The History Behind Western Colorado’s Iconic Drive-In Theaters

Ahh, Drive-in movies. If you were lucky, you got to see a few movies at a Colorado Drive-in during your childhood. My first drive-in movie as a kid was Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. I could hardly see anything, but I still loved it.

While the love for drive-ins and drive-in nostalgia is still substantial, owning and operating one of these theaters today is a challenge. Keep scrolling for a look back at some of Colorado's most popular theatres, and the ones still in operation today.

Western Colorado’s Golden Age of Drive-Ins

During the golden age of Drive-in movies, Colorado's Western Slope was the place to be. We had the Star Drive-in - Montrose, the Tru Vu Drive-in - Delta, and three outdoor theatres in Grand Junction:

• Starlite Drive-in: Located at 2403 North Ave., it opened in 1947, making it Grand Junction's second open-air theater.
• Chief Drive-in: Situated at 2868 North Ave., it opened in 1952 and closed in 1989 after nearly four decades. The old theater signs are still around today (below).
• Rocket Drive-in: Located where Walmart is now, it opened in 1955 and closed in 1986. 

Read More: 9 Places Western Colorado Would Build A Drive-In Theatre

The Colorado Drive-Ins Still Operating Today

There are still a handful of theaters in Colorado showing movies under the stars during the summer months. Delta's Tru Vu Drive-in currently holds the title of oldest, longest-running theater still in operation. Six others are still open around the state, including:

• 88 Drive-In Theatre: 8780 Rosemary St, Commerce City, CO 80022
• Comanche Drive-In Theatre: 27784 County Road 339, Buena Vista, CO 81211
• Star Drive-In Theatre:  600 Miami Rd, Montrose, CO 81401
• Tru Vu Drive-In: 1001 CO-92, Delta, CO 81416
• Holiday Twin Drive-In: 2206 S Overland Trail, Fort Collins, CO 80526
• Mesa Drive-In Theatre: 2625 Santa Fe Dr, Pueblo, CO 81006 
• Star Drive-In Theatre: 2830 US-160 W, Monte Vista, CO 81144]

The Future of Drive-In Theaters in Colorado

During the days before smartphones and tablets, Drive-in movies were a pretty cool thing. Many of the theaters in Grand Junction were gathering spaces, a place for first dates, or for family traditions.

Can Drive-in movies make a comeback in 2025? With today's digital projectors, outdoor theaters can quickly become hosts for events like car karaoke and film festivals. New interest from Gen Z and the Instagram crowd could provide the boost these local businesses need to stay with us.

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