A devastating fire swept through universal studios last june, destroying the sets for back to the futures courthouse square and clint eastwoods forthcoming changeling but it wasnt the first studio to watch its backlot go up in smoke that fate was shared by arizonas apacheland movie ranch outside of phoenix and home to countless gunfights, saloon brawls, and horseplay in. Many westerns shot at arizonas apacheland movie ranch. Superstition mountain heritage days relives old west lore. At one time apacheland movie ranch had dreams of becoming the western movie capital of the world. Classic movie ranches apacheland movie ranch apacheland studio apacheland studio the tail end of 1957 and all of 1958 saw movie studios calling on ranchers in the superstition mountain area, such as quarter circle u, quarter circle w and the barkley cattle ranch to use their facilities as makeshift towns. Take a drive through the superstition mountains on the arizona apache trail with stops at goldfield ghost town, tortilla flat, and the dolly steamboat. The sprawling western movie and tv filming location just outside apache junction was the location of the 1960s elvis film charro. It was a movie set near apache junction in the days of the \. A day trip on the arizona apache trail backroad planet. My first walk around the property where apacheland movie ranch once stood, just minutes from my house, left me with a such a strong personal experience that i wrote about it, photographed it and then went to the museum and volunteered. They literally took the buildings apart and rebuilt them here.
Its perhaps best known for its appearance in the 1969 film charro. Apacheland was a 1,800acre movie set which opened in 1960. These ranch oyster crackers are such a simple snack to make. Corriganville movie ranch searching for movie ranch 63 found 264 total alternate case. The superstition mountain enterprises, with president j. The chapel and barn survivors of both fires were reconstructed at the superstition mountain museum along with the gallows. It is a tribute to apacheland movie ranch with many photographs of the mojave muleskinners. The sets were soon rebuilt but then almost 35 years later on february 14, 2004, 2 days after its 45th anniversary, another suspicious fire destroyed most of the apacheland. If you are going to make some political commentary, at least add it when it feels necessary. California agoura morrison ranch alhambra airport anchor ranch arboretum arch beach. A movie ranch is a ranch that is at least partially dedicated for the creation and production of motion pictures and television productions. Attractions superstition mountain lost dutchman museum. If i am to believe, this is where from 19602004, some 44 years, 29 movies, 17 television series and hundreds of commercials were filmed. In an hour, youll have crunchy party crackers that will thrill your tastebuds and maybe set your tongue on fire, depending on how much chili powder and pepper flakes you add.
Kings ranch road, gold canyon, arizona, usa sorted by popularity ascending. Superstition mountain museums annual apachelandheritage. Saltines are transformed into something absolutely addictive with just three ingredients and are an excellent. The fire reportedly began somewhere near the restaurant in an electrical box. A day trip on the arizona apache trail 8 minute read. Apacheland remembered the mojave muleskinners are in a calendar and a new book valentine cowboy, by marilyn natoli.
Located in the superstition mountains in central arizona, and intended to be the western movie capitol of the world, construction on the apacheland studio western town began on february 12, 1959 by. Starting in late 1957, movie studios had been contacting superstition mountainarea ranchers, including the quarter circle u, the quarter circle w, and the barkley cattle ranch, for options to use their properties. Superstition mountain museum offers plenty of legends. Firecracker recipe for crispy, nobake spicy crackers. Ranch oyster crackers we cracker barrel hashbrown casserole so cheesy and so easy to make right at home. The curtain has fallen on apacheland movie ranch, which offered a vision of the legendary old west to generations. Owners sue and ed birmingham said they dont plan to rebuild the famous tourist. Opened in 1959, it was a western movie mecca and hosted the shooting of 17 television series, 29 fulllength feature films and hundreds of commercials before it burned down on. A second fire destroyed most of apacheland on february 14, 2004. Located in the apache junction area of phoenix, arizona, the apacheland movie ranch and apacheland studio was developed from 19591960 and opened in 1960. The apacheland movie ranch closed for good a few months after the second fire. Firecrackers 1 box saltine crackers, c canola oil, 1 pkg ranch dressing mix, 3 t red. The barn and the chapel were the only buildings left standing.
The chapel that was once part of the apacheland movie ranch was not damaged in the fires that decimated the property in 1969 and 2004. Ed and sue were the owners of apacheland movie ranch, a wellknown western movie and tv location since the mid 1950s. Hutchens and associate bill creighton, was the owner of the property. The cannon family runs the high chaparral ranch in the arizona territory in 1870s. By the end of 1960, developers of superstition mountain enterprises had constructed both sides of its old west main street and turned the site into a full. The movie ranch wasnt built yet but this movie sparked the idea for apacheland and shows superstition mountain in certain scenes. A fire destroyed an historic old west movie lot near apache junction on saturday night, said pinal county sheriffs officials.
The buildings are the only structures that survived after a 2004 fire destroyed the famous apacheland movie ranch that was located in gold canyon, about ten mile south east of the museum. Celebrating the past at the superstition mountain museum. Highway 60 on kings ranch road in what is known today as gold canyon. Among the exhibits on the grounds of the superstition mountain museum are studio sets and other western paraphernalia that were saved from the apacheland fire of 1969. Apacheland movie ranch was about 40 miles east of phoenix near what is now. Apachelandheritage days event to revel in history, music. Smm 2019 2020 event book by superstition mountain museum. With history taking the spotlight at this event, it wouldnt be complete without the memories of apacheland movie ranch, which was located in what is now gold canyon. By the end of 1960, developers of superstition mountain enterprises had constructed both sides of its old west main street and turned the site into a full movie set. Showdown in apacheland charro movie set it may be high noon for apacheland movie ranch s legacy of hollywood cowboy and elvis presley memorabilia. Kings ranch road, gold canyon about 7 miles east of apache junction, arizona.
The western movie capital was in arizona, not hollywood. Although 14 of the sites 21 buildings survived the fire including all seven survivors of the 1969 fire, it wasnt enough. A celebration of the cowboy culture, apacheland movie ranch and arizonas western heritage will be the theme of this years twoday apacheland heritage days event hosted by the superstition mountain museum on saturday and sunday, january 11 and 12, 2020. Apacheland movie ranch opened in 1960 with a single row of threesided roofless small buildings on a site just off highway 60 on kings ranch road in what is known today as gold canyon. It was said stars like glenn ford, burt lancaster, john wayne, ronald reagan, and many more big names in the movie industry.
Look, im about as antiwar as the next guy, but the twist offered here makes no sense in the context of the film, and feels like your usual axegrinding. Another major building was spared in both fires at the apacheland movie ranch. It too, was donated to the superstition mountain historical society by the owners of apacheland, sue and ed birmingham. Seasoned saltine crackers that are simple to make and add a special touch for your dips and spreads at parties.
On october 16, 2004 apacheland closed its doors to the public permanently. Marilyn had a vintage western photography studio in apacheland that burned to the ground along with several other merchants shops. The apacheland movie ranch, which opened in 1959, was where 17 television series, 29 feature films and hundreds of commercials were filmed before it burned down in 2004. Visit the elvis memorial chapel and the audie murphy barn, museums in their own right, which were moved to the museum piece by piece, following the second fire which destroyed the apacheland movie ranch. The surviving buildings were disassembled and relocated to the superstition mountain museum. I knew i had a calling for the superstition mountain museum right away. Filming location matching apacheland studios 4369 s. Hutchens and associate bill creighton, was the owner of. Firecracker recipe a spicy little snack with just 4 easy ingredients. The official mesa visitors guide is published annually by the mesa convention and visitors bureau.
Apacheland movie ranch was about 40 miles east of phoenix near what is now gold canyon. Dan holloway, left, a safety officer with the rancho cucamonga fire department, and kevin whitney, sable ranch s manager, talk about the ferocity of flames that struck movie. Three years later apacheland was incorporated under superstition mountain enterprises. The barn figured prominently in dozens of western films and tv western episodes shot at this location. Apachelandheritage days event features history, music. Historic apacheland movie ranch buildings while you are touring the museum grounds, dont miss going into the elvis chapel and the apacheland barn, two buildings that survived the devastating. Sand fire destroys movie and tv ranch that was backdrop. Find link is a tool written by edward betts longer titles found. Iverson movie ranch janss conejo ranch andy jauregui ranch joshua tree keen camp kentucky park farms kernville. Originally, they were all within the 30mile 48 km studio zone, often in the foothills of the san fernando valley and simi valley. On may 29, 1969, a suspicious fire destroyed most of the ranch.
There is a patch of desert not too far from my home that, i am told, was the original site of apacheland movie ranch. This gallery includes images of some of the remaining historical structures located in apache junction. Both fires were mysterious then and remain so, but the second fire put an end to the town as a movie set, and in october 2004, apacheland closed its doors for. Apacheland movie ranch 4369 south kings ranch road gold canyon, az this acre parcel is all that remains of the once 1800 acre apacheland movie ranch. Were introducing you to the fire cracker, also known as the alabama fire cracker. The blaze devoured most of the buildings at apacheland movie ranch. Starting in late 1957, movie studios had been contacting superstition mountainarea ranchers, including the quarter circle u, the quarter circle w, and the barkley cattle ranch, for options to use their properties as town sets. Remembering apacheland movie ranch a rare opportunely to see the former apacheland movie ranch before it was regrettably destroyed in a fire a few years ago. The chapel was part of the apacheland movie ranch in gold canyon a full western set that hosted more than a dozen tv series, nearly 30 films and even more commercials. Apacheland hosted actors such as elvis presley, jason robards, stella stevens, ronald. Firecracker crackers are spicy crackers seasoned with red chili flakes, chili powder and ranch dressing mix. Much of the memorabila in the buildings came for the old movie ranch also. It too, was donated to the superstition mountain historical society by the owners of apacheland.
After a fire destroyed most of the kings ranch roadgold canyon s old west movie set in 2004, the apacheland barn was dismantled along with the elvis presley memorial chapel built for film charro and relocated to apache trail at the superstition mountain museum location for the annual apacheland days celebration. Apacheland movie ranch opened in 1960 with a single row of threesided roofless small buildings on a site just off u. Close the bag and knead to thoroughly mix the ingredients together. It was an old west town movie set complete with shops, a working saloon, and a sound stage ready made for hollywood western films to be made there. The barn figured prominently in dozens of western films and tv western. That dream went up in smoke, though a respectable number of western movies and tv shows were filmed here in the decades before fire destroyed the movie set. Posts about apacheland written by adesertviewwstace. Using a large gallon ziploc bag, pour in the olive oil, seasonings, and spices. Apacheland movie ranch and apacheland studio 1 was developed from 19591960 and opened in 1960. Mesa visitors guide by tad smith publication design. This 20stamp ore crusher was donated in 1989 by mr. Apacheland movie ranch was built in 1959 it was used for a tv and movie set and became an arizona landmark.