All that remains of Chris Ball's dream...destruction and unfortunate circumstances.
Like virtually every other West Liberty business, his Towne Cinema Movie Theater has been left in ruins, literally rotting away.
"When I came inside it was bad. Doors were blown open, debris, shingles, wood, particle board, you name it, it was thrown in," said Ball.
The 40-year-old theater is one of only two underground movie theaters in the United States.
However, there will soon be only one left.
Normally, insurance would have covered all of the mess. However, Ball says they missed an insurance payment prior to the storm hitting, and he lost his insurance.
"We've got a bunch of useless equipment, most of it is outdated, and there's nothing we can do about it," added Ball.
Ball is trying to rebuild his deam into a three-screen theater, with an arcade and a museum honoring the history of cinema in West Liberty...but he needs help.
"To purchase the land to put a building in and buy the equipment, we're probably looking at about $500,000 to $750,000. I think right now we're at about $880."
Ball understands the entire town needs big funds, but says at least having a movie theater would give the locals an escape from the hardship around them.
"Anyone who's ever went to a movie theater and smelled the popcorn and came to watch a movie with their kids...we don't have that here."
You can donate to the theater's fundraising site at
http://www.indiegogo.com/townecinema.
