Tucson drive-in theater finds new home near the Pima Air & Space Museum | Entertainment

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The Cactus Carpool Cinema has moved from Medella Vina Ranch to its permanent home on South Wilmot Road near Valencia Road.

Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star 2020

For much of the pandemic, the Cactus Carpool Cinema has provided socially distant entertainment, showing outdoor movies on a giant inflatable screen at Medella Vina Ranch on South Houghton Road.

Almost a year later, the drive-in theater company bought its own house – a five-acre property at 6201 S. Wilmot Road, off East Valencia Road, near the Pima Air & Space Museum.

The public screenings began on Sunday April 25th with a screening of the 1983 drama “The Outsiders” starring Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe and Matt Dillon.

Cactus, which has been operated by various owners since 2011, restarted last May in response to the surge in drive-in theaters across the country due to the pandemic.

Medella Vina provided a space for this, but it was “just a stepping stone,” says Chris Kazanes, owner of Cactus Carpool Cinema.

A U.S. Air Force C-130 flies over the Cactus Carpool Cinema as workers prepare for an event at their new location, 6201 S. Wilmot Road.

Rebecca Sasnett, Arizona Daily Star

“There were many rules associated with Medella Vina,” said Kazanes. “We had to keep the films family-friendly, nothing with an R rating. We had a lot of live concert requests and we couldn’t implement them. Now that we have our own space, we can do whatever we want. “

In addition to a wider selection of films and possible live events, Kazanes said that some of their plans include picnic tables and on-site barbecues. Parking spaces for movies are clearly marked and food trucks are invited to set up free of charge.

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