Favorite location for a western, etc.

Puma · May 16, 2008

We seem to be pretty quiet these days so I thought I'd throw out a topic and see if I get any nibbles.

We all know that a lot of the western movies were made in Sedona, Arizona (and on the movie lots). But, in your opinion, what's the best location to either see in a western, place to set a western, or just plain be in the west?

And, I'm not going to have an easy time answering. I love it all from the big sky of Montana all the way down to the red rock of New Mexico. But, I'm going to say the Wind River Range of Wyoming. That area has a little bit of everything.

What do you think? I'm looking forward to the answers. Puma

alleycat · May 16, 2008

Bronson Canyon in Griffith Park, LA.

Monument Valley was always scenic and dramatic, but it some ways it didn't seem quite natural to me in many films where it was used.

HeronW · May 16, 2008

I fell in love with the Grand Canyon many years ago watching the sunset one day and the next seeing snow move across wiping out the big hole as if it never existed. For colors, enormity, joshua trees, the trails--that'd be my pick.

Snowstorm · May 16, 2008

ANY place in Wyoming is perfect! Perfect light, terrain, critters, .....

Of course, I don't believe I'm prejudiced.

Cav Guy · May 18, 2008

Montana or Idaho, for the time spread available and wide variety of activity (as well as amazing terrain).

Arizona for the military side of things (though I also like Texas for this).

New Mexico if you want to tackle bandit gangs.

Starting to get interested in antebellum California as well, but it hasn't grabbed me totally yet.

I tend to base my settings on historical activity that interests me first and then physical location second. You can always find some interesting terrain if you look (and having spent 15 years in the flatlands of Kansas I think I know a thing or two about stretching scenery....

), but the historical side needs to be there.

C.M. Daniels · May 21, 2008

I was born and raised in southwestern Montana, and that's all you need to know. So, I'm biased.

Cav Guy · May 23, 2008

C.M. Daniels said:
I was born and raised in southwestern Montana, and that's all you need to know. So, I'm biased.

Sixth generation Montanan here, so bias right back at ya....

I branch out a bit in settings for my more historical stuff, but that's in part because the Frontier Army is one of my favorite subjects. For more traditional Westerns, I don't think I've written one set outside Montana yet.

JeanneTGC · May 25, 2008

How did I miss this?

Arizona, of course!

And California. Some Nevada. And New Mexico. But Arizona, definitely.

What can I say? I'm loyal to the Southwest.

Diana W. · Aug 9, 2008

I would say Montana, Arizona and for some reason I've got a thing about Colorado. Sadly I haven't been to any of these places yet but they all sound so cool and, well, westerny. I'm off to Salt Lake City in just over a week. First time I've been anywhere west of Pennyslyvania so I'm looking forward to it!

roonil_wazlib · Jun 5, 2009

(Bringing an old thread back from the dead because it's Friday and I have fifty minutes till quittin time)

Another biased writer, but I love my westerns set in Colorado. We have so many ghost towns, it's ridiculous (I'm partial to Buckskin Joe's, but that could be because I live in the Springs and driving up to St Elmo's would take FOREVER), so it's easy to get a good feel for that time period.

Just driving through the state can give you a wonderful Old West feeling. I love taking road trips here

firedrake · Jun 5, 2009

Arizona...for the colors and the desolation and the rocks.

Montana for the big sky and the mountains

CDaniel · Jun 5, 2009

As far as an old west town setting goes, I'd pick Buckskin Joe''s down there in Cannon City, Colorado. Ridgway on the westernslop is a really nice place too.

The Dakotas for me as far as big sky goes.

The Califonia and eastern Oregan edge of the Great Basin would be good. Just because I happen to live near these parts of the country.

san_remo_ave · Jun 5, 2009

Arizona -valleys like Tucson and Phoenix, but also the higher places like old Jerome mining town or Prescott or Flagstaff.

Virginia City, Nevada is a classic spot and also the location of the Comstock lode --not too far from Lake Tahoe.

wannawrite · Jun 5, 2009

Uh...hello...Kansas, anyone? You know, cattle drives, Dodge City, the Dalton gang, etc...

But, like everyone else, I am biased.

stumpfoot · Jul 20, 2009

Montana
Monument Valley
Southern Canada is nice as well.

redlegdvldg · Jul 21, 2009

Of course i'm biased but Southwestern Colorado the Cortez to Durango area maybe even push it into Telluride.

Diana W. · Jul 21, 2009

For some reason I've got a real thing for Colorado. I've never been there in my life but I have a fascination for the State.

CDaniel · Jul 22, 2009

redlegdvldg said:
Of course i'm biased but Southwestern Colorado the Cortez to Durango area maybe even push it into Telluride.

True Grit: Ridgeway. I've always liked it around there.

seven41 · Jul 24, 2009

How about Texas?

Since Texas was the origin of cattle drives, it shouldn't be left out. There were about forty movies shot on the original location for The Alamo at Bracketville, Texas. Apparently that isn't wide spread knowledge. Texas has every kind of terrain you could expect from the piney woods in the east to the desert mountains in the west. My favorite part of all in the state is Fort Davis which was a frontier fort prior to and after the War between the States. The fort is largely reconstructed and is an excellent source for descriptions of army life on the Texas frontier.

The high plains of the northern part of the state was a favorite stomping ground for Billy the Kid and other outlaws. Places like Tascosa and Mobeetie were infamous as places for outlaws on the run.

I have been to most of the places listed in the other posts on this thread, and I agree that all of them have their own history and their own flavor, but I'm a native Texan and can't let my state not be included.

Favorite location for a western, etc.

Puma

Retired and loving it!

alleycat

Still around

HeronW

Down Under Fan

Snowstorm

Baby plot bunneh sniffs out a clue

Cav Guy

Living in the backstory

C.M. Daniels

Cinnamon, sit. Bad fish!

Cav Guy

Living in the backstory

JeanneTGC

I am Catwoman...and Gini Koch

Diana W.

I'm evolving

roonil_wazlib

Smile.

firedrake

practical experience, FTW

CDaniel

Writing for the brand

san_remo_ave

Back at it

wannawrite

stumpfoot

redlegdvldg

Diana W.

I'm evolving

CDaniel

Writing for the brand

seven41

Favorite location for a western, etc.

Retired and loving it!

Still around

Down Under Fan

Baby plot bunneh sniffs out a clue

Living in the backstory

Cinnamon, sit. Bad fish!

Living in the backstory

I *am* Catwoman...and Gini Koch

I'm evolving

Smile.

practical experience, FTW

Writing for the brand

Back at it

I'm evolving

Writing for the brand

I am Catwoman...and Gini Koch