There will soon be yet another reason to head to the drive-in theater south of town. 

Park County commissioners agreed to a special use permit for a minor outdoor recreation facility April 7 to allow the owners to construct a 18-hole mini golf course on a half acre piece of the nearly 6 acre property that houses the nearly 80-year-old drive-in theater.

Scott Heny submitted the request to the Park County Planning and Zoning Commission in January and neighbors who have been contacted about the proposal have all been in support, although a few noted the line-of-sight issues on Wyo. Highway 295 due to the hill just south of the drive-in theater location. 

Park County Planner Kim Dillivan noted that is nothing the county has control over but is instead a WYDOT issue, and reiterated that all comments specifically on the project were positive. 

According to the staff reports, the course will be constructed with reinforced, cast-in-place concrete slabs topped with synthetic turf. Cast-in-place concrete sidewalks will navigate the course. An 8-by-12-by-8 foot wooden framed storage shed will be constructed and located adjacent to the course for equipment storage. 

Last week JW Heny was out to pound in the stakes identifying each of the 19 holes on the course — you've got to have the bonus hole — and said it's still in the planning stage but they expect to start moving dirt in the next week or so.

He said the exact features of each hole will depend on sponsors.

"We said we would like to see the Napa big hat, make it an obstacle," JW said, noting there will also be picnic tables set up between a row of trees and the course.

The golf course hours will be from 11 a.m. to dusk, spring and summer as weather allows. The theater begins shows at dusk, so the operations won’t run concurrently. 

“We would really like to get it up and running this summer, that is our plan,” Scott said.  

Park County Planning and Zoning recommended approval after holding a public hearing and hearing from applicants, public and staff. 

Commissioners unanimously decided likewise.

“I think it's a great fit for the community and have no problem with any of it,” Commissioner Lloyd Thiel said. 

Commissioner Kelly Simone likewise said it would be great for the community and also praised the name, Dreamy Putz, as a perfect fit to complement the American Dream Drive-In.