Film legends made movie magic at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area in Arizona

If you’ve ever watched a classic Western movie, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Arizona’s public lands stealing the scene. 

With its rolling grasslands, rugged mountain ranges, and lush riparian corridors, the 45,000-acre Las Cienegas National Conservation Area makes for a beautiful set. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tucson Field Office, it is just a short journey from Tucson, Arizona. Five of the rarest habitat types in the American Southwest are found here: cienegas (marshlands), cottonwood-willow riparian forests, sacaton grasslands, mesquite bosques, and semi-desert grasslands. 

At the heart of it all is the historic Empire Ranch, which is turning 150 in 2026.

Over the years, Las Cienegas National Conservation Area and Empire Ranch have hosted dozens of Hollywood stars and filmmakers. This includes some of the most famous: John Wayne, Barbara Stanwick, Charlton Heston, Paul Newman, Lee Marvin, Kirk Douglas, William Holden, Burt Lancaster, Shelley Winters, Jennifer Jones, Steve McQueen, Gregory Peck, Spencer Tracy, Jimmy Stewart, and countless others.

Their films include “Red River,” “Duel in the Sun,” “Hombre,” “Winchester 73,” “The Big Country” and many others on or near the Empire Ranch. TV classics like “Gunsmoke” and “Bonanza” also used Las Cienegas as a filming location, showcasing the area’s authentic Western charm.

Today, the area continues to attract Old West fans and tourists, benefiting rural communities like Sonoita and Sierra Vista and their economies. Across Arizona, recreation on BLM-managed public lands contributed approximately $759.3 million to the state’s economy in Fiscal Year 2024.

Want to experience film history and this piece of Americana for yourself? Aside from appearing on screen, the Empire Ranch is still also a working cattle ranch. Generations of cowboys have lived and worked here, shaping the land and preserving traditions that date back to the 1870s.

Visitors to the area can explore the Empire Ranch headquarters, where interpretive signs and trails share the story of the land and its cinematic past. The Empire Ranch buildings, which also have exhibits inside, are open daily to visitors from sunrise to sunset.

BLM partner Empire Ranch Foundation runs a visitor contact center and gift shop in Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. It is located on the west side of the Empire Ranch House, is open most weekends, during docent-led tours, volunteer workdays, and special events. In past summers, Empire Ranch Foundation celebrated classic Western movies with outdoor film showings at the Empire Ranch. These events have featured classic Westerns like “A Star is Born” and “3:10 to Yuma,” projected on an inflatable screen under the stars.

Aside from exploring film history, you can also enjoy wildlife viewing, birdwatching, primitive camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, historic sites, hunting, photography, and scenic drives in the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Kids can also explore Historic Empire Ranch by filling out a Junior Ranger book or by using Agents of Discovery, a learning game that can be downloaded for free and played on a mobile device.

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area offers a cinematic escape where the spirit of the Old West still lives on screen and on public lands.

Make time to visit these public lands, which offer the authentic and unique experiences that come with a once-in-a-lifetime event like the 250th anniversary of the United States.