DRIGGS, IDAHO — The Spud Drive-In screen blew down during last night’s windstorm.
Winds were 30-40 mph from the southwest, with gusts reaching 52 mph at about 9:30 p.m.
The screen blew down towards the east, the metal bending like toothpicks under the pressure.
Katie Mumm manages The Spud along with her husband Jedd. They live on the property and surveyed the damage this morning. They are in the early stages of picking up the pieces, but Katie says they will rebuild.
“I set a goal and it’s an aggressive goal but I’d like to open by June 1st,” Mumm said.
Funds aren’t the issue; insurance will cover the costs to rebuild, Mumm said. The biggest hurdle is finding a builder who has the time and resources to do the work.
Following two summers of challenges due to COVID, Mumm was ready to get back to a normal season. “We have a great lineup for this summer,” she said.
The iconic drive-in located between Victor and Driggs has been open since 1953. The Mumms have managed it since 2014.
While a new screen is needed, Mumm doesn’t plan to change anything else about the Spud. “We are going to try to keep the nostalgic feel of the screen,” she said. The on-site accommodations and the Mumm’s home on the property were not damaged during the wind storm.
“All we can do is move forward and be grateful, Mumm said. I feel really grateful for how long the old screen lasted.
