Grand Junction, Colorado's Lost Hangouts We’ll Never Forget

Grand Junction was once the land of Drive-In movie theatres, Fun Junction, and Leo the Lion. Before the 2000s, families spent weekends at the movies, at the zoo, feeding goats, or riding the tilt-a-whirl at Guyton’s.

Before big-box stores and smartphones, Grand Junction was loaded with fun local hangouts that are gone but not forgotten. How many locations in the gallery below do you remember visiting back in the day?

LOOK: Grand Junction’s Lost Hangouts We’ll Never Forget

Back in the day, Grand Junction had its own zoo, multiple drive-ins, and even a few roller rinks that stayed packed all summer long. Did you have a favorite hangout somewhere in town? See what others had to say about these Western Slope hotspots we still miss today.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

Guyton’s Fun Junction: Grand Junction’s Summer Playground

I was never lucky enough to visit Fun Junction before it closed, but for so many Grand Junction kids, the theme park was a local rite of passage. Fun Junction had rides, an arcade, games, and cotton candy. It was located at 2878 North Avenue.

Today, the site is near Texas Roadhouse, Del Taco, and Junction Liquors. Some say you can still hear the go-karts echoing down the street on summer nights. If you could build a new Fun Junction, where would you put it?

The Lincoln Park Zoo: Grand Junction’s Own Wild Past

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From the late 1920s to 1969, Lincoln Park in Grand Junction was home to the city zoo. There was an ape named Jo-Jo, two Lions named Leo, bears, coyotes, and mountain lions. Legend says residents could hear Leo the Lion’s roar from far away. Animal safety and the zoo’s upkeep ultimately became too tall a task, and by 1970, the animals were relocated elsewhere.

Grand Junction’s Drive-In Theaters: The Real Social Network

Over the years, Grand Junction has enjoyed three different Drive-In theatres. The Starlite, Chief, and Rocket Drive-Ins were open from around 1947 to 1989, with the Chief staying open the longest. Seems like there would have been a ton of great movies during that stretch that would have been fun to watch under the stars. Today, the Tru-Vu in Delta and the Star Drive-In in Montrose are still in operation.

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MORE: 5 Easy Colorado Drives With Epic Views Near Grand Junction

With a good playlist, a thermos of coffee, and a little curiosity, these Western Colorado drives can turn an ordinary afternoon into something unforgettable.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

STILL COOKING: Grand Junction, Colorado's Oldest Restaurants

In a region that’s always changing—vineyards, oil booms, new ski towns—these restaurants still stand, feeding generations of Western Coloradans with hearty meals, familiar smiles, and stories that taste as good as the food.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams