7 Reasons to Visit Old Tucson Studios With Your Family

*My family and I received complimentary tickets to Old Tucson Studios in exchange for a review.  However, all opinions are my own.

Are you thinking about visiting Old Tucson Studios in Tucson, Arizona?  Old Tucson Studios is a movie studio where several famous western movies and television series have been filmed.   However, it’s not just a movie studio.  There are several things to do for families of all ages, including preschool aged children like my son.  My family and I recently spent a day there and loved it!  From a train, to a carousel and stagecoach ride, here are 7 reasons to visit Old Tucson Studios with your family.

7 Reasons to Visit Old Tucson With Your Family:

1. The Train
2. The Carousel
3. The Antique Cars
4. The Stagecoach
5. The Shows
6. The History
7. Panning for Gold

Reason #1: The Train

I’ve written several times that my son loves trains.  Really, really loves trains.  So it’s not a surprise we not only started our day on the train, but also ended our day on the train, too.  The train ride loops around Old Tucson, taking passengers past many of the different movie sets.  It’s a longer train ride, too, which we really appreciate.

Reason #2: The Carousel

The carousel is located near the train station, making it very convenient for families.  We like that there are not only the traditional horses on the carousel, but also benches to sit on.  My son has ridden on carousels ever since he was a little less than a year old, so whenever he sees a carousel, he gets excited 🙂

Reason #3: The Antique Cars

Old Tucson has antique cars that can be driven around a track, by both adults and children over a certain height.  Both my husband and I took turns driving our son around the track.  It is well maintained and is also surrounded by the desert landscape.

Reason #4:  The Stagecoach

Tickets to ride the stagecoach are not included in the general price of admission, however, it is worth it for the experience.  One of the guides told us beforehand that it would take 4 days just to get from Tucson to Phoenix in a stagecoach.  Passengers would also sleep overnight in the stagecoach.  It’s a completely different experience now.  Imagine that an hour and a half drive to Phoenix in a car is equivalent to 4 days in a stagecoach!

Reason #5:  The Shows

There are several shows at different locations throughout the day.  We were able to see a western shootout while we were there.  My son took a picture beforehand with some of the cowboys.  It was, without a doubt, the highlight of his visit.

Reason #6:  The History

It really is like taking a step back in time.  Remember the movie Tombstone with Val Kilmer and Kurt Russell?  Some of it was filmed at Old Tucson Studios.  Along with other western classics like The Three Amigos, Rio Bravo, and Gunfight at the OK Corral.  And the TV series, High Chaparral, was also filmed at Old Tucson Studios.

Reason #7:  Panning for Gold

Panning for gold isn’t included in the price of general admission, but my son really enjoyed the experience.  He found “gold” and happily carried it with him throughout the day 🙂