photo by Neon Michael from the Carload Flickr pool
It’s Day 114 of my virtual Drive-In-a-Day Odyssey. It took just 10 minutes to drive up I-76 from the Denver Mart Drive In to the 88 Drive-In in neighboring Commerce City CO.
According to a story in The Denver Post, the 88 was built in 1972 but was showing adult films when it was purchased in 1976 by Bill and Margaret Holshue. As of that 2010 article, their daughter Susan Kochevar was running the place, and teenage grand-daughter Kyleen Kochevar was working the ticket booth.
I was so glad that the 88 is open seven nights a week even in late April, giving me a chance to watch a Monday night drive-in movie for the first time in six weeks. It was even a triple feature, but I only stayed for the first film, Saban’s Power Rangers.
Miles Today / Total: 7 / 12443 (rounded to the nearest mile)
Movie Showing / Total Active Nights: Power Rangers / 53
Nearby Restaurant: The closest restaurant to the 88 is also one of the best in Commerce City. La Casa Del Rey is authentic, family-owned Mexican restaurant that’s not afraid to make its dishes as hot as you can handle. Try the Mexican hamburger, which isn’t easy to find anywhere else.
Where I Virtually Stayed: I live in Denver, so I went home for one more night. The closest hotel to the 88 is just across the interstate in Henderson, another Super 8. According to the latest reviews, it’s been recently remodeled and provides a decent Super 8 experience. But for me, it’s nothing like sleeping at home for the last time this year.
Only in Commerce City: There are a lot of drive-ins that double as flea markets during the day, but I haven’t encountered any others that are practically adjacent to somebody else’s. The Mile High Flea Market, just across the railroad tracks and technically in Henderson, is the Denver area’s biggest continuous garage sale, Its 80 acres include up to 3000 sellers, a farmers’ market, kids’ amusement park rides, and beer.
Next stop: Holiday Twin Drive In Theatre, Fort Collins CO.