Old Tucson Movie Studios

Today we headed to Old Tucson Studios.  It is an old movie studio now an old west town theme park.  It was originally built for the Movie Arizona in 1939.  Many movies and TV shows were later filmed there such as Little House on the Prairie and High Chaparral

It opened to the Public in 1960. Buildings were added one by one with each movie filmed there.  In 1995 a fire destroyed much of it including memorabilia and Costumes.

The Palace hotel has several skits and shows.  This was a travelling medicine man comedy show, followed by a Burlesque Show 

A lot of walking around, Gary when he's dead tired, can nap anywhere!

There are stage coach rides, train ride, Mine tours, Antique Car rides, horseback riding and more 

They even re-enacted a scene from The Quick and the Dead 

Even the restrooms fit right in 

Again, we spent 4 hours there and could have done more! 

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary & Tucson



Sonoran Desert Museum

Picked up the Puppy and headed back into Tucson

Did the Sonoran Desert Museum

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden all in one! 

Paths wind through various desert plants 

Cactus Wren on a Saguaro Cactus 

Several native animals in their natural surroundings.

Bobcat 

Harris Hawks in flight 

a Javelina (not a pig - a peccary) 

Prairie dogs

Mountain Lions 

and wolves

We looked for the Coyotes and didn't see any.  I gave my best coyote howl and a head popped up briefly.  He was hidden in the  brush.

Does this jacket make my ears look big? 

They even have a realistic cave replica you can walk through 

and a Hummingbird Aviary 

We spent over 4 hours there and still didn't get to see it all, guess we'll just have to come back!

Till Later,

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary and Tucson

Colossal Cave - Vail, AZ

We had so much fun at Kartchner Cave we decided to do Colossal Cave again as well.  Left SKP Saquaro Park after 12 days.  Tomorrow is snip snip day for the Puppy back at the animal shelter. 

Arrive at Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Path to the Cave

Cave entry

Some narrow pathways.  The cave is called dry or dormant which means that due to lack of water, the formations are not growing right now.

They have installed a museum below with artifacts.

The pathways were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp

An old underground river bed

A cave "Fried Egg"

 

A silent waterfall

A group shot with Shirley

We stop in the Ranch before leaving so Tucson can meet the horses

On to the next adventure!

Till Later,

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa, Gary & Tucson

Day Trip to Bisbee, AZ

Load the dogs in the car and Gary, Shirley and I head out for a drive.  We stop in Sierra Vista to do some puppy accessory shopping and decide to head to Bisbee for lunch.

The Bar at the Copper Queen Hotel has a patio so we opt to eat there since we have Tucson and Beethoven. 

A beautiful day and the food was very good. 

Bisbee was founded in 1880 and named after Judge DeWitt Bisbee a financial backer of the Copper Queen Mine.  It proved to be one of the Richest Mineral sites in the world.  Bisbee thrived until the mid 1970's when large scale mining was no longer profitable.   Today it is making a comeback as an artist and retirement community.

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek' n

Melissa Gary & Tucson