Historic Park Theatre

Originally engaged to complete a boundary survey of four lots on a five-acre site as part of a larger riverwalk initiative, Galloway’s survey team expanded its scope to capture detailed existing conditions for the historic renovation of the iconic Park Theatre in Estes Park, Colorado. Built in 1913, the 3,800-square-foot theater is recognized as the oldest continuously operating cinema in the western United States and remains a cherished community landmark.

Using Trimble GPS and conventional survey equipment, our team established boundary and topographic control across the site. Galloway’s geospatial specialists then deployed a combination of LiDAR drone technology, Leica laser scanning, and aerial imaging to document the theater’s 80-foot-tall tower and the building’s interior and exterior with a high degree of precision. Maintaining at least 70 percent overlap between scans was critical to capturing the intricate details of the historic structure, including areas where the tower had shifted over time and required structural evaluation.

In addition to delivering an integrated point cloud and high-resolution imagery, our team used drone photography to support an exterior conditions matrix that helped identify areas requiring repair. The survey also uncovered historic foundation elements that confirmed portions of the former Park Mall site were constructed over the river, providing valuable insight into the site’s development and its relationship to the adjacent river corridor dating back to 1910.

The survey and geospatial data also support Galloway’s architecture and structural teams as they design a new connection between the theater lobby and adjacent café. These survey and geospatial deliverables are helping preserve one of Colorado’s most recognizable historic landmarks while supporting a broader community vision to create a riverwalk connection between downtown Estes Park and the confluence of Fall River and the Big Thompson River.