Visit and stay at the Frontier Drive-Inn for a different cinematic experience

By Jay McKinney

Streaming services may be convenient and popular, but there’s nothing like seeing a movie in a theater. The drive-in theater allows for the perfect mix of absorbing the movie theater experience, while also relaxing in the confines of your personal car where smuggling snacks is easier.

The Frontier Drive-Inn has embraced the nostalgic tradition of drive-ins and elevated the experience to a whole new level. Located on Highway 285, just outside the town of Center in the San Luis Valley, the theater opened in May of 1955 and immediately became a popular attraction within the valley. After 30 years of screening movies, the family-owned theater closed in 1986.

In 2016, plans were made to bring back the Frontier, and reinvent the entire property. It reopened in 2022 after restoring the 40-foot theater screen and the picturesque neon sign. The owners also added a lawn for movie viewing and installed state-of-the-art screening equipment. While guests don’t actually view the movies from their cars like a traditional drive-in, it’s similar because it is still an outdoor theater experience and the grass.

The most notable aspect of the transformation revolves around the addition of an extra ‘n’. It’s no longer a drive-in, but rather a drive-inn, with its 10 yurts and four suites located in Steelmaster sheds available for overnight visits.

The yurts take glamping to the next level and are the perfect option for guests traveling in a group. Each one is equipped with queen beds, pellet-stoves, and clustered in groups of five around an outdoor firepit, and a spa-like bathhouse.

From the outside, the Steelmasters may look like the parking space for a tractor, but they’re just as cozy as the yurts. They have private bathrooms, heated floors, and decorative wood-paneled interiors.

“The Frontier is a unique place because it’s all about making connections,” says Luke Falcone, one of the owners. “Showing films at night encourages guests to go out and explore during the day and connect with the huge variety that the San Luis Valley has to offer. We always say, “stay here – but don’t stay here.” We then hope guests will come back – sit around the fire, grab a popcorn, and share those explorations with their fellow guests on our film viewing lawn or in our communal kitchen.”

Due to restrictive licensing, the Frontier is only able to screen movies to guests who are staying the night, and the film titles cannot be advertised, but align with the designated themes of the week. Screenings are held Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from May-September. However, they often hold public events with the next one being the “New Moon Celebration” on Saturday Aug. 12. The event will feature local vendors and films that were selected for the 2023 Wild & Scenic Film Festival.