A Timeless Tradition

Drive-in movie theaters, one of America’s greatest past-times, continue to be a family summer activity. Though few theaters remain open, drive-in owners strive to include today’s generation.

While walking among vehicles as visitors park and prepare to watch the evening’s scheduled movies, old music hums from the still-functioning car speakers throughout the drive-in parking lot, immediately filling the atmosphere with a sense of nostalgia and warmth.

For many of the younger visitors, after arriving over an hour early and joining the line of cars that extends down the highway, excitement builds as they cozy the trunks of their parents’ cars with piles of blankets and pillows, preparing for the movie to begin.

Once seating arrangements are decided and popcorn is purchased, all that is left to do is wait for the sun to go down, signaling the start of the first of two movies for the night. Skyview Cruise-In in Lancaster, Oh. is one of the few drive-ins still open today. Husband and wife owners Walt and Cathie Effinger purchased the theater from its original owner 22 years ago and have put all of their effort into restoring and preserving its service for surrounding community members and all those who travel to continue one of America’s fading traditions. 

Historic Host bed and breakfast

Sue has been running bed and breakfasts for over 30 years, carrying on the business after her husband and business partner passed away seven years ago. She came across the two bed and breakfasts she runs in Nelsonville after going to view a different property with a real estate agent. Upon discovering this property just wasn’t for her, the agent took her to a bed and breakfast she had listed. Sue shortly after bought both that house and the one across the street and has enjoyed running them ever since.

She lives in the Hyde House, and keeps as busy as possible, volunteering around town when she isn’t hosting guests or preparing the houses. She also owns the Primrose House as well as a few cottages near Hocking Hills. All of her properties have some sort of historic significance, which is reflected in her business' name Historic Host. Sue says she never gets lonely, living and running the bed and breakfast. Everyone that stays there has to have a certain personality in order to be searching for the intimate qualities of a bed and breakfast as well as being willing to get to know the other guests and share each other’s stories. Everyone’s got a story, and Sue enjoys finding this in each and every one of her guests. 

6 Months in 4 Minutes

South Africa Study Abroad

I recently spent a semester abroad in South Africa during my sophomore year of college. Words, photos and video cannot do justice to what I experienced during my time there, but I did my best to document my journey. In addition to keeping a photo blog while traveling, I created a compilation of short video clips of my entire time abroad. I hope to bring those who were with me back and allow those who were not lucky enough to join me a glimpse of the incredible time I had.