A Guide to Old Tucson

We’re here to help you plan your trip to Old Tucson! Step back into time at this historic theme park in Pima County and experience four different seasons of fun.

A Western Experience: January-May
Year-Round Tours
October Scares
Holiday Memories
Getting There

What is Old Tucson?

Old Tucson is a film set and Western-themed family theme park, situated in the foothills west of the Tucson Mountains in a vast Sonoran Desert landscape. It was constructed in 1939 as a film set and opened as a theme park in 1960. Over the years, it has been used as a filming location for over 400 Western movies, TV shows, and commercials, the likes of Tombstone, The High Chaparral, Gunsmoke, and many more.

Today, Old Tucson is one of the premier attractions in Southern Arizona, where visitors can enjoy action-packed wild west shows, hilarious musical theater performances, actors in period costumes, family rides and games, shops and dining, and much more.

PicturedScenes from the 1993 film "Tombstone" were filmed at Old Tucson. This still features, from left to right, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, and Kurt Russell.

A Western Experience: January-May

If you’re visiting Southern Arizona in the first part of the year, Old Tucson should be on your list! Take an easy, scenic drive from Marana that takes you through Saguaro National Park West – and back in time.

During this time of year, Old Tucson brings its Wild Western roots to life for the whole family to enjoy. Experience old-fashioned games and antique attractions like the blacksmith, vintage carousel, miniature locomotive train ride through the desert, the Iron Door Mine, a shooting gallery, and a petting zoo.

Experience the Wild West like never before with thrilling Wild West stunt show and musical theater performances full of high kicks, knee-slapping comedy, and Western legends!

Take a Tour Any Time of Year

No matter when you visit Southern Arizona, you can take a tour of Old Tucson! Historical tours and ghost tours are offered on select days throughout the year.

During a Historical Tour, you will learn more about Old Tucson’s rich history as “Hollywood in the Desert”. Each of the 60-minute semi-private tours is guided by an Old Tucson historian, giving guests the opportunity to see and experience Old Tucson’s famous sets and attractions with an insider perspective.

For years, people have said that the grounds of Old Tucson are haunted. Now, you have the chance to see for yourself! The 90-minute Old Tucson Ghost Tours depart twice a night, on select dates. Grab your lantern, gather your nerves, and hear the legends of the ghosts of Old Tucson!

Visit Old Tucson’s website for more information on tour dates and times, and to reserve your spot! Reservations can be also purchased at The Last Outpost gift shop.

CreditOld Tucson

October Scares at Nightfall

In October, don’t miss the fun at Old Tucson when the park turns scary for Nightfall! Experience terrifying new haunts, mazes, stunt shows, magic shows, and musical theater performances, roaming scares, family-friendly attractions, and more. It’s a frightful experience full of comedy, drama, mystery, and history.

Tickets can be purchased on Old Tucson's website. General Admission and R.I.P. Packages (the spooky version of V.I.P.) are available.

Create Holiday Memories at Old Tucson

From Thanksgiving through Christmas, Old Tucson is transformed into a Wild West Winter Wonderland for Yuletide!

The holiday spectacular combines the magic of the season with the stunning décor, period costumes, live shows, and interactive experiences Old Tucson is famous for. Yuletide highlights the unique Wild West history of Old Tucson and creates a one-of-a-kind event that is sure to become an annual tradition for the entire family!

The Last Outpost

The Last Outpost Gift Shop is open throughout the year and is a great place to purchase Arizona-themed souvenirs of all types! Make sure to check Old Tucson’s website for opening hours and dates.

Getting to Old Tucson

No matter how you get to Old Tucson, it’s sure to be a scenic drive full of Sonoran Desert beauty. From Marana, as well as Phoenix and other areas to the north of Marana, there are two ways to get to Old Tucson.

It can be reached via Interstate 10 and Gates Pass Road, a winding, scenic path through the Tucson Mountains, with overlooks along the way.

If you’re looking to get to Old Tucson via a more scenic route, take exit 236 off Interstate 10, and follow Sandario Road south to Kinney Road, which takes you to Old Tucson. You’ll pass through Saguaro National Park West, so you can get two attractions in one!

Several of Southern Arizona’s other top attractions are located close to Old Tucson: the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Saguaro National Park West, and Tucson Mountain Park.

View Old Tucson on Google Maps

7 Western Cowboy Movie Experiences in Southern Arizona

Cowboys, Outlaws, Bandits, Horses, Gold, and Glory – all staples of the Western movie genre! Just as iconic are saguaro cacti, desert landscapes, and mountain backdrops – this is because for over 100 years, Tucson and Southern Arizona have been the place to be for Western movie filming, and those things gradually made their way into our collective image of “the Wild West”. Over the years, hundreds of feature films used iconic locations in the region, and well-known actors such as John Wayne, Cary Grant, Gene Autry, and many others stayed and played here in their free time, including at several locations in Marana. The region still remains a well-sought-after location for the Western genre, and there are several places that you can experience the area’s rich film history yourself!
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CreditGuy Rhodes

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