Gammon’s Gulch Movie Set

Is it a museum for the Southwestern Movie Buff, a movie set or a little slice of history you get to enjoy in peace and quiet?
It’s all 3 and then some. My sister and I wanted to get together and take photos someplace interesting before her summer was over. Since my wife and I were going to visit a friend in nearby Benson, we met my sister and niece in Tucson and drove down. After a nice lunch we headed out to Gammons for a tour and some photo fun.
Jay the owner greeted us at the gate with a happy smile. We parked and were immediately drawn into the past with wonderful old west buildings all around us. It’s not a huge movie set but you don’t really need one to see the past here.
Jay walked us to each building and opened them for a unique experience. We snapped away for our own enjoyment. You can’t take photos if you intend to sell them. We don’t, but I may use a couple for stippling drawings later.
There are old cars, a black smith shop, Sheriffs Jail, Mercantile and Saloon plus more.
The experience is wonderful. You get to see some many things that you only see in photos these days.
Gammon’s if worth the 12 mile drive from Benson if you want a better experience than fake western towns. This one is real. Not store fronts but the entire buildings. The black smith shop is a workable shop with so my items it boggles the mind. I’d call it heaven if I could play in there.
Warning: Drive the 35 mile speed limit going through the little town right before it. I guess allot of movie crews have gotten plenty of tickets their first day driving to it.

Informative and fun tour. Worth the trip. Jay enjoys giving the tour and we enjoyed ourselves. Phone first to check if available for visitors.

Saddle up! and drive on Cascabel Road to visit one of Arizona’s unique movie and western sets.
Jay Gammons, the founder and your friendly tour guide, is very knowledgeable and loves to show guests around his historic «town» that he built himself.
This place has been the site of numerous movies and is an active location for westerns even now… with 5 westerns on tap to come and film in the near future.
If you love antiques you will absolutely adore The Gulch. And Jay can tell you the history of each and every piece. He’s got several antique cars, old mining equipment and lots of movie memorabilia. And you can take all the time you want to take photographs and just relax in the beautiful high desert.
There are no horses to ride here… no food or drinks for sale… just good old fashion visiting and hanging out on a real movie set. (There IS some root beer to drink if you get real thirsty.)
Jay’s father was John Wayne’s security guard and even Jay himself has been featured in a few movies… including one with John Wayne. Part of his tour is telling you about these famous stars he has met and worked with. That’s a real treat.
Gammons Gulch is open September through May from 9 to 4. From June to August, you need to call and let him know you’re coming. He might be in Benson at the Walmart. And it does get pretty hot here in the summer. That’s why Jay suggests calling no matter what day you plan on coming.
If you love movies and western towns, put Gammons Gulch on your «to visit» list. Oh, and while you’re here, drop in and visit the donkey rescue sanctuary right next door. They need a phone call, too, but it is well worth the visit!