Touring John Wayne Western Country with Sifu Slim
Exit, stage left, from an ‘authentic’ Western Scene.
Bonnie Springs Ranch
16395 Bonnie Springs Rd
Blue Diamond, NV 89004
Near Blue Diamond and Red Rock Canyon
Old Nevada at the Bonnie Springs Ranch is a replica of an old West town complete with cowboys, showgirls, saloon, gunfights in the street and a good old fashion town hanging. Just 35 minutes West of the Las Vegas Strip, Bonnie Springs Ranch is the best kept secret 5 minutes drive beyond Red Rock Canyon.
Originally built in 1843 as a stopover for the wagon trains going to California along the Old Spanish Trail, Bonnie Springs Ranch lies in the heart Nevada’s iconic Red Rock Canyon.
In 1846, General Fremont (en route to California) stopped at what is now Bonnie Springs Ranch to gear up for his trip through Death Valley and established the site’s significance.
It was not until 1952, under the provision of Bonnie McGaugh and Al Levinson, that the ranch saw substantial renovation and resuscitation before opening to the public as a tourist attraction in 1958.
Stables, a petting zoo, and a restaurant soon followed, and construction on Old Town, a reproduction of an 1880s mining community and the prime attraction at Bonnie Springs, opened in 1974 with the complement of a functioning saloon, shops, a wax museum, a wedding chapel, a replica schoolhouse, and daily performances/reenactments honoring the Old West. The ranch subsequently added a full-sized event arena, now the first site visitors see upon entering the property, that has hosted numerous rodeos and equestrian events. Today the grounds represent a delight for locals and tourists alike (as well as a few filmmakers).
