Morganton native brings mobile movies to Drexel fairgrounds

For the first time in decades, Burke County residents will have the chance to watch movies under the stars as Morganton native Rex Willis launches his mobile theater this weekend at the Drexel fairgrounds.

Willis said the opening weekend marks nearly three years of effort to bring an outdoor movie theater experience back to Burke County. His business, The View, will show double features on Friday and Saturday night, finally turning that vision into reality.

Though he said he can’t announce official movie titles to the media due to his contract with Swank Motion Pictures, a company that licenses and distributes content to non-theatrical markets, he announced them on The View’s social media accounts for those who are interested.

Moviegoers will be able to choose from concessions classics like fresh popcorn, boxed candy, and drinks, along with options from the Taste of Philly Flava food truck. Gates will open between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., with cash-only tickets at $25 per carload and $6.25 for walk-ins. Willis said he encourages people to carpool so more people can enjoy the experience.

He said creating a space where people can come together was always his goal, adding that his decade of experience in the restaurant industry helped shape who he is today.

“It taught me a lot about community and bringing people together and just giving people a good experience,” Willis said.

Originally, Willis wanted to create his own drive-in theater location in Burke County, but he realized it would be too expensive for someone starting out. He put the idea on the back burner for a bit before receiving suggestions to instead start a mobile movie theater that travels around the county and beyond.

It wasn’t long before he was catching a flight to California to purchase a kit that included two large inflatable screens, a projector, and sound equipment. He spent much of his time researching the industry, visiting drive-ins throughout the country, and attending conferences to figure out how to make the idea a success in Burke County.

The farthest he traveled was to Harvest Moon Drive-In Theatre in the heart of central Illinois. He went on the drive-in’s busiest night of the year and said about 1,600 people flooded into the small town of Gibson City for the experience.

Only four places in North Carolina provide similar experiences, with the closest being a drive-in theater in Belmont. Now, Willis is hoping his mobile theater will take off, giving people in Western North Carolina a unique spot to watch a show on the big screen.

He still wants to build his own drive-in theater one day, but for now, he’s utilizing the mobile theater model to give people a unique experience. For those interested in booking The View for a show or event, Willis encourages anyone interested to contact him.

Willis said he’s open to hosting a summer movie series, though he plans to see how the first event goes before booking additional dates. He is also considering bringing the mobile theater to fairgrounds in Catawba and Caldwell counties as well.

“I have put so much into this, the past four years,” Willis said. “I just hope it brings the community together because that’s really what we need in the world these days.”