Old Tucson Studios

Old Tucson Studios, located on South Kinney Road in the Tucson Mountains adjacent to Saguaro National Park's western district, is a working film studio and heritage theme park built in 1939 for the Columbia Pictures production Arizona. In the 85-plus years since its construction, over 300 Western films and TV productions have been filmed on these grounds — the facility served as the backdrop for Rio Lobo (starring John Wayne), Little House on the Prairie, The Three Amigos, and Tombstone, among countless other productions. The permanent backlot set recreates a detailed 1880s Western town with saloons, a sheriff's office, a hotel, a Mexican cantina, and a frontier church — all built as practical sets that can be used for active productions while visitors explore the grounds. Live entertainment is central to the visitor experience: stunt shows staged on the outdoor arena demonstrate classic Western action sequences including falls, fights, and precision gunplay; gunfight reenactments run on a published schedule throughout the day; and steam train rides circle the property's perimeter with views of the Tucson Mountains. A museum section documents Old Tucson's filmography with original props, costumes, and set pieces from decades of productions. The park is adjacent to a trailhead for the Brown Mountain Trail in Saguaro National Park, allowing a studio visit to be combined with desert hiking through saguaro country. The facility has rebuilt significantly since a fire destroyed most of its original 1939 structures in 1995, reconstructing with period-accurate materials. The park operates Thursday through Sunday and on select additional days — checking the current schedule before visiting is essential.