Apacheland Studio / Apacheland Movie Ranch

©1998-2008 photos and article provided by: Sunset Route Limited

Intended to be the "Western Movie Capitol of the World" Apacheland Studio western town, owned by Superstition Mountain Enterprises, was incorporated in 1959. By August of 1960 Apacheland was open for business and filmed its first TV western "Stagecoach West" and full length western movie "The Purple Hills".

By October of 1962 Television Studio Inc. of Phoenix purchased Apacheland and started a heavy advertising campaign to promote the area. Visitors would be dazzled by the Gunfights, hangings, and stagecoaches driving through town in between filming. Sometimes a lucky guest would be picked out of the crowd to be in certain scenes.

On May 29, 1969, an accidental fire destroyed most of the ranch. Only 5 buildings survived, two of which were the Elvis Chapel and the Audie Murphy Barn. The set was soon rebuilt and renamed Apacheland Movie Ranch. Almost 35 years later on February 14, 2004, another fire destroyed most of the Apacheland. Eight months later Apacheland closed its doors forever.

Actors such as Elvis Presley, Jason Robards, Stella Stevens, Ronald Reagan, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, John Drew Barrymore, Carroll O'Conner and Audie Murphy filmed western television shows and movies at Apacheland.

The Gambler II, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Dundee and the Culhane, Death Valley Days, Blind Justice, Charro!, Have Gun, Will Travel and Ballad of Cable Hogue all used this western movie studio for some or all of the filming. The last full length movie to be filmed was the 1994 HBO movie Blind Justice with Armand Assante, Elizabeth Shue and Jack Black.