A transformation of a historic destination

@lostfoxcreative
Neon orange Frontier star logo.

Our Story

Our family has a long history of visiting the San Luis Valley. In 2016 a family friend, knowing Born Hospitality Group’s passion for art, film, real estate, and the SLV, reached out with the idea to bring back this special cultural space.

History of the Frontier

The Frontier neon sign in the daylight, not turned on, with the back of the movie screen in the background.

1955

The Frontier Drive-Inn opened in May 1955. Opening night was on the house, and people came from all over the valley. The Frontier was one of few places where you could see Spanish-language films in the 60s and 70s.
An old western movie projected onto the drive-in movie screen at night.

1986

After a successful 30-year run, the family-owned business closed its doors.
The Frontier Drive-Inn neon sign lit up with the night sky in the background.

2016

A family friend, knowing Born Hospitality Group’s passion for art, film, real estate, and the SLV, reached out with the idea to bring back this special cultural space.
Exterior view of steelmaster sheds and a yurt on a cloudy day.

2022

Born Hospitality Group has turned a Drive-In into an Inn, restoring the neon sign and original 40' screen, adding a lawn for movie viewing under the stars, outfitting the Frontier with state-of-the-art film screening equipment and luxurious new overnight accommodations.

Today

We are proud to announce that our in town Theatre Apartments are finished and available. The 1940s theatre is next, coming Summer '25.

Future

Coming Summer 2025 we will the open the Center Theatre, more lodging, Trailers, and RV Hookups!

The Frontier In The News

The Frontier Drive Inn has been mentioned in many national and local publications. If you are a member of the press interested in contacting The Frontier, please use the Contact Us form and let us know how we can help.

5280 Magazine logo.

How a Drive-In Movie Theater’s Encore Could Help Revitalize the San Luis Valley

“The Frontier will be a hub for stage performances and art installations, among other cultural events…“We see the restoration as a way for residents of the larger cities on the Front Range to become better connected to the lifestyle of our rural fellow citizens.” On-site yurts and cabins will encourage visiting urbanites to stay longer…”

Conde Nast Traveler logo.

Colorado’s Overlooked San Luis Valley Offers Scenic Desert With Artistic Flair

“Fifteen miles north of Del Norte, an experimental project…is transforming an old drive-in movie theater into an arts-and-culture destination called Frontier. Ten plush yurts and four hotel rooms inside a retrofitted Steelmaster shed are expected by summer. Other facilities will include 3D-printed-adobe spa buildings and observatories by architects Rael San Fratello, known for conceptual projects like  the cultural programming will include screenings, performances, and regenerative food gatherings.”

Alamosa Citizen logo.

Revitalized Frontier Drive In will showcase art and the Valley

“One of the things that Mark and the family bring to the table is their great experience, not only development, but in hospitality,” Gildar said. “They’ve done a great job of bringing some really wonderful buildings to the site and accommodations for people so that this is now a drive-in with two n’s (inn), where you’re staying overnight and people will come in and this will be a destination or gateway into the Valley.”

Center Post - Dispatch logo.

Frontier Drive-In revitalization brings new building techniques to Center

“As you drive up to the Frontier, the first thing that catches the eye is the restored Frontier Drive-In’s neon sign. This piece of history has been preserved, along with the huge movie screen and the original snack bar building. All the other structures on the property are new construction, which includes Quonset-style buildings, yurts and the addition of 3D printed adobe structures. Artist Ron Rael designed the adobe structures and 3D printing software, along with his team at Emerging Objects.”

Colorado Central Magazine logo.

Projecting the Future of the Frontier Drive-In

“The most vibrant and apparent improvement to the grounds has been the return of the original sign, which was restored by Morry’s Neon Signs, also of Denver. Morry’s is a third-generation family owned and operated business.”

Under the Stars HBO documentary logo.

Frontier Drive-Inn featured in hbo documentary Paying tribute to some of America’s only surviving drive-ins

“Chronicling the rise and fall of drive-ins, this heartfelt documentary travels through small-town America to capture the journeys of the few remaining theaters—as well as the supporters who keep them alive. While drive-ins boomed during the Golden Age of cinema, their existence has declined over time with the emergence of television, increasing land prices, and big box retailers. But a small number of drive-ins have survived with help from a shared love of nostalgia and the loyal supporters who have backed them for generations. A love letter to drive-ins, Under the Stars highlights the power of cinema to bring communities together.”

Travel + Leisure logo.

This Colorado Destination Has Glamping Yurts, Dark Sky “Skylos,” and a Drive-in Theater

“Now the space, equidistant to the Wolf Creek Ski Area and Great Sand Dunes National Park, is as eye-catching as they come. It’s a destination meant to be visually savored thanks to its mixed materials like the bright steel of the sheds to the soft canvas coverings of the yurts held up by rich, dark wood…the Frontier Drive-Inn lives in the in-between, and we all should be happy to sit in the middle.”

The Best Dark Sky Parks to Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower

“Enjoy a clear, unobstructed night sky in remote Great Sand Dunes, a Dark Sky-certified park that’s also open around the clock. Grab a towel and walk into the dunes to rest on the sand and patiently watch Perseus. Or for an even more remote view, there’s still availability for a permit via Recreation.gov for the backcountry dunes (from $6) at least 1.5 miles or more into this massive swath of sand.
For a particularly space-like night, head roughly 30 miles west of the park visitor center to the quirky UFO Watchtower—a roadside attraction dedicated to chasing extraterrestrials, with an on-site tower, exhibit, and campsite (from $20). Closer to the small town of Del Norte, you might opt for a night in the Frontier Drive Inn’s yurts or steelmaster sheds, which include access to 3D-printed, adobe-style Skylos rooms that look up into the open night sky.”

Pass on Aspen: A family trip to Colorado is best spent on the road

“Out of the mountains and into the arid San Luis Valley lies Alamosa and an edgy, Wild West vibe that might intimidate the fuzzy boots crowd. But this is a must stop, especially if you can land a couple of nights at the Frontier Drive Inn, where well-appointed yurts offer the perfect haven to sift through the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, clamber around the rugged Penitente Canyon and grab a beer at the San Luis Valley Brewing Company before retreating back to the verdant lawn at Frontier, which provides fresh popcorn and chairs, while broadcasting outdoor movies on a massive screen.”


Large black script Frontier Drive-Inn logo that says IN MOVIES WE TRUST in an arch above it.