Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre — Attraction in Riverview

Our family has a serious love for Drive In Theatres and are sure to take the opportunity to visit a drive in any time we are in the area of one. During a trip to Tampa, we decided to visit the Ruskin Family Drive In Theatre. After visiting the website, we were really excited to try the pizza as it is described as something quite special. We ate one slice as a family and threw the rest away. I’m not convinced it was real cheese, and honestly a 7-11 pizza would have tasted better and been fresher. The homemade chili, however, was very good, and we would have much preferred to have more of that.

The concession stand staff was, unprofessional to say the kindest thing. I’m glad they were having fun, but I do think it’s important to take care of the customers while doing so. It took a bit to get someone to pay attention long enough to take our order. And the constant shouting out the building for a customer who wasn’t there wasn’t the correct soundtrack to the movie we were looking for.

I can appreciate this is a very old facility and that is truly part of the charm, however, there were several things I couldn’t overlook as age and nostalgia.

1. Electrical should not be running next to a toilet in the ladies room. Also, the restroom deserves some lighting. Ambiance isn’t what I’m looking for here.

2. I cannot see how by any stretch of the imagination how having two toilets so close to one another in the men’s room has any reasonable use. If two people sat, their butts would actually be touching. Two men urinating would literally be splashing one another. I don’t think anyone wants to buddy poop.

3. The screen seems to be in need of a good washing, paint, caulk, something. We saw Godzilla vs Kong and the lines on the screen were incredibly visually distracting. Every panel shows it’s edge. This really should be taken care of.

I wanted to love this place, but we...

It's one of the last classic drive-in movie places. They do a double feature for the price of one ticket at a movie theater. You can listen to the sound by using either the old style window speaker or by tuning into a radio station. We backed into our spot, sat outside, and listened to the car speakers.

Its a nice family trip bc you can all sit together and hang out before and in between movies. There's lots of other kids to play with too. It feels like you're at a block party with movies. And it feels nostalgic even tho that's before my time.

So the food. They have lots of choices at the concession stand. The typical movie fare is just as good as what you'd get in a theater and the other things, like Philly cheesesteaks, not so much. But it's a movie so I didn't have great expectations. And for a nominal fee, you can bring food in. So really, you can have good food as long as you bring it yourself.

No alcohol allowed or sold.

It's worth the trip. We came from Sarasota and highly enjoyed it. We had a little caravan so had friends to hang out with as did the kids. We threw and kicked a ball around while waiting for the movie to start. We did bring in food, but I enjoy having the movie fare as it's part of the experience. It was definitely worth the trip and we'll be doing it again.

DO NOT FORGET bug spray. Those suckers can really suck there. And if your vehicle has day time running lights Google how to turn them off if the car is running. Sometimes sitting in your car is the most comfortable and best listening experience.

TLDR: go, it's fun, food's not great, you can bring food, double feature for price of one, no alcohol, bug spray, bug...

I wasn't very impressed with this theater. We went a while back ago to see Aladdin and then dumbo. We arrived 30 minutes early, but learned that is not early enough if you want to be anywhere towards the front. We were placed all the way in the back. Tried to make the best of it, but it was difficult due to big lifted trucks and SUVs with outdoor equipment strapped to the top negatively impacting our view. People working the entrance must not care to give directions to these people that they must be in the back. Stepped outside my vehicle to take a picture with my children and within 30 seconds all of us were getting bit by fire ants. It was miserable for the next hour as we all found we are allergic to them. Thankfully I had benadryl in my purse. You would think a business would treat for ants in a field where people sit in camping chairs to watch a movie. I have been to the drive in theater in Tampa and they definitely treat for ants and do not have a pest problem.

Due to the two issues that severely impacted our experience I won't be going back. Advice to management: have ticket workers instruct larger vehicles/vehicles with items strapped on top that can obstruct view that they must park in the back lot AND please treat for fire ants in your field. Should these two issues be addressed I would gladly come back and revise my review based on...