Entry No. 213 — the Denver file — filed under: after-dark
88 Drive-In Theatre
The last original drive-in in the Denver metro, glowing on the plains north of the city since 1971 and now rolling into its 50th season under the actual stars. You park, tune the movie's audio through your car's FM radio, and watch a double feature off a single screen for one flat per-person price (kids under 12 free, cash at the box office only). New this season they let you bring outside food and drinks if you buy a $10 food permit, so the trunk-picnic-from-the-back-of-the-hatchback move is officially sanctioned.
The story
When the screen first lit up off East 88th Avenue in August 1971, it wasn't an instant success. Operated by theater owner Paul Cory, the drive-in struggled during its inaugural season, prompting a notorious 1972 pivot: showing adult X-rated features to keep the gate open. That controversial chapter ended in 1976 when new owners bought the property, dropped the skin-flicks, and officially rebranded the venue as the 88 Drive-In.
For decades, as every competing drive-in across the Denver metropolitan area was demolished for suburban housing or industrial parks, this seven-acre gravel lot held out. Developers came dangerously close to burying it in 2023 with a proposal for an 80,000-square-foot warehouse, but the rezoning effort was pulled, leaving the 88 as the region's sole surviving original drive-in. Inside the booth, a 4K digital projector sits alongside a legacy 35mm rig, firing double features onto a screen framed by the Commerce City plains.
What it's like
You pull off Rosemary Street onto a gravel lot contoured with raised dirt humps designed to tilt your windshield up toward the single massive screen. Bring cash for the box office ($10 per head, kids under 12 free). If you plan to back your hatchback in and unpack a full trunk picnic, you'll need to hand over an extra $10 for an outside food permit—otherwise, hit the vintage concession stand for burgers, funnel cakes, and popcorn. Tune your car radio to the venue's FM frequency before dusk (streaming phone apps won't pick up the signal), and settle in for two full movies under the open Adams County sky. Lines back up onto the street quickly on warm summer nights, so get there by 7:30 PM to claim a prime mound.
The move: Back the car in, pile blankets and pillows into the hatchback or truck bed, and watch a full double feature under the open sky on FM-radio sound.
📍 Before you go Open seasonally (warm months); $10/person covers both films, kids under 12 free. Bring a working FM radio or portable one; outside food/drink requires a food permit.
- 📍 Commerce City
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 8780 Rosemary St, Commerce City, CO 80022
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- National Wildlife Property Repository — Tour a federal warehouse packed with confiscated illegal wildlife goods in Commerce City before heading three miles down the road for a double feature under the stars.
- Forney Museum of Transportation — Spend the afternoon inspecting vintage locomotives and rare automobiles in North Denver before immersing yourself in classic car-culture moviegoing on the plains.
- Riverside Cemetery — Wander Denver's oldest cemetery tucked into industrial rail corridors before driving five miles north for a movie screen under the open sky.
- The DMV (Denver Music Venue) — Follow up your double feature with a late-night trip to an underground industrial warehouse venue hosting noise and experimental sounds.
Good to know
How do I get movie audio inside my car?
You tune your vehicle's stereo or a portable FM radio to the station's broadcast frequency on site. Smartphone streaming radio apps will not receive the local signal.
Can I bring my own food and drinks?
Yes, but bringing outside food or beverage requires purchasing a $10 food permit at the box office. Otherwise, snacks and meals are available at the concession stand.
What form of payment is accepted at the box office?
Cash only. Admission is $10 per person for a double feature, and children under 12 enter for free.
What time should I arrive?
Arrive around 7:30 PM or earlier. Traffic on Rosemary Street can stall as vehicles queue up before showtime begins at dusk.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site · Westword · 9news.com · cinematreasures.org
last checked: 2026-06-23