Highlands Cinemas — Local services in Kawartha Lakes

My boyfriend and I were really looking forward to visiting Highland Cinemas — we drove two hours after seeing so many videos online and were so excited for the experience. Unfortunately, our visit was very disappointing.

The employees we interacted with were unfriendly, especially the man selling tickets. He didn’t say a single word to us during the entire transaction, which felt dismissive. While I understand I made a mistake when purchasing tickets for the wrong cinema originally, I wish there had been more patience and understanding, especially since we still bought another set of tickets to enjoy the theater.

At the snack counter, the line was confusing, and instead of helping, the staff told us to move aside (when there was no room to move). What made it worse was that he apologized to another customer as if he needed to excuse our behaviour, and then muttered something under his breath. That felt disrespectful and humiliating.

I don’t want to assume, but as the only people of colour there, it felt like we were treated differently than others, and that left me feeling extremely out of place and uncomfortable. I even left the movie shortly after it started because I felt so anxious and overwhelmed — which is not how I imagined this experience at all.

If you’re considering going and you’re a person of colour, please be mindful that you may not feel fully welcomed here. It was a very disappointing and sad experience after driving such a long way with so much excitement.

And since I’ve seen the owner tell another reviewer to “go to management instead of leaving a Google review,” I want to say this: reviews exist so future customers can make informed decisions. If management truly cared about feedback, it would be reflected in the way staff treat their guests in the first place. Kitties were super friendly and...

Well, if you're looking for a unique spot to visit, this is the place for you! We had no idea what to expect when we ventured to Highlands Cinema. There's nothing fancy to see from the road, aside from a simple marquee sign as you turn onto the driveway. The parking lot was.... different, as far parking lots go. We made our way through an opening in the surrounding trees, followed a rough path, entered a set of double doors, and into a different world! The entire place is covered in movie memorabilia! Cameras, costumes, plaques, pictures, so much to see! You can either pay for just the museum or pay for a movie ticket, which includes the museum tour (self guided). We chose the movie/museum option. We saw a new movie in an old style theatre. The experience was incredible! Are the seats recliner comfy? No. Does it matter once you immerse yourself in the adventure of the Highland Cinema? Nope! Do yourself a favour and make your way to this place if you're...

There are a handful of experiences in life where one is truly blown away. The Highlands Cinema is a world unto itself. As a lifetime fan of film and movies, I feel grateful that I was able to visit these cinameas. I also feel grateful that one individual's vision was shared for so many to enjoy. There are 5 cinemas in total, all attached to one main house. Each cinema is uniquely decorated with vintage and eclectic decorations. Seats leaned back and at 6 feet in height, I found them comfortable. Tickets were $8 on Monday. Lots of concessions. Arrive early to walk through what can only be explained as a a master collection of film equipment, movie memorabilia and vintage cinema collectibles. On the property you can also visit an outdoor cat sanctuary housing 25 felines. Really neat to visit. Would definitely visit weekly if I was a local. Thanks for sharing such a...