Old Tucson closed indefinitely due to effects of COVID-19

A Tucson mainstay is closing its doors indefinitely, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues wreaking havoc on small businesses.

TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT THATIT'LL CLOSE INDEFINITELY --STILL COMES AS A SURPRISE.NINE ON YOUR SIDE'S ROGELIOMARES LOOKS BACK AT THEHISTORY OF THE ICONIC LOCATIONFOR WESTERNS.IT WAS 8 DECADES AGO COLUMBIAPICTURES SCOUTED THE PRESENTDAY LOCATION OF 'OLD TUCSON'AS THE BACK DROP FOR ITSFEATURE FILM: ARIZONA.

THEGOAL IN 1939: BUILD TUCSON ASIT WAS IN THE 1860S USINGGRAPHS AND PHOTOS AS AREFERENCE.

200 LABORERS BUILT60 BUILDINGS OUT OF ADOBEBRICK, AMONG THEM, MEMBERS OFTHE TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION.

BYTHE 1950S IT BECAME KNOWN AS'HOLLYWOOD IN THE DESERT.'FROM THAT LABOR, DECADES OFINDUSTRY - MORE THAN 400MOVIES AND COMMERCIALS SHOTHERE.

IN 1960, OLD TUCSON'SOWNER, BOB SHELTON DECIDESTHIS BACK DROP WOULD MAKE AHECK OF A THEME PARK.

HE HIREDJACK YOUNG, A SEMI- RETIREDHOLLYWOOD STUNT MAN, TO CREATETHE SHOWS THAT SURVIVED TOJUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

AFIRE IN 1995 BROUGHT THE PARKTO THE BRINK OF CLOSURE BUT IN1997 IT OPENED IT'S DOORSAGAIN COMING BACK STRONG ASEVER, EVEN ADDING NEWATTRACTIONS OVER THE YEARS.

APROJECT THAT TOOK A MONTH ANDA HALF TO BUILD GAVE TUCSONAND SOUTHERN ARIZONA 80 YEARSOF CULTURE, ECONOMY ANDENTERTAINMENT.

MANAGEMENT SAYSPIMA COUNTY WILL TAKE OVERRESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PARK ONSEPTEMBER 14TH TO BEGINWORKING ON A NEW PLAN FOR IT'SFUTURE.

ROGELIO MARES, KGUN 9ON YOUR SIDE.NINE ON YOUR SIDE'S FIRSTWARNING WEATHER WITH CUYLER