Ruskin gas station owners feel community love after Milton damage

RUSKIN, Florida. It’s not easy being a drive-in theater owner in Florida, especially when a storm like Hurricane Milton hits.

An outdoor theater like the Ruskin Family Theater has nowhere to hide.

“He didn’t spare us,” said owner Karen Freiwald.

Built in 1952 and lovingly maintained by local legends Karen and her husband Ted, the Ruskin landmark suffered major damage from the hurricane. The movie screen in particular was torn to shreds.

“I thought if Milton came the way they said, nothing would stand in Ruskin,” Karen said.

This piece of film history was already having trouble doing business as it represented old school thrills in the modern world.

And yet, once word got out that the drive-in movie theater was under threat, the community rallied.

Local tree services, owned by the men and women who grew up here, offered to help. Neighbors contributed. GoFundMe page.

Large companies such as 84 Lumber (which donated plywood to rebuild the screen) and TECO Energy (which donated steel poles and labor to support the screen) reached out for help.

Despite all this love, Karen and Ted had no time to be sad. It’s more like a Hollywood ending.

“We will come back bigger, better, stronger,” Karen said. “We will survive.”

The Ruskin Family Theater plans to reopen this Thanksgiving.

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