Frontier Drive-Inn
111 E. Country Road 11 N,
Center,
CO
81125
111 E. Country Road 11 N,
Center,
CO
81125
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Related Websites
Frontier Drive-Inn (Official)
Additional Info
Previous Names: Frontier Drive-In, New Frontier Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Frontier Drive-In was opened on May 14, 1955 with Edmond O'Brien in “Warpath”. It was operated by Herbert Gumper and had a capacity for 320-cars. It was closed around 1985.
Still standing completely intact as of March, 2014. By 2022 it had reopened with additional buildings and operates as a hotel, and screens movies on the original 40ft wide screen at weekends.
Contributed by
Anthony L. Vazquez-Hernandez
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
The Frontier debuted in the 1956 edition of the Motion Picture Almanac series, listed as owned by Herbert Gumper. It fell off the MPA list in 1985.
“Herbert Gumper, Frontier Drive-In, Center, Colo., and the Roundup Drive-In, La Jara, Colo., died of a heart attack. The 54-year-old theatre man is survived by his wife, a son, and three grandchildren.” —Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 12, 1964
The Frontier Drive-In held its grand opening on Saturday, May 14, 1955, based on a front-page story in the previous day’s issue of the Monte Vista Journal. Admission was free for the opening, which featured the movie “Warpath”.
The drive-in was described “eleven miles north of Monte Vista on the Gunbarrel,” the locals' name for US 285, which has no curves in that stretch. It was owned by Herb and Theta Gumpers, who also owned the Center Theatre, the La Jara Theatre, and the Round-Up Drive-In in La Jara.
“Gumpers has constructed the theatre screen and installations himself.” The screen was 44x80 feet, and the lot held 320 cars. Walter Nichols was the manager.
New development on the land includes the restored Frontier Drive-In sign.
https://centerpostdispatch.com/article/frontier-drive-in-revitalization-brings-new-building-techniques-to-center?fbclid=IwAR3NRwSctbkkX2nM7HvBtnj2mhGCh76Sn3nf7CWiIUZ_1CuxxfqFNCkc5y8
Planned reopening at the end of September. Frontier
New website is https://www.frontierdriveinn.com/ Now called “Frontier Drive-Inn” it has a mix of yurts and shed rooms that can be stayed overnight in, films can be watched from these rooms as well.
Additional article about the same conversion, with 12 photos.
https://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/2022/08/26/frontier-drive-in-center-colorado-san-luis-valley-attractions-movies/?utm_content=fb-canoncitydailyrecord&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR2myeHNevsOJ83_PYK3620C7t5udb7xYidUDsaQWa9gxMR3wWqNiD_bf7U
Nice!another reopened theatre
Thanks for the link, DavidZornig! (Here’s the archived version in case it becomes unavailable at the Daily Record.) I had heard that the movies were only available to overnight visitors, but that article says it’s available to anyone for some weekend screenings. I’m planning my summer trip now! :)
@DavidZornig - The marquee has been “restored?” Geez, if THAT’S restored, it must’ve been a shambles before!