Skyview Drive-In Theatre — Local services in Berne Township

The rude, incompetent staff made us miss a movie we pre-paid for, and refused a refund. If I could rate lower, I would. Please note how positively I review other businesses regularly.

We excitedly booked our first time to visit SkyView, as newer residents to the town. We paid to bring our own food in, packed a picnic, and we're stoked for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. We even watched the original that day. For the 8:30 showing, we were parked on the highway in a line before 8pm. The line was moving one car every 8-10 minutes. Slow getting in, so we figured the staff was having trouble. So slow, we assumed they'd hold off on starting the movie. Well, we turned the radio on at 8:35 and heard the movie start. Disappointing. I scoured the website and confirmation email and found nothing that said you have to arrive an hour in advance to get in. I screenshotted the site as well, so if it's changed now, I do have proof it did not. So I realize the email says no refunds or transfers, but we're STILL in line 30 more minutes into the movie. At this point, I don't want to watch the movie, so I figure, let's get to the front and talk to the girl working. Maybe we can transfer the ticket to tomorrow since it was so slow getting in. We got to the gate at 9:15. If you're tracking, it's 45+ minutes into the movie at this point, and we've been in line for an hour and fifteen minutes. From here, we can see the lot has tons of empty spaces. Weird - that there is still a line of cars behind us and the line has barely moved most tod the time - but there are still spaces open?! To me, this is poor planning and staffing. By 8:30, there should either be a full lot or no line left, if they are running their business decently. So I tell the girl kindly, we don't want to watch the movie anymore, since it's like half over and we prepaid so we'd like a refund. "We don't do refunds." "Sure. But we prepaid and have been in line since 8, and the move is almost half over. Can we transfer to another showing?" She proceeds to inform me no, and if I'm refusing to watch the movie I can leave, then says "we only have three people working, but I opened the booth at 7:30, so if you've been in line that long, you'd be in here." Meanwhile, she's fighting with the computer and receipt printer and asking another woman who had come in for help with it. (I want to note that technically the movie started at 8:19, and they say they open the gates 60-90 minutes ahead. If we're going to argue about policies... You didn't follow your own policies.) She acknowledged she had had a hard time and been slow, but didn't acknowledge that this wasn't my fault. I ask then why anyone would purchase in advance. It's apparently to hold your spot, but obviously that wasn't my experience. I was told that she "wasn't finnato go back and forth with me" and that I can call the number on the email. So, we drove through and left. I called the number to leave a message, which I had to listen through 3 minutes of recorded message to get to another phone number to call. I called and left a message, then texted the number. It has been almost 48 hours without response.

I will gladly amend my review if the manager would like to resolve this. At this point, I will make it my mission for everyone to know about your refund policy and poor customer service. Crappy attitudes and lack of ownership of your business's shortcomings are a quick way to struggle and fail. Be a hard ass, sure, but do the right thing.

If you're still reading this and I haven't convinced you not to go here, get there 2 hours early, DO NOT pay in advance, and keep your bar on the floor for...

My story is very similar to a lot of other ppl’s stories and centers around one man. He’s been referred to by many names. The old man in the golf cart, rude guy in the golf cart, ect. I’ve come to find out that he’s the owner.

I live in Boston, Ma and my parents live in Athens, Oh. Last week my family and I traveled over for our family reunion. We had planned on staying in town for a week and one thing I really wanted to fit in was a trip to the drive-in(I hadn’t been to one since I was very young). My 2 nieces, my nephew and I all jumped in the car and drove over, I was beyond excited. Just like everyone else, upon arrival I was given an orange flyer. I honestly didn’t pay attention to the color at first, I saw a great spot so I parked.

That’s when I was approached by ‘He who should not be named’.

“You were given an orange flyer?” he asks. “Oh, ya I guess I was.” I responded. “Well, that’s white.”

Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s not what he was saying, it’s how he said it.

Most business owners would have approached us and politely told us why the color system is important(again, I 💯 percent get it). Instead he did something that seems to be a pattern with this guy, he talked down to me and tried his best to make me feel stupid.

I kept my cool and we moved way in the back, we made the best of it. As my niece is trying to park closer to the speaker he drives by again and stops right in front us of.

“Make sure you pull up close to that speaker.” he says.

At this point I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“I need to say something, I felt you were very condescending just now.”

He tries his best to rebut.

I fire back “What if I was color blind and actually didn’t realize the difference? You were very rude and you need to work on that.”

I looked over at my nieces and nephew who clearly looked impressed that I was standing up for us all 😊

He told me “you all can leave if you want.”

I told him “no, let’s agree to disagree.”

He drove off.

Other than that, the drive-in was great, it’s just what I had pictured. The issue was, I couldn’t shake that feeling the rest of the night. Like we weren’t welcome.

Our last interaction of the night came at intermission when I was taking a picture of the screen. I look up from my phone and again he’s there, sitting on his golf cart.

“So you’re aware, taking video is considered pirating and it’s a federal offense” he informs me.

I just stood there, looking confused as he drove off.

I could write so much more but my fingers are starting to hurt.

Bottom line, I was highly disappointed. I hope he reads this, takes a long look in the mirror and realizes that management like this pushes people away. There’s a whole generation of kids who have never been to a drive-in theater and if he continues to treat people like this they never will.

But hey, the...

I cannot say enough about our visit last night...but I'm going to try! (Pro Tips included!)

We showed up about an hour before the movies started and were greeted very warmly by the attendant at the ticket booth. A simple show of our texted ticket purchased online and a quick rundown of the rules and we were in the gate and on our way to the area indicated for smaller vehicles. We found a spot and parked on the "right side" of the post. Before even opening the door to unload, the infamous "golf cart guy" was very helpful and let us know that we needed to switch to the "other right side". (Pro Tip: If the front of your car is facing the screen, the post will be closest to the driver. If your backhatch/bed is facing the screen, the post will be closest to the passenger door.)

We got reparked, unloaded and started setting up the back hatch for a comfy bed to settle into for our fun night when, right on queue, my daughter has to go to the bathroom. After digging out or masks, we headed to the facility. (Pro Tip: When not at your car, a mask is a MUST and very strictly enforced. Make sure it is covering your nose and mouth completely!!) Being an outdoor facility, I was cautious about the condition of the bathroom, but it was spotless!! We were very pleasantly surprised!

We headed back to the car and settled in for our evening. The movie started and we were immediately hungry. Of course. My kiddo and I headed to the concession and were greeted by a very energetic and friendly staff. We ordered: 2 chili dogs, 1 plain hot dog, chili cheese fries, medium popcorn with butter, large root beer, Hot Tamales and Sour Patch Kids. It took about 10 minutes and totaled $24.50. Everything was GREAT and compared to regular movie theater prices, it was very affordable!! I think the popcorn was the best we'd ever had! (Pro Tip: Purchase the food pass. We had the food pass and packed water and energy drinks as well as bringing in some homemade cookies! They were a great addition to the concession food and it was worth the extra $5 to have the flexibility to decide.)

We got back to the car, got cozy and enjoyed 4+ hours of beautiful night air and a nostalgic viewing experience with "E.T" and "Gremlins" on the big screen! The atmosphere was quiet and relaxing. The property was well patrolled in way that didn't distract us from our movies. All in all, it was a really good experience! We will certainly be back and be even more...