Movies and Jeep Tours
By Robert DeMayo
Beginning in 1923 with Zane Grey’s Call of the Canyon, Sedona became a hot spot for Westerns. John Wayne starred in Angel and the Badman (1946) which was shot in West Sedona, and Elvis Presley stared in Stay Away Joe (1967), filmed on the Bradshaw Ranch, to name a couple.
One of the locals who did a lot of work with the film industry was Bob Bradshaw. Bradshaw worked as a stuntman, actor, wrangler, and location coordinator all through the 40’s and 50’s—the “Golden” age of westerns. He was James Stewart’s stuntman/double on Broken Arrow (1950), which was filmed nearby.
Eventually Bradshaw purchased a 90-acre ranch near Loy Butte and opened it up to the movie industry. Five movies, two TV series, and numerous commercials have been filmed there. It’s also seen the likes of Beau Bridges, Paul Hogan, Elvis Presley and Kenny Rogers. These days Bob’s son John Bradshaw runs a jeep tour company called, “A Day in the West.”
You can experience these canyons today with licensed operators who utilize modified Jeeps (CJ7s & Ruebacons) to takes visitors on thrilling 4 x 4 rides through the canyons and trails surrounding Sedona. The guides offer insights into the geology, plants, animals, and history as they lead you through this fascinating landscape. Some tours are pure adrenaline, other are fantastic photographic opportunities, and still other tours work horseback trips into the days’ events. All are unforgettable experiences for the entire family.
In the 30’s Walt Disney spent some time here, drawing inspiration from the red-orange cliffs and canyons. The tallest mountain in Sedona—Thunder Mountain—inspired the Thunder Mountain roller coaster ride, and the idea for the Flume Ride is said to have come from Slide Rock State Park, just up Oak Creek Canyon.
So if you want to feel your heart pounding with awe and excitement, then plan a trip to Sedona. This place is fascinating on so many levels there truly is something for everyone. In fact, if you somehow see everything in the Sedona area there are countless daytrips to fill your itinerary; Las Vegas is about six hours away, and the Grand Canyon is only a couple hours north. Come see what everyone is talking about.
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