Entry No. 69 — the Boulder file — filed under: after-dark
Holiday Twin Drive-In
One of Colorado's handful of surviving traditional drive-ins, the Holiday Twin runs two screens, each showing a double feature nightly through the warm months. Gates open around 6pm, the first film starts at dusk, and you tune a working FM radio in the car to pick up the sound. For the 2026 season they added Sunday showings for the first time, so you can catch two movies for one ticket under an open sky against the foothills.
The story
In 1968, this plot on the western edge of Fort Collins opened as a single-screen ozoner called the Starlight Drive-In [1.1.1]. It added a second screen in 1976 and rebranded as the Holiday Twin, but the vital transaction happened three years later: in 1979, a Utah entrepreneur named Wes Webb literally traded a light airplane for the 22-acre property along Overland Trail. As drive-ins across the country were demolished for real estate, the Webb family held on, even as residential subdivisions built privacy fences right up against the theater lot.
That stubborn refusal to sell out makes it one of Colorado's last surviving traditional drive-ins. You pull onto re-graded gravel ramps facing two screens backed against the rise of the foothills—meaning on one screen, you watch the sunset turn pink across the sky while waiting for dusk, while the other screen frames the dark silhouette of the ridge. The old metal pole speakers are mostly gone; audio broadcasts over local FM frequencies directly into your car stereo or a portable radio.
The real oddity is the economics of its survival. The land under the screens is worth exponentially more to housing developers than summer movie tickets will ever fetch, yet two screens keep lighting up every warm season from roughly March through October. For the 2026 season, they even added Sunday showings for the first time, letting you catch two full-length films for one ticket under an open prairie sky.
What it's like
Show up right when gates open around 6:00 PM—especially if you drive an SUV or truck, as staff route taller vehicles to the back rows to preserve sightlines for sedans. Back into your spot, open the hatch or set up lawn chairs directly in front of your bumper (sitting on car roofs is strictly banned), and tune your radio to 95.5 FM for Screen 1 or 97.1 FM for Screen 2. Bringing a battery-powered portable FM radio keeps you from draining your vehicle battery over four hours of double features. Grab burgers or popcorn at the central concession stand before dusk; those sales keep the screens running. If your car battery dies by the end of the second film, staff keep jumper cables ready at the exit.
The move: Drive up with blankets and snacks, back into a spot before the 7:30 first feature, and stay through both films of the double bill from the bed of your car.
📍 Before you go Seasonal (roughly March-October); gates open ~6pm and films start at dusk, and you need a working FM radio in the car to hear the audio.
- 📍 Fort Collins
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 2206 S Overland Trl, Fort Collins, CO 80526
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Little Thompson Observatory Public Star Night — Follow up a double feature under the open sky with a trip 18 miles south to view distant galaxies through research-grade telescopes.
- Lyons Classic Pinball — Spend the late afternoon flipping pinball on 70-plus maintained vintage tables in Lyons before driving north for a late-night drive-in screening.
- Lyons Classic Video — Pair an afternoon of free arcade gaming in a black-lit basement in Lyons with a evening spent watching retro double features under the foothills.
Good to know
How do I hear the movie sound?
Audio is broadcast over local FM radio stations (Screen 1 broadcasts on 95.5 FM and Screen 2 on 97.1 FM) [1.1.5]. You can use your car stereo with the ignition in the accessory position, or bring a portable FM radio to save your vehicle battery.
How does vehicle parking work?
Parking spots are assigned by vehicle height upon arrival. Trucks, vans, and SUVs are parked in the back rows, while lower cars are placed up front to ensure everyone has an unobstructed view.
Can I bring outside food or pets?
Outside food and drinks are not allowed, as concession sales directly support the venue's operations. Dogs are permitted on the property if kept on a leash, but they are not allowed inside the concession building.
What happens if my car battery dies during the show?
It is a common issue when running car stereos for two consecutive films, so theater staff keep jumper cables on site to assist drivers at the end of the night.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · aol.com · k99.com · uncovercolorado.com · cinematreasures.org · storymaps.arcgis.com
last checked: 2026-06-23