Frontier Yurt Rio Grande County | House in Center, Colorado

FRONTIER DRIVE-INN YURT #14
The Frontier Drive Inn is a tribute to the things we love: food, architecture, art, and, of course, movies. This is a place to enjoy old friends, make new ones, and reconnect with nature.
Durable and completely prefab, Steelmaster sheds are ubiquitous on San Luis Valley farms. At the Frontier, we’ve completely retrofitted them for a luxury experience, with custom wood-paneled interiors, private bathrooms, and in-floor heat. There’s no better place to be for sunset on the Frontier than cuddled up in a chair on your own personal deck, enjoying popcorn and the view of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range or our signature movie screen. Our luxury rooms feature Pendleton blankets, one-of-a-kind rugs, Parachute mattresses and linens, and Boll & Branch towels. No two rooms are the same -- everything was hand-selected by our team to provide a comfortable, inspiring place to relax at the end of a day exploring.
PLEASE NOTE: Our movie screening season has ended for the 2022 season - we'll be lighting the projector and screen back up in the spring of 2023. Please check out website and socials for updates.
HISTORY OF THE FRONTIER
The Frontier Drive-In opened in May 1955. Its history is tied to the history of the San Luis Valley, a remote landscape that has remained unchanged in many ways since that opening night. Admission was free, and the movie on the big screen was a typical western of the era titled "Warpath." One of the few places you could see Spanish-language films in the 60s and 70s, most locals are happy to share stories about visiting the Frontier as kids and teens, though not everyone was there for the movie! In 1986, after changing hands a few times, the drive-in closed following the screening of the film, The Corsican Twins starring Cheech and Chong. And there it sat abandoned for 30 years...
OUR STORY
Our family has a long history of visiting the San Luis Valley. In 2016 a family friend, knowing our passion for art, film, real estate, and the SLV, reached out with the idea to bring back this special cultural space. Over the past 5 years, we have restored the neon sign and original 80' x 40' screen, outfitting the Frontier with state-of-the-art film screening equipment and luxurious new overnight accommodations. Future phases will add more lodging, a gathering hall, campsites, and RV hookups.
TODAY
Find a deep, nourishing connection to your friends and family. Take in a film under the San Luis Valley’s pristine night sky. Come for weekends of curated movie and chef dinners, art installations, live music and experimental architecture events.
AREA ATTRACTIONS
Penitente Canyon
The Great Sand Dunes National Park
Zapata Falls
Wolff Creek Skiing
WHAT MOVIE'S PLAYING?
Film schedules are circulated to guests after booking. If you are traveling with kids or have special ratings requirements, please reach out to our staff in advance of booking.
SNACKBAR
The Frontier Snackbar is the general activity hub for the whole site! It’s a great place to relax with friends, meet other guests, and load up on popcorn before a movie under the stars. It is a shared space for all our guests, so please be courteous of other guests; keep things tidy, be sure to clean up spaces after meal time, and do not leave dirty dishes in the sink. The Snackbar’s hours are from 6:30 AM to 11 PM, or a half hour after the screening has completed on movie nights. Please be mindful other guests might be waking up early for a sunrise at the sand dunes or some first chair laps at Wolff Creek – and keep your noise to a minimum. Please read our kitchen rules below if you are interested in cooking at the Frontier.
HOW DOES YOUR KITCHEN WORK?
We love cooking with friends and family, and the Frontier was designed to facilitate communal meals. If you'd like to cook during your stay, you can pre-book a kitchen box which includes utensils, plates, cups, bowls, and cooking supplies, along with your reservation. You will receive the padlock code to your box at check-in. Please clean cooking tools and utensils before loading your box at the end of your trip. Any missing items at the end of your stay will be charged back to the credit card on file. We also have a shared refrigerator in the snackbar available for guests to use – inside the refrigerator (which has a glass door and is located under the counter next to the stove) are labeled crates. Please keep your goods confined to the crate that corresponds with your room number – any goods not within a labeled bin are subject to be disposed of by our cleaning staff.
POPCORN: Our popcorn machine is for operation by staff members, ONLY. Please do not attempt to use it. We will, of course, be offering free popcorn during any film screenings.
STOVE: Chefs – Our kitchen is equipped with a induction stove top – just like some of the best restaurants in the world! It works by sending heat directly into the pan (not all pans will work – only stainless steel, cast iron, or enameled iron). Place the pan on the stove, spin the corresponding dial to a desired setting, and your pan should be heated within the minute. Don’t forget to use the hood (push the clock button and then a number setting) Please use caution when using the stove – the stove surface and pan will both heat up quickly.
DO YOU HAVE A FEE FOR DOGS?
The Frontier welcomes dogs for an additional $50 fee per dog, with a maximum of two dogs per room. Please be aware that our booking system keeps a copy of your credit card on file, and that any damage due to pets will be charged back to the guest.
DOES THE FRONTIER OFFER DAILY HOUSEKEEPING?
The Frontier does not offer nightly housekeeping.
IS THE FRONTIER KID-FRIENDLY?
We grew up exploring all the San Luis Valley has to offer as children - and we are excited to welcome the next generation of kids to this magical place! Frontier Drive-Inn is excited to welcome guests of all ages. Be sure to check our film schedule in advance of your booking - family-friendly weekends will feature only G-rated films. Staff will be happy to provide more information about film ratings on other weekends upon request.
CAN I PARK ON-SITE?
Yes! We have a generous parking lot. Our loop-style fire road makes it easy for guests to drop heavy suitcases in their rooms, but please only park overnight in the designated parking area.
ARE THERE BATHROOMS IN THE YURTS?
There are not bathrooms in the yurts. Guests staying in our yurts can use the shared, spa-like restroom facilities at the center of each yurt "pod," which have two showers and two bathrooms each, plus generous sink space. Shower and toilet facilities are fully private and enclosed.
WHAT'S NEARBY?
Please see our guide to the San Luis Valley on our website for our favorite local dining and activities. You'll also find the closest grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essentials.
SECURITY
Please be aware that we have a number of security cameras located throughout our site. These are in place for the safety and security of both our guests and the site.
SMOKING
The Frontier Drive-Inn is a non-smoking property. A minimum cleaning fee of $350 per room will be charged to guests who smoke in their rooms.