3:10 to Yuma (Phoenix, Bisbee, Tombstone: hotel, school, live)

[LASam]

So I watched the movie 3:10 to Yuma last night and in the special features they talk about how they built the town of Contention, AZ from the ground up. I would imagine the city/set they created wasn't destroyed given all the work and money that went into it... do any of you know where that set is located? Are there any intact old western/ghost towns in AZ where you can really get a feel for what life was like back in those days? Seems like a really fascinating part of american history... and particulary history of the southwest. Thanks!

[thegirlinaz]

Tombstone, AZ is a neat western place..

[Chorizo]

Contention City - Arizona Ghost Town

As mentioned above, tombstone is going to be your best bet as far as seeing any preserved buildings from the that time period. It is anything but a ghost town though - 1500 some residents, thousands of tourists monthly. It still looks like a bustling mining town if you can get past the anachronisms.

Most of the ghost towns in AZ are nothing but remnants of old walls or foundations. Some still have enough that it actually looks like a building of some sort.

One of my favorites: Total Wreck - Arizona Ghost Town

Edit, as for the movie and its set. It was not even filmed in Arizona - it was filmed in New Mexico.

From Wikipedia:

After filming concluded, the owners of the Cerro Pelon Ranch petitioned to keep a $2 million expansion to the movie set on their property, which was supposed to be dismantled within 90 days. The set of 3:10 to Yuma made up 75% of the overall sets on the ranch.[12] In April 2007, the request was met by the county's development review committee to keep the expansion, which would potentially generate revenue in the future.

[JetSet]

Originally Posted by LASam

I would imagine the city/set they created wasn't destroyed given all the work and money that went into it... do any of you know where that set is located?

New Mexico.... I think.

[LASam]

Just looked around on the maps a little bit and it looks like Bisbee is still pretty intact... not too far from Tombstone. Is that place worth visiting?

[LASam]

Originally Posted by JetSet

New Mexico.... I think.

I think you're right... looks like it was built near Santa Fe.

[Chorizo]

Originally Posted by LASam

Just looked around on the maps a little bit and it looks like Bisbee is still pretty intact... not too far from Tombstone. Is that place worth visiting?

Bisbee is still an 'alive' town also. It has some historic sights to see as well.
Bisbee Attractions

The Copper Queen hotel there, is said to be pretty haunted.
Welcome to the Copper Queen Hotel in Historic Bisbee Arizona!

[KarmaPhx]

If you check IMDB it has the filming locations: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381849/locations

Bonanza Creek Ranch - 15 Bonanza Creek Lane, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Cerro Pelon Ranch - 5547 Hwy 41, North Galisteo, New Mexico, USA
Diablo Canyon, near, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico, USA
Los Angeles, California, USA
New Mexico, USA
Santa Fe Indian School - 1501 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Santa Fe National Forest, near, Gilman, New Mexico, USA

I love this feature of IMDB.

[LASam]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

Cerro Pelon Ranch - 5547 Hwy 41, North Galisteo, New Mexico, USA

I think you can actually see the set they used for Contention on the satellite aerial with Bing maps! It looks like it's just southwest of those cooridinates. Very cool!

[amatrine]

There is a real good one on the highway going from New Mexico to Phoenix , the route you take through Sholo, not the flagstaff route. I can not remember if it was before or after going through quamado.

I forget the town, but halfway through, there is a town you drive through that is abandoned. The highway goes rite though it. A lot of buildings intact, and a lot falling down. Anyone know what I am talking about?