Sheridan – The stroke of midnight never seems to come for the Cinderella Twin Drive-in.
The popular and highly visible drive- in theater, at West Hampden Avenue and South Santa Fe Drive in Sheridan, has been rumored to be shutting down for several years as the land grows in value and beckons development.
But the theater’s marquee is trumpeting another season, and the resilient drive-in is set to open March 17 – happy St. Patrick’s Day, drive-in lovers.
“We’ve had our winter rest, and we’re all ready to go,” said Jim Goble, co-manager of the Cinderella Twin.
The theater, which sits on an 11-acre parcel and has a capacity of 800 cars, has been operated by Goble and his partner, Jeff Kohler, since 1996.
Goble signs year-to-year leases with the property owner to run the theater.
Once the weather warms, the twin theaters get extremely busy, and most weekend showings sell out, he said.
“A large part of it is the bargain of always getting a double feature and sometimes a triple feature for what’s normally the price of one movie” at most indoor theaters, he said.
Early-season pricing at Cinderella is $12 a carload. In mid-May, pricing switches to $9 a person; children ages 7 to 11 are admitted for $2, and children 6 and younger are free.
Jennifer Sherer Janisch of Las Vegas is co-owner of Drive-ins.com, a website that bills itself as “the definitive resource for drive-in information.”
She said drive-ins in urban areas continue to vanish, victims of the spiraling value of the land they occupy.
Those that remain are popular because most offer amenities such as playgrounds, and some operate snack bars with menu items approaching those found in restaurants and diners.
“The classic stuff seems to be what is appealing to families,” Sherer Janisch said.
Colorado has 10 drive-in theaters, including the 88 Drive-in on East 88th Avenue in Commerce City and the Holiday Twin in Fort Collins.
Cinderella, which opened in 1971, will more than likely give way to development soon.
“I can’t really say for sure if this is the last season or not,” said Bruce Leiman of Platte Properties, who owns the land.
He has been working with a San Antonio development firm on a “high-end apartment building” for the site.
“A year ago we expected the last season, but that didn’t materialize,” Leiman said. “But the deal is still alive.”
Until then, this Cinderella will keep going to the ball.
“It’s a whole different experience from an indoor theater,” Goble said. “You have the freedom to move around or sit in a lawn chair if you want.
“It combines the outdoor, sporty feel of Colorado with a movie experience.”
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-820-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
