Valley Drive-In
Fort Morgan, Colorado1950-2010
Order Valley Drive-In tees, long sleeve tees and hoodies. The Valley in Fort Morgan, Colorado, opened in 1950 as the Bauer Drive-In and ran through the 2010 season. Its sign is a big turquoise slab on two slanted legs, with Valley in block letters, drive in in script and a tall pointed ornament at one end. Pick a style below, then read the full Valley history further down. We are an American small business bringing back the signs and logos of places and teams that are long gone but remembered fondly.
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Valley Drive-In History
The Valley Drive-In in Fort Morgan, Colorado, opened on May 19, 1950, as the Bauer Drive-In, a $40,000 project of Jack Bauer with room for 350 cars. In February 1952 John Roberts bought it, closed it for remodeling and planned to reopen it as the Valley. Almanacs list it under that name by 1955. Milt Boehm bought it along with the Cover Theatre downtown in 1959.
The sign is the reason people stop. It is a big turquoise slab on two slanted legs, with Valley in block letters, drive in in script, and a tall pointed ornament at the right end. Roadarch dates it to the 1950s and notes that it was once painted dark green. In June 2007 its marquee welcomed the Lincoln Highway Association.
A visitor in 2009 found speakers still on the front two rows, with everyone else listening on the radio. The old screen had blown over within the previous eight years, and a newer one had replaced it.
The last season was 2010. In May 2011 the Fort Morgan Times reported that the Valley would not reopen, citing costs, a short season and the price of digital projectors. Owner Mike Tibbetts planned to lease the land. The sign stayed up after the theater went dark.