Western Cowboy Movie Experiences

There is movie magic all over Southern Arizona – and it’s a lot easier to find than Humphrey Bogart’s quest in Treasure of the Sierra Madre (filmed here in 1948)! Westerns are still being filmed throughout this area and in Marana. The Town of Marana Film Office may assist producers with scouting locations or finding accommodations, talent, and crew.

1. Old Tucson Studios & Theme Park

Located less than 30 minutes south of Marana, Old Tucson is the only major Western film production satellite studio and stage back lot outside of Hollywood for more than 55 years. Several hundred feature films and television shows were filmed here starting in 1939 and feature films are still filmed here. Many consider it to be the ultimate Western movie-centered theme park. The full-scale town sets were built with fully completed interiors. Costumed extras, restaurants, shops, and historic-themed demonstrations flow like a day in the life of an old Western movie studio campus.

Tip: Take the most scenic route to Old Tucson from Phoenix, or points north of Marana, by exiting the I-10 at exit 236 (Marana Road) and following the easy drive through Saguaro National Park West. You’ll see two of the wonders of Southern Arizona in one.

2. Rodeo Parade Museum

Please note, be sure to check this attractions website for current hours.

Just south of downtown Tuscon, this museum is the best-kept secret in Southern Arizona. What you’ll find at this unassuming compound of four airplane hangar-sized buildings, is nothing less than an astonishing Smithsonian-scaled achievement of public history based around more than 100 horse-pulled vehicles. The collection ranges from very fancy carriages to rustic wagons, stagecoaches, and buckboards to Santa’s sleigh; all more than 100 years old, and restored. There are full-scale installations of historic businesses, and reproductions of commercial daily life, rooms of historic tack, ropes, fittings, and stories to go with every object. A number of the vehicles in the collection were used in movies and are clearly marked with signage. You can see the actual Surreys with the fringe on top from the movie Oklahoma! filmed in Tucson in 1955, the buckboard from a John Wayne film, and many more.

3. White Stallion Ranch in Marana

Truly authentic, truly top-notch, and truly unparalleled. The White Stallion Ranch is a private guest ranch (open to guests with reservations only), that has been voted the Best Family Resort by USA Today in its 10 Best Readers Choice Awards multiple times and ranked #1 on TripAdvisor for Tucson hotels for seven consecutive years. Guests will enjoy a riding vacation as well as experiencing the extensive rock climbing program with over 30 climbs ranging in difficulty from a 5.3 to 5.12, a shooting range with cowboy style guns and fat-tire e-biking, all while being fully immersed in one of the most filmed Western movie locations in the country. More than 100 classic cowboy Westerns and 17 episodes of High Chaparral filmed at White Stallion Ranch for its majestic scenery. Movie filming history tours are available to ranch guests only.

4. Li’l Abner’s Steakhouse in Marana

If only the walls here could talk. When Western movie stars and crew weren’t hanging out by the pool of their boutique guest ranch in Marana, after a long day of filming, they were likely at Li’l Abner’s Steakhouse, right in the middle of all of the action in between the guest ranches and the filming locations. Li’l Abner’s has an authentic cowboy and movie cowboy atmosphere slowly accreted from 100 years ago when it started as a rodeo roping practice hangout, which evolved into a bar for 72 years, then a restaurant. There aren’t many authentic places like this left in the world where ranchers, cowboys, and Hollywood actors and producers mingled and caroused. Don’t miss the velvet painting of John Wayne over the fireplace.

5. Mira Vista Resort

Mira Vista Resort was originally founded as Saguaro Vista Ranch in 1936. According to Russell True in his book, Dude Ranching in Arizona (2016), John Wayne, Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, and Katharine Hepburn, all stayed here. With its Pueblo Revival architecture and volcanic rock arches, rock walls, original wood floors, pool, restaurant, new amenities, vintage luxury charm, and brand new Santa Fe style condos, it's easy to see why it has become a popular clothing-optional resort. Mira Vista Resort photo by Jim Collette.

6. Trail Dust Town

In 1951, a Western movie starring Glenn Ford started filming on Tucson’s east side but wasn’t completed. The set for that movie, a replica of a late 1800s town, was abandoned. A businessman with art school training salvaged it, repurposed it into Trail Dust Town, and a mini-version of Old Tucson was born in 1961 that has been charming families and visitors ever since. The attraction includes shopping, dining, a museum, an event center, and entertainment. It has Pinnacle Peak steakhouse, a charming antique amusement park including a 1920s Allan Herschell merry-go-round, a narrow-gauge train, the Museum of the Horse of the Soldier, and a weekly comedy wild West stunt show arena. Sometimes, the world-famous trick roper, Loop Rawlins, makes special appearances.

7. Mescal Movie Set

Mescal has been a Western film location for more than 70 years. It was a location in the 1940s, then operated by Old Tucson as a second backlot. Now it has been restored and upgraded and open for filming and the public with new guided tours and events. Don't miss a chance to walk the streets where The Outlaw Josey Wales, Tombstone, The Quick and the Dead were filmed. Episodes of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Magnificent Seven, and Little House on the Prairie were filmed at Mescal. It was also the town of Sweetwater in The Young Riders television series.

Bonus: 9 Must-Watch Cowboy Westerns Filmed in Marana and at Old Tucson

1. The Wild Bunch (1969) with William Holden and Ernest Borgnine

2. Rio Bravo (1959) with John Wayne and Angie Dickinson

3. Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) with Humphrey Bogart

4. Winchester ’73 (1950) with James Stewart and Shelley Winters

5. 3:10 to Yuma (1957) with Glenn Ford and Van Heflin

6. The Quick and the Dead (1992) with Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, and Leonardo DiCaprio

7. Arizona (1940) with Jean Arthur and William Holden

8. Relentless (1948) with Robert Young and Marguerite Chapman, costumes by Jean Louis

9. The Gal Who Took the West (1949) with Yvonne de Carlo and Charles Coburn

Movie Tourism

More Than 100 Years Of Film History

Cowboy Westerns and contemporary Western feature films have been filmed on location in Marana beginning at least since 1939. Silent era short films were probably filmed here as well. Hundreds of feature films were made at Old Tucson Studios and many of these, as well as movies and television shows that did not use Old Tucson Studios, filmed on location in Marana.

Nearly all of the historic film locations in Marana are on private property, but you may still visit many of them. Marana's historic movie filming district is in the general area of Silverbell Road between Twin Peaks Road at Quarry Road, west of the I-10 freeway, and Ina Road. This area includes the breathtaking scenery of Saguaro National Park West and the Tucson Mountain range.

Where To Experience Western Film History

White Stallion Ranch is an internationally renowned and nationally top-ranked vintage guest ranch centered on horse-riding and activities in a stunning setting. It is gated and open only to guests with reservations. Please contact White Stallion Ranch for more information.

Photo spot: The cave above W Lambert Lane at W Linda Vista Blvd just northeast of N Silverbell Road was created for a movie. Look to the mountains along W Lambert Lane for two side-by-side caves. As you face the caves, the cave on the left side is a natural cave. The cave on the right was blasted to make a fake mine, complete with fake mining tailings for The Bottom of the Bottle starring Joseph Cotton and Van Johnson (1956). The cave was also used for scenes in Night of Lepus with Janet Leigh (1968). The is on private property, but you may see it clearly from W Lambert Road.

Li'l Abner's Steakhouse is where major Hollywood actors, producer, directors, and crew spent their leisure time while filming in this neighborhood. You may dine here and enjoy the historic and vintage ambience that originates with this spot having been a homestead before the turn of the 19th century, then a rodeo practice arena, a bar added to the rodeo arena, and finally, the restaurant that was added to the bar, here today.

Sanctuary Cove is a secluded natural desert sanctuary of 80 acres, located at the foot of the majestic Tucson Mountains that form part of Saguaro National Park West. While Sanctuary Cove is an event and wedding venue, you may hike its grounds and trails leading into Saguaro National Park West between sunrise and sunset (only during those times, unless there is an event in progress). There is a single guest cottage on the property that may be reserved online for stays. This landscape was in the background of many Western movies that were filmed in the surroundings.

Mira Vista Resort is a vintage 1930s luxury clothing-optional resort, located down the road from Li'l Abner's Steakhouse and Sanctuary Cove. It offers dramatic views of the Tucson Mountains. Movie stars, directors, and their guests stayed here while filming in the vicinity. It is gated and open to guests with reservations only. Please contact Mira Vista Resort for more information.

Saguaro National Park West is one of the most visited National Parks in Arizona. It is easy to get to from Marana and has the gorgeous open spaces and scenic landscape that Western films made famous.

Old Tucson is the ultimate Western movie backlot that was turned into an attraction. There is nothing like it. Old Tucson is still used for filming and it's only a couple of miles from Saguaro National Park West.

Oasis at Wild Horse Ranch is a vintage 1940s resort where major Hollywood actors and directors stayed while filming in the area. It is now a top-rated wedding and event venue. Open with an appointment only.

More historic movie location points of interest:

Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum is one of the largest carriage and horse-pulled vehicle museums in the U.S., on the scale of a Smithsonian museum. Many of the antique stagecoaches and carriages on display were Western movie props.

Trail Dust Town is a charming small-scaled theme park with a cowboy steakhouse, a stunt show, children's carousel and small rides, shops, and a main plaza. It was fashioned from an abandoned movie backlot.

Mescal Movie Set, located about 30 minutes southeast of downtown Tucson, will open to the public in fall 2021, for the first time in history. Mescal has been a Western film location for more than 70 years. It was a location in the 1940s, then operated by Old Tucson as a second backlot.

Tombstone is the actual Victorian era wild west mining boom town where the historic gun fight near the O.K. Corral took place in 1881, involving real people, such as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday. The town was refurbished many decades ago (but is still rustic) into an attraction with authentic saloons, and daily re-enactments of the gun fight.

Bisbee is a one-of-a-kind mining boom town that was so rich that it was one of most cultured places in the West in 1900. It has high style architecture, marble facades, fancy hotels, and much more (imagine San Francisco before the 1906 earthquake). It has been taken over by a wide range of artists and creative people. The fancy hotels and saloons are still operating, along with incredible food, shopping, and a museum. A place that you have to experience for yourself!

Annual Film Festivals In Southern Arizona

There is a film festival in Southern Arizona for nearly every month of the year. For the complete listing of film festivals in this region visit our blog.

Feature Films And Television Series Filmed In Marana From 1910-2021

Silent era studios that may have filmed in Marana in the 1910s:

Vitagraph Studios (1910-?) Founded in Brooklyn, NY in 1897, bought by Warner Bros. in 1925. Vitagraph moved to California in 1911.
Lubin Manufacturing Company (1913-1915) Founded in Philadelphia in 1902, established a Tucson production unit and made around 60 short films, with Romaine Fielding, the director and actor.
Flying A Studio (1912-1917) Based in Santa Barbara, CA, established a Tucson unit for a couple of years that helped to launch the career of director Allan Dwan.
Éclair Moving Picture Company (1913-1915) Based in Paris, France, established a Tucson unit and made around 80 short films in the area during that time. Distributed by Universal.
Essanay Film Manufacturing Company
The Girl Stage Driver (1914) Starring Norbert A. Myles and Edna Payne may have been filmed in the area.
Arizona (1918) Starring Douglas Fairbanks. This is a silent film that has been lost.
Arizona (1939) Starring William Holden and Jean Arthur
Relentless (1948) Starring Robert Young and Marguerite Chapman with costumes by Jean Louis
The Last Round Up (1948) Starring Gene Autry
The Gal Who Took the West (1949) Starring Yvonne DeCarlo and Charles Coburn
Winchester '73 (1950) Starring Jimmy Stewart and Shelley Winters
Apache Drums (1951) Starring Stephen McNally and Coleen Gray
The Last Outpost aka Cavalry Charge (1951) Starring Ronald Reagan and Rhonda Fleming
A Kiss before Dying (1955) Starring Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward
Apache Ambush (1955) Starring Bill Williams, Richard Jaeckel, Alex Montoya, and Movita
Backlash (1956) Starring Richard Widmark and Donna Reed
The Bottom of the Bottle (1956) Starring Joseph Cotton and Van Johnson
The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1956) Starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels
Wanted: Dead or Alive - television series (1958-1961) Starring Steve McQueen
Rio Bravo (1959) Starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson (this was filmed in locations circling Marana)
Bonanza (1959-1973) Starring Lorne Greene and Michael Landon
Arizona Raiders (1965) Starring Audie Murphy, Michael Dante, Buster Crabbe, and Gloria Talbott
The High Chaparral - 17 episodes (1967-1971) Starring Leif Erickson, Cameron Mitchell, Henry Darrow, and Linda Cristal
The Mini-Skirt Mob (1968) Starring Jeremy Slate, Diane McBain, Sherry Jackson, and Harry Dean Stanton
Young Billy Young (1969) Starring Robert Mitchum, Angie Dickerson and Robert Walker Jr.
The Wild Bunch (1969) Starring William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O'Brien, Warren Oates, Jaime Sanchez, Ben Johnson, and Emilio Fernandez
What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice (1969) Starring Geraldine Page and Ruth Gordon
Five Savage Men (1971) Starring Henry Silva and Michelle Carey
The Getaway (1972) Starring Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw
Night of the Lepus (1972) Starring Janet Leigh and DeForest Kelley
Petrocelli - television series (1974-76) Starring Barry Newman and Susan Howard
Another Man, Another Chance (1977) Directed by Claude Lelouch, starring James Caan and Genevieve Bujold
How the West Was Won - television mini-series (1977) Starring James Arness
The New Maverick - television movie (1978) Starring James Garner
More Wild, Wild West (1980) Starring Robert Conrad and Jonathan Winters
Flashpoint (1984) Starring Kris Kristofferson, Treat Williams, Tess Harper, and Rip Torn
Cannonball Run II (1984) Starring Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr,, Jamie Farr, Marilu Henner, Telly Savalas, Shirley MacLaine
Stones for Ibarra - televison movie (1988) Starring Glenn Close and Keith Carradine
The Quick and the Dead (1992) Starring Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, and Leonardo DiCaprio
Geronimo (1993) Starring Jason Patric, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Wes Studi, and Matt Damon, directed by Robert Young
Flirting with Disaster (1996) Starring Ben Stiller and Patricia Arquette
Perdita Durango (1997) Starring Rosie Perez
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) Starring George Clooney and Sam Rockwell, directed by George Clooney
The Last Blast (2006) Starring Heinz Hoenig
Hot Bath and A Stiff Drink and A Close Shave (2014) Starring Jeffrey Patterson, Frankie Nunez and Alison Eastwood
The Crossroads (2021) Starring Nick Ballard and Emily Coupe, directed by Douglas A. Raine

Sources:

Marty Freese, Old Tucson movie historian
IMDbPro
National Film Preservation Foundation
Old Tucson website
Santa Barbara Historical Society Museum
True, R. (2016). Dude Ranching in Arizona. Arcadia Publishing, Mount Pleasant, SC.
White Stallion Ranch
Wikipedia

Top 7 Western Cowboy Movie Experiences in Marana, Tucson & Benson