Future of Old Tucson remains uncertain

For Tucson residents, the announcement by American Heritage Railways means the future of one of the city’s best known attractions is again uncertain. The company, which operates Old Tucson Studios under a lease with Pima County, has decided not to extend its lease option when the current agreement expires in April 2027. Old Tucson will remain open for now, and this year’s Nightfall Halloween event and Yuletide holiday celebration are expected to continue as scheduled. What happens after the lease ends, however, has not been determined.

Pima County officials say they are already discussing possible next steps with American Heritage Railways. County Administrator Jan Lesher said in a memo that both sides share a strong appreciation for Old Tucson and want to work together on a path that supports the site’s future. Diane Frisch, the county’s director of Attractions and Tourism, said county representatives have met with the company and are trying to understand whether a solution can be found that would allow the operator to continue. Frisch said both the county and the company care deeply about Old Tucson.

The property is owned by Pima County, despite confusion caused by American Heritage Railways placing its Old Tucson assets on the market for $1.5 million. Frisch emphasized that Old Tucson itself is not being sold. The assets offered by the company are separate from the land and historic attraction owned by the county. The county will ultimately have to decide what arrangement comes next, whether that involves a revised agreement with American Heritage Railways or a new operator.

The current financial terms may be central to that decision. Under the lease negotiated five years ago, American Heritage Railways pays Pima County $60,000 annually, along with 4% of its gross operating revenue. Frisch said those terms reflected what the company brought to the negotiations at the time, but a future agreement could be structured differently. Information from county officials indicates that the company has struggled to make the existing arrangement work financially. Any new deal would likely involve changes to the lease and could involve a different organization running the attraction.

Old Tucson’s history gives the decision significance beyond the future of a single tourist destination. The studio was built in 1939 and became a filming location for hundreds of western movies and television programs. John Wayne and Clint Eastwood were among the actors associated with productions filmed at the site. In 1960, the property opened as a Wild West themed attraction, helping establish the identity that generations of visitors have known. It sits at 201 South Kinney Road, between Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park, making it part of the tourism landscape for both local visitors and people traveling to southern Arizona.

Carolyn Shelton, widow of Old Tucson founder Bob Shelton, said the company’s decision came as a shock. Bob Shelton created the attraction and remained closely associated with it until his death in 2016. Carolyn Shelton has continued to follow efforts to preserve his legacy and said she is pleased with the work American Heritage Railways has done at the property. She credited the operator with going beyond expectations and said she hopes it will reconsider after Nightfall and Yuletide. She has not endorsed the other groups that have expressed interest in taking over the operation.

The county is beginning to gather ideas about what residents and visitors want from Old Tucson. Frisch described the lease change as an opportunity to reassess the attraction and its direction. County staff plan to collect suggestions and present them to the Pima County Board of Supervisors, which will have to determine what kind of future it wants for the county owned site. Frisch also cautioned that the process has not yet reached the point where outside groups can formally submit proposals, even though public interest has already begun to build.

At least one local group, Wild West Enterprises, has launched a crowdfunding campaign and is seeking support for keeping Old Tucson open. Other groups have also shown interest, reflecting the strong emotional and cultural connection many people have to the site. County officials have cautioned that enthusiasm does not mean a new operator will be selected soon, and the county still must evaluate the financial and operational details of any proposal. For now, visitors can continue attending studio tours, Ghost Tours, Summer Night Markets and the scheduled seasonal events. The county is encouraging people to keep visiting while discussions continue, but the long term fate of Old Tucson will depend on negotiations, public input and a decision by county leaders before the current lease expires.