Entry No. 68 — the Pueblo file — filed under: outdoor
Mesa Drive-In Theatre
Open since 1951 and now in its 75th season, the Mesa is one of the last operating drive-ins in southern Colorado, with two screens and digital projection. Cars roll up onto small angled hills aimed at the screens, and every ticket buys a double feature playing rain or star-shine. Showtimes drift with the sun, starting as late as 9pm in midsummer.
The story
Drive down Santa Fe Drive past Pueblo's industrial edges and you'll hit one of the last operating strongholds of mid-century drive-in culture left in southern Colorado. Family-owned and running continuously since 1951, the Mesa has outlived almost every outdoor screen in the state by making small tactical upgrades—like switching to digital projection—while leaving the raw mechanics of the experience untouched.
The lot itself relies on a remarkably practical piece of earth-moving engineering: small, angled dirt humps designed so that when you park your front wheels on them, your windshield naturally tilts straight toward the screen. There are no gimmicks here—just two screens, a single admission ticket that buys you a full double feature of first-run movies, and sound beamed straight to your dashboard.
What it's like
Roll up well before dusk to snag a center ramp, tune your car stereo (or a portable radio) to the designated FM frequency, and hit the concession building for hot snacks before the line builds. Midsummer showtimes drift as late as 9:00 PM waiting for the desert sun to drop behind the horizon, but once it does, the double feature runs back-to-back whether the sky is clear or pouring rain.
The move: Back the car in, fold down the seats with blankets and snacks, and stay through both halves of the double feature under the open sky.
📍 Before you go Seasonal (roughly May-October); shows start at sundown, so check current showtimes before heading out.
- 📍 Pueblo (Santa Fe Drive)
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 2625 Santa Fe Dr, Pueblo, CO 81006
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Gus' Place — Grab a classic sandwich and a drink at this historic post-Prohibition neighborhood bar before pulling up to the drive-in gates.
- The Breaker Arcade Bar — Keep the retro entertainment theme going with classic arcade cabinets downtown before heading down Santa Fe Drive for dusk.
- Forgotten Grumman TLRV Hovertrains — Combine two distinct mid-century Colorado relics by hunting down Pueblo's abandoned 300-mph hovertrain prototype before nightfall.
Good to know
How many movies does a single ticket cover?
Every ticket covers a double feature (two back-to-back movies) on one of the two screens.
When is the drive-in open during the year?
It operates seasonally, generally opening in May and running through October.
How do you listen to the movie sound?
Audio is broadcast over local FM radio, so you listen through your car's stereo system or a bring-your-own portable FM radio.
Does bad weather cancel the shows?
No, movies play rain or star-shine.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · pueblostarjournal.org · uncovercolorado.com · kktv.com
last checked: 2026-06-23