- 'Gunsmoke' was filmed in these locations
- The show aired for 20 seasons
- They shot in the dessert
Lights, Camera, Action! The dusty streets of Dodge City, Kansas, were brought to life in the iconic Western series 'Gunsmoke,' but hold your horses, because those scenes weren't filmed anywhere near the real Dodge City! Instead, the 22-acre Melody Ranch Studio in sunny Santa Clarita Valley, California, was the backdrop for those gun-slinging adventures.
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In a revealing 2006 interview with SCVTV, James Arness spilled the beans on the show's early days. "We did the first couple of years of the show — at least, we did all of our outdoor stuff there at Melody Ranch," he said. And guess what? 'The Lone Ranger' was shot there too! Talk about a Western wonderland!
But wait, there's more! Arness added, "It certainly was the ideal place to do these shows. You had all kinds of different locations there including, even, there was a train there." Imagine that, a real-life choo-choo train on set!
From iconic Western landscapes to the ashes of Paramount Ranch
As 'Gunsmoke' grew in popularity, the show hit the road, filming in breathtaking locations like Johnson Canyon near Kanab, Utah, and the sunbaked Arizona desert at Old Tucson Studios. The show's quest for authentic Western scenery knew no bounds!
Back in the Golden State, the famous Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills also played a starring role. This working movie ranch, known for its permanent Western town built from old Paramount storage sheds, was a Hollywood treasure. Tragically, the Woolsey wildfires of 2018 turned the set to ashes, but fear not! The cleanup began in 2020, with plans to restore the historic Western Town to its former glory.
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So, next time you saddle up for a 'Gunsmoke' marathon, remember the magic of Hollywood that transported you to the Old West, all from the comfort of California!
