Tracks Denver nightclub owes its existence to one of the most unlikely figures in American nightlife. Martin "Marty" Chernoff (1942–2019) was a straight Jewish businessman from Brooklyn and a former rocket scientist. In the late 1960s, he purchased the Fox Hole bar at 2936 Fox Street in an area called "The Bottoms" for $32,500. His tenant was running a secret gay bar; when the tenant defaulted, Chernoff reopened it himself as the Fox Hole Lounge.

In 1980, Chernoff and Neil Feinstein purchased an old taxi warehouse across the street and opened Tracks as an after-hours club. They expanded to locations in Washington, D.C., Tampa, New York, and Orlando — but the AIDS crisis halted that expansion. Today, Tracks Denver nightclub remains the sole surviving location and the longest-running LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado. LGBTQ+ Denver Guide

During the AIDS crisis, Chernoff did far more than keep the doors open. He housed homeless LGBTQ+ youth in the Tracks building and personally paid healthcare bills for people with AIDS. He was not gay himself, but he understood that the community that sustained his business needed him. He received the Ally Award from One Colorado for his lifetime contribution.

A feature film titled "Making Tracks" is in development about Chernoff's life. The short documentary "Remembering Marty Chernoff" (RMPBS, 2021) was nominated for a Heartland Emmy. Denver LGBTQ+ Bars and Clubs

During the AIDS crisis, Marty Chernoff — a straight man who happened to own Denver's biggest gay club — housed homeless LGBTQ+ youth in the Tracks building and personally paid healthcare bills for people with AIDS. He received the Ally Award from One Colorado for his lifetime contribution.

When Coors Field development forced the original location to close, Tracks Denver nightclub reopened at 3500 Walnut Street in what is now the RiNo Art District, around 2002. In 2015, the club underwent a $250,000–$500,000 renovation that added a 40-by-12-foot LED screen (the largest indoor screen in Denver at the time) and a new DJ booth. The club spans over 8,000 square feet with multiple dance floors.

The relocation placed Tracks at the center of one of Denver's fastest-evolving neighborhoods. RiNo's warehouse-district character gives the club a raw, industrial feel that suits its identity as a large-format dance venue rather than a polished lounge. Denver Neighborhood Vitality

Tracks has hosted performances by Gloria Gaynor, Thelma Houston, Crystal Waters, the Village People, CeCe Peniston, and Lance Bass. Denver-connected Drag Race stars Yvie Oddly, Willow Pill, and DJ Nina Flowers perform regularly.

The weekly and monthly event schedule includes "Drag Nation" (last Friday), "BAD" (Babes Around Denver) on first Fridays for women, "Deathwish" goth night on second Fridays, Sunday "Atomic" 18+ drag shows, and monthly roller skating nights. The club is open Thursday through Sunday, typically from 9 PM. Find upcoming Tracks events

RiNo currently has 5 RTD transit stops (source: RTD GTFS, April 2026), making the neighborhood accessible by bus and rail. The 38th & Blake commuter rail station on the A Line is a short walk from Tracks at 3500 Walnut. Street parking is available along Walnut and surrounding blocks, though weekend nights fill up fast. Rideshare drop-off works well given the club's warehouse-district setting with wide curbs. Denver Light Rail Map

RiNo is one of Denver's most active neighborhoods. According to Denver Open Data (April 2026), the area has logged over 20,000 crime incidents in recent reporting periods — consistent with a high-traffic entertainment district rather than a sign of unusual danger. Standard nightlife safety precautions apply: travel in groups, use rideshare for late departures, and stay aware of your surroundings. The neighborhood's concentration of bars, restaurants, and galleries means well-lit streets and foot traffic on weekend nights. Denver Crime Map

Tracks has outlasted every other LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado history. It survived the criminalization era, the AIDS crisis, the death of disco, a forced relocation, and the ongoing gentrification of RiNo. For over 40 years, it has served as the one guaranteed large-scale LGBTQ+ nightlife space in Denver — a fact that owes as much to Marty Chernoff's stubbornness and generosity as to the community that keeps showing up.

In a city where nightlife venues open and close in 18-month cycles, Tracks Denver nightclub's longevity is not just impressive — it is historically significant. Whether you are visiting for a Thursday drag show or a Saturday dance party, you are stepping into a space that has held its ground for more than four decades. Back to the full LGBTQ+ Denver Guide

More from LGBTQ+ Denver: Denver PrideFest: From 50 People in a Park to 550,000 in the Streets · Cheesman Park: Denver's Queer Gathering Place Since the 1950s

Denver's Full LGBTQ+ Nightlife Guide

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