Relive Hollywood's Wild West Heyday in Kanab, Utah | Little Hollywood Museum & More

Exploring the Wild West in Kanab, Utah

Known for its sweeping red rock vistas and close proximity to national parks like Zion and Bryce Canyon, the small town of Kanab, Utah has become a popular destination for outdoor adventurers. But beyond the hiking trails and scenic drives lies a lesser known claim to fame: Kanab's starring role in countless classic Hollywood Westerns.

Back in the 1920s, Kanab's dramatic desert landscapes attracted filmmakers looking for the perfect backdrop for cowboy shoot-'em-ups. Over the next few decades, stars like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Ronald Reagan galloped across the area's sprawling plains and canyons, filming some of the most iconic movies in the Western genre. With over 100 movies and various TV shows under its belt, Kanab earned itself the nickname "Little Hollywood."

Step Back in Time at Little Hollywood Museum

These days, Kanab's Western movie history lives on at the Little Hollywood Museum. Located right along Kanab's main strip, this must-visit attraction lets you immerse yourself in the region's cinematic heyday.

As you explore the museum's five acres, you'll discover an impressive collection of buildings and set pieces from classic flicks like Stagecoach (1939), The Lone Ranger (1956), and Sergeants 3 (1962). Many of these relics would have otherwise been lost to time if not for the founders' efforts to preserve them.

See the wagons from How the West Was Won up close, or walk through the front facade of the sheriff's office from Sergeants 3. Inside the museum buildings are rooms overflowing with autographed photos and scripts, movie props ranging from saddles to uniforms, and lifelike wax figures of cinema icons like John Wayne mid-swagger. Exhibits detail Kanab's starring role in films across many decades, as well as biographies of the biggest Western stars.

Shop for the True West at Three Lakes Replicas

No trip to Kanab is complete without visiting Three Lakes Replicas, located just behind the Little Hollywood Museum. This sprawling store carries every kind of Western-themed souvenir imaginable, so you can take home a piece of Kanab's Hollywood heyday.

As you browse through the 10,000 square foot shop, you'll discover bows and arrows, cowboy hats, Native American replicas, tin signs, turquoise jewelry, retro candy, old-timey toys, Route 66 memorabilia, and a whole lot more. Kids can play sheriff at the store's jail front while parents poke around Weapon World to check out displays of pistols and rifles used in classic flicks.

The shop's impressive collection of John Wayne merch ensures you can pick up a little Duke spirit no matter your budget. For film buffs, there are t-shirts printed with original movie posters and books detailing facts about Westerns. You can even purchase DVDs of the movies filmed around Kanab so you can watch the iconic sets come to life.

Pose at the Three Lakes Abandoned Movie Set

No visit to Kanab is complete without a stop at the sprawling abandoned movie set near Three Lakes Replicas. This area was originally used to shoot key scenes for the popular 1990s TV series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. These days, the fictional 19th century town of Colorado Springs sits eerily empty and makes for an Instagram-worthy backdrop.

As you wander past the weatherbeaten buildings, use your imagination to picture the cast riding into town on horseback. Peek inside structures like the Boston Post newspaper office, the Gold Nugget saloon, and the Colorado Springs Chateau experienced hotel. The old-timey shop fronts create fun photo ops...be sure to strike a pose!

Be sure to respect any private property and closed buildings during your visit. While you explore, keep an eye out for stray lumber, nails, and dig-ins that remain from the set's Hollywood heyday.

Saddle Up for Real Wild West Adventures

In addition to traces of its silver screen past, the Kanab area offers plenty of ways for visitors to saddle up for their own Western adventures. The dramatic landscape around Kanab has remained largely unchanged since the days of cowboys and Native Americans.

See Ancient Petroglyphs with Excursions of Kanab

For a family-friendly way to explore the land, book one of Excursions of Kanab's popular holy grail tours. An enthusiastic guide drives your party around in a Pinzgauer vehicle to search for ancient rock art and dinosaur tracks. The area is scattered with petroglyph panels and sites dating back 1,000+ years that showcase cryptic designs and symbols.

As your guide narrates myths and legends about the otherworldly etchings, keep your eyes peeled for iconic symbols like the famous Holy Grail and the White Wolf. The 4 hour offroading tours include light hiking to search for the rock art panels hidden amidst the desert vistas.

Discover Filming Locations on Horseback

To truly experience the Wild West, seeing the landscape on horseback is a must. Several local outfitters like Dreamland Safari Tours and Red Rock Ride offer guided rides that take you past classic filming locations and incredible red rock formations with names like Lone Ranger Canyon.

As your horses climb and descend trails threaded between the area's mesas and towering cliffs, your experienced wranglers will share facts about the Westerns and TV shows filmed in spots you're passing. Tours range from one hour jaunts to full days with lunch at an old Hollywood movie set.

Off-Road to Old Western Movie Sets

For travelers short on time who want to check out as many iconic filming locations as possible, go for an offroading tour with a company like Frontier Movie Towns. Their experienced guides have worked in the film industry and know the area like the back of their hand.

Bounce along primitive roads through the dramatic desert landscape in open-air vehicles to sites like the ghost town built for the movie The Outlaw Josey Wales. Along the way, you'll see gorgeous vistas and landmarks recognizable from classics like Stagecoach and Rio Grande.

With boots-on-the-ground insight into the history and legends surrounding Kanab's Hollywood past, these tours make the region's Old West myths come alive. They wrap by watching an old Western movie while the sun sets over the plains, closing out a true Kanab cowboy experience.

FAQs

Why did Hollywood choose Kanab, Utah to film so many classic Westerns?

In the 1920s, filmmakers were drawn to Kanab by the area's untamed desert landscapes that perfectly embodied the Wild West. The plains, canyons, and mesas surrounding Kanab provided ideal backdrops for cowboy shoot-'em-ups and looked much like the actual American Frontier.

What Old West movies were filmed in Kanab, Utah?

Over 100 classic Westerns and TV shows were filmed around Kanab, including Stagecoach, The Lone Ranger, Sergeants 3, Rio Grande, How the West Was Won, Outlaw Josey Wales, and the 1990s series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

Is the abandoned Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman set near Kanab still standing?

Yes! The old western town movie set built for the series is still standing near Three Lakes just outside Kanab. Visitors can explore the weatherbeaten buildings and shop fronts, like the Gold Nugget Saloon, for a nostalgic walk through history.

What is the best way to experience Kanab's Old West history?

Visit the Little Hollywood Museum to see wagons, building fronts, costumes, and props from classic films. Book a horseback or off-road tour to famous shooting locations. And don't miss the abandoned Dr. Quinn set for Instagram-worthy snaps in a ghost town!