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Some of our favorite Old West Towns to visit ....
BODIE GHOST TOWN, CALIFORNIA
CALICO GHOST TOWN, CALIFORNIA
GOLDFIELD GHOST TOWN, ARIZONA
PIONEERTOWN, CALIFORNIA
PIONEER LIVING HISTORY VILLAGE, AZ
TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA
VIRGINIA CITY, NEVADA
WHITEHORSE RANCH, CALIFORNIA
Annual
New Years Celebration
January 2008
January 2007
January 2006
January 2005
January 2004
January 2003
2008 -
The Mojave Muleskinners welcomed in 2008 at Goldfield Ghost Town! Several of
the California members such as Sheriff Ricochet, Smokey, Capt. Ball, Lucky
Sumtyms, Luziana Liz, Purgatory and even our New Mexico members, Josh West
and Lilly Lorenetta made the long trip out. The encampment was fantastic
with Buffalo Shiloh's teepee, Smokey's Chuckwagon, and Rattlesnake Rick's
wagon. Preacher gave a fitting tribute and dedicated his tent this year to
a wonderful soul lost far too soon - our friend and fellow Mojave
Muleskinner, Arthur Crofutt aka Misfire Mel,
who sadly passed away last year. Everyone had a wonderful time. The
weather couldn't have been nicer, though it did get windy. Nothing like
winter in Arizona! Thanks to all that made it out and again, thank you to
the Goldfield Gunfighters and Goldfield Ghost town for another great
"ringing in of the New Year"!
Apacheland Remembered Book Signing - AJ, AZ
February
10, 2007
2007 - The Mojave Muleskinners are in a calendar
and a new book called "Valentine Cowboy", by Marilyn Natoli. It is a tribute to Apacheland Movie Ranch
with many photographs of the Mojave Muleskinners! Marilyn had a vintage
western photography studio in Apacheland that burned to the ground along
with several other merchants’ shops. Of the few remaining structures left
standing, the Elvis Chapel and the Rifleman’s barn were spared from the
fire and relocated to the Superstition Mountain Museum.
The Southwest Legends Gunfighters
were also on hand to do some great shows.
http://www.valentinecowboy.com
March 15, 2008
March 17, 2007
March 18, 2006
March 19, 2005
March 20, 2004
2008 - The country's largest celebration
of the Old West and the American Cowboy. A visit to The National Festival
of the West, presented by Bison Ranch, in Scottsdale, Arizona is like a
step back in time, back to an era that was simpler and certainly more
rugged. Western music, from three continuously playing stages, fills the air
with songs and sounds of the old west. Silver screen celebrities stroll
the aisles of the Festival, while the western movie theater shows some of
our favorite westerns. The 2008 Festival of the West honored America's
Favorite Cowboys and Grammy Award winning Western Music & Comedy team,
Riders in the Sky - it's the Cowboy Way! 2008 marked another first for
Festival of the West's coveted Cowboy Spirit Award, when in a special
tribute, they presented the award to John "DUKE" Wayne, and to Patrick
Wayne.
Apacheland Movie
Ranch - Gold Canyon, AZ
March 22 & 23, 2003
( Note: Apacheland
Movie Ranch burned
down Valentines Day 2004.
Unfortunately, the owners decided the nostalgic movie ranch would not be rebuilt
and it has now gone in the way of housing developers.... We will keep this event up
as homage to the nostalgic film site.)
2003 - This year, the Mojave Muleskinners,
Goldfield Gunfighters & Apacheland Gunfighters gathered at Apacheland Movie Ranch to
celebrate the Judge's
birthday. An
excellent campsite, right
on Main Street, was secured and to the great joy of all the
gunfighters, the Bordello was in full use throughout the weekend. Gunfights....hangings....
performances lasted throughout the day and evening. In addition, a very successful Sunday Service was held in
the old church from the Elvis Presley movie, El Charro. Preacher spoke a
fine sermon that started out with prayers for our fellow Mojave Muleskinner -
Acton Ranger, our troops overseas and appreciation to all of our veterans. Windy Bill surprised
everyone with his performance on the church's organ. Needless to say, it was
definitely not for the faint of heart!
2007 - Author and photographer, Marilyn Natoli, operated a vintage western
photography studio at Apacheland and was there the night it burned to the
ground. She has written a tribute book called, "Valentine
Cowboy". It is a fictionalized account of Apacheland events and the
very real people who were lucky enough to be part of it. Many photos of
the Mojave Muleskinners. She now has reopened her studio at the
Superstition Mountain Museum on Hwy. 88. in the "Rawhide" barn.
Cowboy Poetry Fest - Melody Ranch, CA
April 30, 2005
2005 - The Mojave Muleskinners and other reenactors travel back in time at
the Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival held at Melody Ranch in Santa Clarita,
California for a day of walking among the hallowed
streets of the old Gene Autry Ranch where Gunsmoke, Magnificent Seven and many other Westerns were filmed. Melody Ranch
is only open to the public once a year during this Festival. At this time, the
HBO series "Deadwood" was recently filmed there.......
 Country Thunder USA - Florence, AZ
April 12, 2007
2007 -The Mojave Muleskinners were again at Country Thunder
USA! Thank You to everyone who participated! It wasn't too hot this year,
though we did have some wind & rain issues to contend with on the first couple of days and some
huge gusts of wind the last day. But hey, overall the event was fantastic!
We were privileged to meet many artists, loyal fans, vendors and
professional photographers from over the years! Better yet, it was a
real treat again to speak with Neal McCoy , who is always the gentleman and
really takes the extra time to make you feel special! We also wanted
to mention the hard working people at Country Thunder who are behind the "scenes", those folks with the security, the food corp., and those doing the
cleanup - they really are a hard working group of folks! Thank you Ladies
and Gents!!
 Old
West Days - Mesa, AZ
April 2007
2007 - Mesa Downtown Merchants are proud to announce a
celebration of Mesa Old West Days. This community centered event
will showcase the rich pioneer and territorial history of Mesa, Arizona.
FREE Parking and FREE Admission. Gunfights, authors, vendors, shooting
gallery, costume contests and even gold panning!
 Mescal Movie Location-
Mescal, AZ
May 15th, 2004
2004 -
The Mojave Muleskinners walked the same streets as Lee Marvin, Paul Newman, Jack Palance, Frank Sinatra, Danny Glover, Kurt Russell, and Sharon Stone, to name a few! Mescal, the legendary movie location where
Outlaw Josey Wales, Maverick (remake), Buffalo Soldiers, Tombstone, the Quick and the Dead and many other Westerns were filmed. Normally a closed set, Mescal just recently opened to the public. Mescal offers a complete western town with 44 western buildings which include a bank, sheriff's office, ranch houses, farm house, jail, two saloons, corrals, two-story hotel, and an 1860s fort. The 60-acre location sits in a high-desert plain easily representing terrains throughout the American west. Sweeping vistas and majestic mountains can be seen (or not) in the distance. Property is surrounded by open-range owned by the state of Arizona.
Head East on I-10 to exit #297. Head North on Mescal road for 3 miles. Turn left
where the pavement ends. Head West 1/2 mile on dirt road to the town of Mescal.
Call ahead for tour information. See our links page for days and times.
 Wild West Encampment- Pioneertown, CA
May 16-18, 2008
May 18-20, 2007
2008 - 3rd Annual Wild West Encampment was held at Pioneertown, California.
Pioneertown is a living old western town where TV programs and movies of the
late 1940's and 1950's were filmed, including Gene Autry TV shows, The Annie
Oakley show, Range Rider, The Cisco Kid and a long list of various western
productions. Sutlers, Period Vendors, Townspeople, Mounted Shooters,
Period Musicians including Dave Bourne from HBO's Deadwood and several
Gunfighter groups: Desert Guns, Mojave Muleskinners, Goldfield
Gunfighters, Gunfighters For Hire, Law Dogs 'N Ladies, Pioneertown
Posse and Border Renegades and many others joined together for a weekend
of historical reenactment.
 Kidsfaire Family Expo - Glendale, AZ
June 2 & 3, 2007
2007 -
The Mojave Muleskinners spent a weekend at the University of Phoenix
Stadium entertaining folks at the Kidsfaire - America's Family Expo. They advertise
themselves as the "largest event of it's kind in the country featuring the best
in educational resources, clothing, gear, home and garden products as well as
all the best products to enrich the lives of families everywhere." There
were numerous things for the kids to do including scuba diving, rides and various
entertainment - though we did get tired of telling folks we weren't the
Wild West Dog Show! Lines were so long that people had to wait
almost 2 1/2 hours to get in!
The event benefited three of the State’s most respected non-profit children’s
organizations -
Ronald McDonald House
Charities, National Head Start and the Children's Crisis Center .
 Heber Valley Historic Railroad
- Heber City, UT
June 23rd, 2007
2007-
The Mojave Muleskinners took a road trip to visit
the Heber Valley Railroad's Steam Engines - Utah's magnificent steam
passenger railroad. It's an historic tourist attraction based in Heber
City, Utah. Trains cross the farmlands of the Heber Valley, follow the
shore of Deer Creek Lake and descends into a majestic and breathtaking
canyon. The track follows the Provo River to Vivian Park in Provo Canyon.
We got to ride and
rob the train while taking in the beautiful scenery of the area. On
July 7, 2007 they celebrated their 100th anniversary!
August 16 & 17th, 2003
1999 Train Robbery
2003 -
In August, the Mojave Muleskinners enjoy rendezvousing in Virginia City, Nevada. In
the time between the early 1860´s through the 1890´s, Virginia City was one
of the largest and most sophisticated cities in the west.
The Virginia & Truckee Railroad is by far the most famous of all American
short lines. In its hey-day, as many as 45 trains a day arrived and departed
Virginia City hauling millions of dollars in gold and silver ore from the
Comstock. Because of the long drive we aren't able to make it out to Nevada
quite as often - especially with gas prices, but we hope to make another
trip out in 2007.
August 18th, 2003
2003 - Bodie is an authentic mining town in the Eastern Sierra. It thrived from 1859 till 1933 when it was abandoned
by all except for their banker who always insisted the mines will produce again and so will the town. It never happened and has since been picked up by the park service. It looks the same as it did back then, including artifacts inside the buildings.
Most of the town is gone due to fire, but there are still 20-30 buildings to wander in and around and taste their history.
Mojave Muleskinners had special permission, for the day, to wear full costume (including guns) into this historical place for pictures.
This is a rare privilege and as such, we again give our sincere thanks
to the Bodie California Park Ranger Service for giving us this unique honor.
Rikki & Daz
w/ Glen Campbell - Goldfield, AZ
August 2002
2002 -
The Goldfield Gunfighters & the Mojave Muleskinners were the real stars in this music video with Rikki &
Daz, English Pop recording artists. They spent a day in Goldfield Ghost
Town filming the video which included a guest appearance by the legendary Glen Campbell - one of the most popular country musicians of the late '60s and
'70s. The production is a new version of Mr. Campbell's 1975 Top 10 hit, "Rhinestone Cowboy". Their song is already an enormous hit in Europe. The music video
was released in England November 2002, then in the United States soon after.
©2002 - D&R Productions
Filming of "Gunslingers"©
- Paramount Ranch, CA
September 2001
2001 - The Mojave Muleskinners in the 35mm production of Gunslingers©2001 - Kinney Films.
A movie written and directed by USC graduate film student, Michael
Kinney and produced by Kristin Hatcher.
A weekend in September
was spent filming at the renowned Paramount Ranch located in Agoura Hills,
California. The movie
premiered to an enthusiastic audience on Tuesday, October 8th, 2002 at the Director's Guild of America in Los Angeles, California.
September 28th - 30th,2007
September 23,2006
2007 - The Mojave Muleskinners attended the 3rd annual Wild Western Festival
held at
Pioneer Living History Village
off of I-17 in Phoenix, Arizona. The village/museum in itself is something to see with
over 90 acres of an old 1800's town
- authentic buildings and historically accurate
reproductions. It was a very warm...correct that, HOT weekend! The festival, touted as where "History
meets Hollywood!", had the best of the west with a full blown old
west encampment featuring the Mojave Muleskinners! It was probably one of our
best with over 10 tents! Trading Post vendor encampment with 100's of artisans
selling their wares. Entertainment with wild west
performers, award winning Native American dancers, and stage shows
featuring nationally known acts such as
Dave Bourne, the
renowned piano player from the HBO series, "Deadwood". We were very
fortunate to have Mr. Bourne visit the camp and give us our own concert! Thank
you, Dave! Till next time!
November 5th, 2005
2005 -
The Mojave Muleskinners, along with Law-Dogs-And-Ladies, Pistols and Petticoats,
and many other groups,
go to the Harvest Fair. An annual event consisting of two exciting fun filled
weekends of Old West Re-enactments, Old West history, live entertainment,
vendors, food, and excitement.
Memorial Encampment, WH Ranch, CA
November 10th - 12th, 2006
November 12th & 13th, 2005
2006 - Mojave Muleskinners were invited to attend the Chris Menyhart Memorial
Encampment. Generously hosted at the
Whitehorse Movie Ranch by proprietor German Pete and
his wife, Minnesnowta
Maureen. It was a wonderful weekend with friends and an abundance of food! The
town has grown substantially since last year and the new Whitehorse
Saloon was in full working order thus giving the Bullshead Saloon across the
street some competition. The Production Company of
Enfuego Productions was filming
throughout the weekend .You can see one of the film clips here: "Dynomite Saloon"
©2006.
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