Uranium Drive-In

651 CO-97,
Naturita, CO 81422

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MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on January 24, 2020 at 11:11 am

Boxoffice, Aug. 22, 1960: “The new owner of the Uranium Drive-In at Naturita is Clarence Files, who also operates the Starlite Drive-In at Grand Junction. The former owner was William More (sic)”

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on October 10, 2019 at 3:30 pm

I thought you were right, dansdriveintheater, based on Google Earth images, so I drove all the way out to take a picture of what was left. When I arrived on a late Sunday morning, men were in the process of building something new where the concession stand had been. I missed it by weeks. :(

On the other hand, the sign still looked nice a few blocks away on the main road through town. I uploaded a picture for you.

dansdriveintheater
dansdriveintheater on September 23, 2019 at 12:03 am

the ramps and concession stand still stand

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on September 22, 2019 at 9:23 pm

The Uranium had its opening on Sunday, March 13, 1954, showing “War Paint” and “Africa Screams,” based on a report six days later in the Nucla Forum. Bill Moore opened the place even though the concession stand was incomplete; its first ad in that newspaper was that March 19 edition. Moore said he planned a double feature every night of the week.

The drive-in was still advertising in 1976, and it stayed on the Motion Picture Almanacs' drive-in lists through the final list in 1988.

jwmovies
jwmovies on February 14, 2019 at 6:08 am

A more accurate address for this theater is 651 CO-97, Naturita, CO 81422. This points directly to the drive in itself. Highland Cir did not exist when this theater opened. Part of the circle was the entrance road.

Please update.

TomMc11
TomMc11 on June 29, 2018 at 12:05 pm

a few feet west of 120 W Main St, Naturita, CO 81422 is where you can find the restored Uranium Drive-In Marquee. It is NOT on the site of the actual drive-in.

An article from November 5th, 2012 about the sign:

https://coldwarpatriots.org/naturita-co-uranium-drive-in-sign-restored/

TomMc11
TomMc11 on June 29, 2018 at 11:59 am

From Wikipedia: “Colorado is considered to have the third largest uranium reserves of any US state”

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on July 9, 2017 at 2:22 am

Odd name!! Why was it called Uranium?

NYozoner
NYozoner on December 31, 2016 at 4:06 am

Nucla Rd at Highland Cir
Naturita, CO 81422

Binder St has been renamed Highland Cirle. Nucla Rd is CO-97.

jwmovies
jwmovies on December 27, 2012 at 3:30 pm

Approx. location for this drive-in was Colorado 97 & Binder St.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on November 18, 2010 at 1:17 am

There are two pictures of what once remained of this radioactive theater’s roadsign on its gallery page at Drive-ins.com: http://www.drive-ins.com/gallery/coturan

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 17, 2010 at 8:42 pm

IOn Jan.6 1972 it was playing “TWO LANE BLACKTOP”.One feature only.