Major Renovations and Outdoor Theater Planned for Cañon Cinema

Cañon Cinema, located at 127 Justice Center Road, is set for significant changes driven by requests from local residents. Co-owners Brandon Jones and Luke Parker-Bowles are eager to implement improvements that will enhance the movie-watching experience. During a presentation on Wednesday night, Jones highlighted the success of family-friendly films and themed series, reflecting a strong community interest in the theater’s offerings.

With approximately 50,000 admissions annually, Cañon Cinema aims to address the primary concern of patrons: seating comfort. “Our number one complaint is seats,” noted Jones, emphasizing the necessity for upgrades. The theater currently features about 600 seats across four screens. Plans are underway to replace existing seating with plush, luxury options. Although this will reduce seating capacity by 25-30%, Jones believes the enhancements will be worthwhile.

In addition to the seating overhaul, the renovation will focus on upgrading the theater’s interior décor and modernizing the projection and sound systems. The owners are also excited about the upcoming year, unofficially dubbed “The Year of the Director,” with high-profile films like Wuthering Heights, Toy Story 5, and Avengers: Doomsday set to screen in 2026.

Introducing “The Ranch”: A New Outdoor Experience

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the theater’s plans is the introduction of an outdoor cinema experience called “The Ranch.” This venue will be situated in an underutilized parking lot on the western side of the theater complex. The outdoor theater will accommodate up to 50 vehicles for a drive-in style viewing, alongside Adirondack seating for guests seeking a more traditional experience.

Food trucks and vendors are also expected to enhance this unique cinematic outing, providing a comprehensive movie-going atmosphere. Parker-Bowles indicated that The Ranch is projected to open by May 2024 and will operate from May through September each year, offering a seasonal attraction for residents and visitors.

Building a Film Hub in Fremont County

Jones and Parker-Bowles are committed to creating a vibrant film hub in Fremont County. At the presentation, local filmmakers such as Sage Goodwin of TyeDyeSheep LTD and Ben Black of Ben Black Films emphasized the importance of having venues to showcase their work. Goodwin remarked, “Filmmakers need a place to show their movies… if a big production company comes in here, one, they know the processes and, two, we make it easy.”

The recent Royal Gorge Film Festival, held at the historic Skyline Theater, underscored this commitment. The festival celebrated storytelling and creativity in Colorado’s Royal Gorge Region, showcasing a range of films from classic Westerns to contemporary independent projects. Rich Millard, President of the Royal Gorge Chamber Alliance, highlighted the opportunity to leverage the excitement surrounding film festivals to further develop the local film narrative.

As ambitious projects often come with considerable costs, the indoor renovations alone are estimated at around $350,000. Jones and Parker-Bowles are actively seeking funding to support these initiatives and encourage community involvement. “We’re going to need the community’s support… there are also going to be sponsorship opportunities,” Jones stated. Parker-Bowles added, “This really can have a huge impact on this town.”

For more information about screenings and updates at Cañon Cinema, visit their website at [Cañon Cinema](https://canon.cinemalab.com/now-playing).