Island Acres Drive-In
1198 W. U.S. Highway 50,
Gunnison,
CO
81230
1198 W. U.S. Highway 50,
Gunnison,
CO
81230
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A 1971 aerial photo shows the drive-in intact and perhaps operational. By 1983, the entrance road was turned into Frontage Road and the drive-in appears to be closed although it remained intact.
The Grand Opening for the Island Acres was on Friday, July 22, 1955, based on the top front-page story in that week’s Gunnison News-Champion. The first program was “The Fast and the Furious” (the 1954 version), “The Law vs. Billy the Kid,” and “always a cartoon”.
From the July 30, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Edwin Koehler has opened his new 350-car drive-in at Gunnison, Colo., which he has named the Island Acres drive-in.
A more accurate address for this theater would be 1198 W U.S. Hwy 50, Gunnison, CO 81230. This points to the motel next to the entrance road (Frontage Rd.). The resort is across the river from this location.
Please update.
The address (at least for Google) of the entrance is W U.S. Hwy 50 & Frontage Rd, Gunnison, CO. The drive-in was located right across the river from the Island Acres Resort, which is still in existence.
Today, the drive-in remains mostly intact with the concession stand/projector booth still standing and the screen partially standing.
http://tinyurl.com/yb59d6sv