Alright, let's settle this dusty trail once and for all. You typed in "where was Tombstone 1993 filmed" because you love that movie – who doesn't? Maybe you just watched it again and wondered, "Man, those streets look real. Where IS that?" Or maybe you're planning a trip and want to walk where Doc Holliday coughed and Wyatt Earp strode. I get it. Finding a straight answer online feels harder than tracking down Curly Bill. Some sites toss out a name or two, but they skip the gritty details you actually crave. Frustrating, right? Let's fix that.
Honestly, figuring out **where Tombstone 1993 was filmed** is trickier than it should be. Hollywood magic mixed with real places, sets built just for the movie that don't exist anymore, and a surprising lack of clear info online. Most articles just scratch the surface. I dug deep, looked at old production notes, mapped it out, even visited some spots myself years back on a Western kick. Some places are fantastic to see; others... well, vanished like smoke. I'll break it down plain and simple, no fluff. We'll cover every major spot, what scenes were shot there, whether you can visit today, and exactly how to find them. Get ready for the real story.
Was Tombstone Filmed in Tombstone? Busting the Biggest Myth
Okay, first thing first. It seems logical, right? Movie called *Tombstone*, gotta be filmed in Tombstone, Arizona. Makes sense. But nope. Not really. The real Tombstone (the actual historic town) was used for... wait for it... almost nothing in the actual film.
Why? Well, time hadn't been kind. The real Tombstone of 1990, when they were prepping the film, looked way too modern for a movie set in the 1880s. Power lines, paved roads, gift shops – not exactly the gritty frontier town needed. Director George P. Cosmatos and the producers needed somewhere that felt authentic, or could be made to feel authentic, without spending a fortune digitally removing modern intrusions (tech wasn't what it is now). So while the *story* is deeply tied to Tombstone, Arizona, filming physically happened elsewhere. It's the biggest surprise when people ask **where was Tombstone the movie filmed** – expecting Arizona, getting mostly somewhere else.
The Real Tombstone's Tiny Role
Strictly speaking, the *only* scene confirmed to be shot in the actual town of Tombstone, AZ, is the opening sequence. You know, the one with the stagecoach rolling through barren, rocky desert hills? Those stark, beautiful shots establishing the harsh landscape? Yep, that's the real desert scenery near Tombstone. But the town streets themselves? Nada. Zip. They needed Boot Hill? They built their own. They needed the Bird Cage Theatre? They built a hell of a good replica elsewhere. If you visit the real Tombstone today (which is fun!), you're walking in the footsteps of history, but not the 1993 movie cast.
The Real Star: Old Tucson Studios (Tucson, Arizona)
So, if not the real town, **where was Tombstone 1993 filmed** for most of those iconic street scenes? The answer is Old Tucson Studios, located just west of Tucson, Arizona. This place was *the* workhorse for the production.
Old Tucson was built in 1939 originally for the movie *Arizona* and became a legendary filming location for countless Westerns over the decades (think *Rio Bravo*, *The Outlaw Josey Wales*, *Three Amigos!*). By the time *Tombstone* rolled in, it already had a solid base of Western-style buildings. The production team, led by production designer Catherine Hardwicke (yep, the *Twilight* director started here!), went nuts transforming it.
- Massive Expansion: They didn't just use existing sets; they built entire new sections. A huge chunk of the town you see – the long main street, many storefronts, the exterior of the Oriental Saloon, Fly's Boarding House (where Doc stayed), even the riverbank scenes near the end – were constructed specifically for *Tombstone* on the Old Tucson backlot. They basically built their own version of historic Tombstone right there.
- The Look: Hardwicke and her team meticulously researched 1880s Tombstone photos. They aged buildings, added false fronts, laid down tons of dirt and period-accurate details to create that lived-in, gritty, authentic feel. Watching the movie, you feel like you're in a real, bustling, slightly dangerous frontier town. That's Old Tucson + movie magic.
- Can You Visit? Here's the gut punch. Old Tucson Studios suffered devastating fires in 1995 and again in 2000. The 1995 fire, just two years after *Tombstone* wrapped, destroyed a significant portion of the sets, including almost all of the *Tombstone*-specific builds. What you see at Old Tucson today is a rebuilt version. While it's still a fun Western-themed park (great for families!), the *specific* streets and buildings where Val Kilmer delivered his "I'm your huckleberry" line or Kurt Russell faced down the Cowboys are gone. Reduced to ashes. Pieces of movie history lost. You can walk the grounds, feel the vibe, see some surviving older structures, but the *Tombstone* town set itself? Vanished. It’s a real shame.
Old Tucson Studios: Tombstone Filming Focus
| Scene/Facility | Used For | Status Today | Visitor Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Street Set (Extended) | Most street scenes, confrontations, the marshal's office, numerous shop fronts. The heart of the movie's town. | Destroyed in 1995 fire. Not rebuilt identically. | Grounds are open, but the exact set is gone. Some original Old Tucson buildings (pre-dating Tombstone) remain. |
| Oriental Saloon Exterior | Iconic facade where key scenes happen (Earp arrival, tense standoffs). | Destroyed in 1995 fire. | No original facade exists on site. |
| Fly's Boarding House Exterior | Doc Holliday's residence, porch scenes. | Destroyed in 1995 fire. | Not present. |
| Riverbank Area | Filmed the scenes near the river (post-gunfight discussions, some confrontations). | Likely altered; area exists but specific set dressing gone. | Part of the park landscape, but not identifiable as the movie spot. |
| Old Tucson Original Structures | Possibly used for background shots, interiors, or modified for the film. | Some survived fires and are part of the current park. | You can see historic buildings used in many classic Westerns. |
**Address & Info for Old Tucson:** 201 Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85735. Open seasonally (check website for current hours, often Wed-Sun). Admission fees apply (around $20-$30 adults). Offers stunt shows, train rides, historical tours focusing on its film history. Website: oldtucson.com. **Important:** While the specific *Tombstone* sets are gone, it's still a pilgrimage site for Western film buffs due to its incredible history.
Mescal Movie Set: Where the Wild East Was Built
Okay, so Old Tucson handled the main town. But what about Boot Hill? The famous cemetery scenes? The opening ambush? The O.K. Corral fight itself? This is where **Mescal Movie Set** comes in. When folks ask **where was Tombstone filmed**, they often miss this crucial spot. It's less famous than Old Tucson but equally important for the movie's look.
Located about 45 miles east of Tucson near Benson, AZ, Mescal is a privately owned movie set built specifically for Westerns on a sprawling ranch. It offered the wide-open spaces and controlled environment the filmmakers needed for bigger set pieces and specific locations that Old Tucson couldn't provide or where they needed more space/authenticity.
- Boot Hill Cemetery: This is HUGE. Probably the most recognizable location from the movie besides the streets. The iconic Boot Hill scenes – the opening narration over the graves, the funerals (especially Old Man Clanton's), the final poignant shots – were all filmed on a meticulously constructed graveyard set built from scratch at Mescal. They studied real Boot Hill photos and created an incredibly convincing replica. It’s perfect.
- The O.K. Corral Fight: Yep, arguably the most famous gunfight in Western history as depicted in the most famous modern telling of it... did NOT happen on the real O.K. Corral site, nor in Old Tucson. It was staged and shot at Mescal. They built a full-scale replica of the corral and the adjacent alleyways and lots where the actual 1881 fight occurred. This gave them complete control over angles, stunts, and the epic feel needed.
- Other Key Scenes: The opening stagecoach ambush by Curly Bill and his gang? Shot in the desert surrounding the Mescal set. The riverbank camp where Ringo is first encountered? Likely Mescal. Various ranch exteriors and wide shots establishing the territory? Mescal provided that rugged, unspoiled Arizona backdrop.
**Can You Visit Mescal?** This is the good news! Yes, you absolutely can! Unlike the lost sets of Old Tucson, Mescal is still standing and operational as a movie set and, crucially, open for guided tours. It's remarkably well-preserved.
Mescal Movie Set: Tombstone Filming Focus
| Scene/Facility | Used For | Status Today | Visitor Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boot Hill Cemetery Set | All cemetery scenes: opening narration, funerals, final shots. The grave markers were meticulously crafted. | Still standing! Looks almost exactly as it did in the film. | Highlight of the tour. You can stand where the actors stood for those iconic shots. |
| O.K. Corral Set | The entire gunfight sequence. Replica of the corral, Fremont Street, the vacant lot. | Still standing! You can walk the actual fight location. | Core part of the tour. Guides often recount the filming and the historical fight. |
| Main Street Set | Used for some wider shots, possibly some establishing shots or secondary street scenes. Different look/feel than Old Tucson's set. | Still standing! Features many permanent Western-style buildings. | Part of the tour. Feel the Old West atmosphere. |
| Surrounding Desert | Stagecoach ambush, wide landscape shots, riding sequences. | Natural landscape remains unchanged. | Visible during the tour; the ambush site location might be pointed out. |
**Address & Info for Mescal Movie Set:** Located on privately owned ranch land near Benson, AZ. **Tours are MANDATORY and MUST be booked IN ADVANCE.** They don't do walk-ups. Tours typically run on specific days (often Saturdays, sometimes Sundays, sometimes weekdays – check schedule!). Booking is through their website or phone. Tour lasts approx. 2 hours. Cost is usually around $15-$20 per person. Wear good walking shoes, hat, water – it's desert! **Website/Facebook:** Search "Mescal Movie Set" for official contact and booking. **This is THE place to truly walk in the footsteps of the movie.**
Other Filming Locations: Filling in the Gaps
While Old Tucson and Mescal did the heavy lifting, a few other Arizona spots popped up:
- Butterfield Stage Route (Benson Area): Some of the very early stagecoach travel shots might utilize sections near Benson, distinct from the ambush filmed at Mescal.
- Sonoran Desert Scenery (Various): Generic but stunning wide shots of the Arizona desert landscapes, showcasing the environment, were filmed in the Tucson basin and surrounding Sonoran Desert areas. Hard to pinpoint exact GPS coordinates, but driving around, you'll see those iconic saguaros.
- Stage Stop (Potentially): Brief scenes at stage stops might have used existing structures elsewhere, but details are hazy. Likely minor.
**California?** Persistent rumors exist about some soundstage work being done in California, particularly for interiors (like the inside of the Oriental Saloon, Fly's, maybe some house interiors). This was common practice even for location-heavy films. However, concrete, verified information pinpointing specific California studios used for *Tombstone* interiors is surprisingly elusive. The focus and the vast majority of the shoot, especially the exteriors that define the film, were firmly in Arizona – primarily Old Tucson and Mescal.
Planning Your Tombstone Filming Location Pilgrimage
So you wanna go? Smart move. Here's the straight talk on making it worthwhile:
Mescal Movie Set is Non-Negotiable: If visiting **where Tombstone 1993 was filmed** is your goal, book the Mescal tour FIRST. This is where the most iconic, tangible, and well-preserved locations are (Boot Hill, O.K. Corral set). Do not miss this. Book weeks or even months ahead, especially outside summer. Check their cancellation policy – weather happens.
- Old Tucson Studios: Go for the film history vibe and the fact that, despite the fire, it's *the* legendary Western lot. Manage expectations: you won't see the *Tombstone* street. Focus on the older surviving structures and the overall atmosphere. It's fun, especially with kids or if you love classic Westerns in general. Combine it with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum nearby – amazing desert flora/fauna.
- The Real Tombstone, AZ: Definitely go! But go for the *real history*, not the movie locations. Walk the actual streets where the real Earps and Clantons walked. Visit the real (smaller, less dramatic) O.K. Corral site and museum. See the real Boot Hill (different layout). Explore the Bird Cage Theatre (original!). Tombstone is a living history town and kitschy fun. It’s about the real events that inspired the film. Separate it in your mind from the movie filming locations.
- Logistics: Fly into Tucson (TUS). Rent a car – essential. Benson (near Mescal) and Tombstone are both about 1-1.5 hours drive southeast of Tucson. Old Tucson is 15-20 mins west of downtown Tucson. You could realistically do Old Tucson one day, Mescal another (booked tour), and the real Tombstone town on a third day. Stay in Tucson for best options.
- Best Time to Visit: Fall (Oct-Nov) and Spring (March-April) are ideal. Winter days are pleasant but nights cold. Summer (June-Aug) is brutally hot – seriously, reconsider unless you love 110°F+.
Answering Your Burning Tombstone Filming Questions (FAQ)
Where exactly was Tombstone (1993) filmed?
Primarily at two locations in Arizona:
1. Old Tucson Studios (Tucson, AZ): For the majority of the town street scenes (Oriental Saloon exterior, Fly's Boarding House, main street). *Crucially, the specific sets built for Tombstone here were destroyed in a 1995 fire.*
2. Mescal Movie Set (near Benson, AZ): For the Boot Hill cemetery set, the O.K. Corral gunfight set, the stagecoach ambush, and other key exterior scenes. These sets are STILL THERE and visitable by tour.
Can I visit the Tombstone 1993 filming locations?
Yes and no.
Mescal Movie Set: YES! This is the big one. Book a guided tour in advance. You'll see Boot Hill and the O.K. Corral set exactly as they appear in the film.
Old Tucson Studios: You can visit the park, but the specific *Tombstone* town set burned down in 1995. You see the grounds and older surviving structures, not the movie street.
Real Tombstone, AZ: Definitely visit, but for the historical sites, not the 1993 movie locations (only the opening desert shots were filmed nearby).
Why wasn't Tombstone filmed in the actual town of Tombstone, Arizona?
Modern intrusions! Power lines, paved streets, contemporary buildings, and general development made the real Tombstone unsuitable for a period film without massive, costly alterations or digital work (which wasn't feasible then). Old Tucson offered a controlled, established Western backdrop they could expand upon.
Where was the O.K. Corral scene filmed for Tombstone?
Not in the real Tombstone, and not at Old Tucson. The entire O.K. Corral gunfight sequence was filmed on a purpose-built set at the Mescal Movie Set near Benson, AZ. This replica allowed for the precise choreography, camera angles, and epic scale required. You can stand on that exact spot during the Mescal tour.
Where was Boot Hill filmed in Tombstone?
The Boot Hill cemetery seen throughout the film was a completely constructed set built at the Mescal Movie Set. It was not filmed at the real Boot Hill cemetery in Tombstone, AZ. The filmmakers meticulously recreated it based on historical photos. This set is perfectly preserved and is a highlight of the Mescal tour.
Where was the river scene in Tombstone filmed?
The scenes by the river (like discussions after the O.K. Corral fight) were filmed on the backlot of Old Tucson Studios, utilizing an existing or modified area designed to look like a riverbank. This area, along with most *Tombstone*-specific structures at Old Tucson, was lost in the 1995 fire.
Are there any Tombstone filming locations left?
Absolutely! The Mescal Movie Set is the goldmine. The Boot Hill set and O.K. Corral set are intact and visitable. Some original structures used potentially as backgrounds or modified at Old Tucson survived its fires and are part of that park, but they aren't the *primary* Tombstone town you see on screen. The desert landscapes, of course, remain.
Why did they use two different sets (Old Tucson and Mescal)?
Practicality and specialization. Old Tucson provided the infrastructure and existing Western town base ideal for dense street scenes and building numerous new structures close together. Mescal offered vast, controlled open space perfect for building large, specific sets (Boot Hill, O.K. Corral replica) and filming expansive outdoor scenes (ambushes, landscapes) without modern interference or space constraints. It was efficient and gave them the best of both worlds.
The Final Word on Where Tombstone Was Filmed
So, there you have it. No smoke, no mirrors, just the straight goods on **where was Tombstone 1993 filmed**. Forget the idea it was shot in the real town – that myth is busted. The heart of the operation was Old Tucson Studios for building that iconic, gritty townscape (though tragically, those specific streets are lost to fire now), and the Mescal Movie Set for the unforgettable Boot Hill and the explosive O.K. Corral showdown (and thankfully, those sets are still standing strong).
If you're a serious fan wanting to walk where the actors stood during the movie's most iconic moments, booking that tour at Mescal is your absolute must-do. Seeing that Boot Hill set sends chills down your spine – it looks *exactly* like the film. Standing in the O.K. Corral lot where they staged the fight? Yeah, that’s pretty cool. Old Tucson offers a different kind of vibe – the history of Western cinema, even if Wyatt Earp's specific stomping grounds are gone. And the real Tombstone? Go soak up the actual history that started it all. Just keep your expectations clear.
Knowing **where Tombstone the movie was filmed** adds this whole other layer when you watch it. You see the craft, the effort to recreate a time and place. It wasn't magic; it was hard work on Arizona backlots. Hope this guide finally answered every question you had about those locations. Now go enjoy the movie again – or better yet, start planning that trip to Mescal. Just remember your hat and water!
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