This original pastel/charcoal & ink concept drawing created by Nat Winecoff Enterprises of Hollywood, California. It is the first in a series of 10 he and Disney artist, Dave Constable created. Mr. Winecoff, well known as a Walt Disney artist & promoter was the creative talent driving this venture. He was looking to open the Southwest's answer to "Disneyland". The name of this project was to be called "Apacheland".

Originally slated as a theme park, this drawing is the genesis of what would later become the Western Movie Capital of the World... Apacheland Studio.

Opening Day at Apacheland - 1960 Aug.

©1998-08 Article & Photo: Sunset Route Limited

This original black & white photo shows the entire town of Gold Canyon with Apacheland in the foreground and Dinosaur Mountain in the background.

Little known fact: the road now called "Desert Dawn" was actually a wagon trail created for fast moving scenes such as horse and stagecoach chases. While the stagecoaches and or men on horseback were shooting and chasing each other, the camera crew would be following along on the parallel road (Kings Ranch or Desert Dawn) usually in the back of a studio pickup truck capturing the high speed, 4-legged chases.

This original black & white photo depicts the 9,600 square foot sound stage at Apacheland Studio. The stage was located on the N/W corner of the studio closest to what is now "Kings Ranch Rd."

Interior scenes from Jack Nicholson's "The Broken Land" as well as many other movies and TV shows were filmed in this sound stage. Today, a multi-million dollar home sits on this exact location. This area of Apache Junction is now known as Gold Canyon. The original Apacheland Studio movie set burned to the ground on May, 29 1969.

Leland Wainscott in "Who Says"- 1961 Feb.

This original black & white photo shows Leland walking away from a fierce gun-battle in the movie short "Who Says". Stuntman Jack Young (right) does a good job playing dead.

In 1959 Leland Wainscott became Apacheland's first General Manager. Leland was also a stunt double and actor. He can be seen in movies such as "Blood on the Arrow" and "The Purple Hills" all of which were filmed at Apacheland. Leland and Jack Young were "best bud's" and could always be seen practicing their gun-battles, falling out of windows and blowing up stuff when there was "down time" on the set.

Jack Nicholson in "The Broken Land"- 1961 April

This original black & white photo shows Jack Nicholson, far left, standing behind Dianna Darwin and Robert Sampson, third from left. They are standing at the S/E end of town. Kent Taylor (second from right) holds everyone at bay with his six-shooter.

"The Broken Land" was Apacheland's second motion picture and shows a young Jack Nicholson appearing in his 3rd feature film. Jack doesn't get any credit on the movie poster and doesn't appear until 20 minutes into the movie, but it's his great acting and smooth voice that makes this B-Western worth watching.

Richard Boone "Have Gun Will Travel"- 1962 Nov.

This original black & white photo shows Richard Boone dressed in black, second from left, in between takes filming one of the last episodes of "Have Gun, Will Travel" with hundreds of paying tourists watching on the side line. Notice Dinosaur Mountain in the background.

Apacheland was finally able to sign the CBS hit show "Have Gun, Will Travel" but little did anyone know that it was ending it's six year run in the spring of 1963. The "Rifleman" was also going to film a few TV shows at Apacheland but the show was cancelled before a single scene was ever filmed.

Audie Murphy in "Arizona Raiders" - 1964 Oct.

©1998-08 Article & Photo: Sunset Route Limited

This original black & white photo shows Audie Murphy acting out a scene in the barn which has been restored and relocated to the Superstition Mountain Museum.

The barn was a central point in this movie. Filmed looking N/E it was part of the main town with the Superstition Mountains in the background. But filmed looking S/W it appeared to be on a desolate cattle ranch which was used as a hideout for Audie Murphy and his Arizona Raiders. The town was strategically blocked out to give a feeling of being at a different location. Dinosaur Mountain is clearly visible during these scenes.