, he hopes to use the acreage for a Sunday flea market and outdoor concerts.

"Eventually, I'd like to build a nice family restaurant," he says.

The first goal, however, is to provide entertainment for Bath and the surrounding communities.

"Everyone in this town complains there's nothing to do around here," Buck says. "Well, I'd like to create something to do in this town."