Old Tucson

Built in 1939 for the movie Arizona, Old Tucson—set between the Tucson Mountains and Saguaro National Park—opened to visitors in 1960. Since its creation, stars like John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, and Clint Eastwood have roamed these streets, part of the draw for millions of visitors over the decades.

Wander through “town,” and you’ll get the chance to catch shows (comedies, drama, live music, gunfights, and more), hop on rides (like a classic train), tour the intricate movie sets, and talk with historians and living-history presenters—just don’t let them sell you any snake oil.

• A fire raged through the set in 1995, so a portion of the facility was erected post-fire, though you might not know it.

• The summer season, Halloween, and Christmas bring extra events to Old Tucson.

• Book tickets online in advance to guarantee entry—some days sell out.

Old Tucson can be found at 201 Kinney Rd. in Tucson—if you drive here, you get the benefit of arriving via either Saguaro National Park to the east or Tucson Mountain Park to the west. Parking is available on-site. If you don’t have your own wheels, you can get here via taxi or rideshare.

Old Tucson is open year round, though certain seasons see the most buzz: Summer is the most popular time to visit, with live music filling most nights of the calendar, beyond the usual attractions. Halloween means frights galore, and Christmas means yuletide celebrations, too. Whenever you come, just try to avoid heavy rains—that can shut down some of the attractions.

Each building here tells a story, and was likely built for a specific movie, from the saloon and bank building (Rio Bravo) to the cantina and jail (Rio Lobo). Wherever you venture, you can find out whether you’re in the footsteps of Bing Crosby or Ronald Reagan, Ingrid Bergman or Jimmy Stewart—just hop on a tour.