VALENTINE COWBOY takes place at Apacheland Movie studio, a real western movie studio that was in opperation from 1959 to 2004 until a fire destroy it. Located at the base of the Superstition Mountains and home to the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine in Gold Canyon, Arizona.

Valentine Cowboy is Marilyn Natoli's tribute to the Apacheland Movie Ranch (located near the base of the Superstition Mountains in Gold Canyon, Arizona) and to those who lived and loved it, and those who have never seen it.

"VALENTINE COWBOY"
is the
"SPIRIT OF APACHELAND."

Apacheland Studio 1959 - 2004

Intended to be the "Western Movie Capitol of the World" construction on Apacheland Sudio western town began on February 12, 1959 by Superstition Mountain Enterprises and associates. By June of 1960 Apacheland Studio was open for business and filmed its first TV western "Stagecoach West" and full length movie "The Purple Hills".

Actors such as Elvis Presley, Jason Robards, Stella Stevens, Ronald Reagan, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood and Audie Murphy filmed western televisio shows and movies, such as "Gambler II", "Wanted: Dead or Alive", "Death Valley Days", "Blind Justice", "Charro!", "Have Gun, Wil for some or all of the filming.

The last full length movie to be filmed was the 1994 HBO movie "Blind Justice" with Armand Assante, Elizabeth Shue and Jack Black.

On May 29, 1969, a suspicious fire destroyed most of the ranch. Only 7 buildings survived. The sets were soon rebuilt but then almost 35 years later on February 14, 2004,  2 days after it's 45th anniversary, another suspicious fire destroyed most of the Apacheland. On October 16, 2004 Apacheland closed its doors to the public permanently. The cause of both fires remain a mystery.

Superstition Mountains

Home to the "Lost Dutman Goldmine," the Superstition mountains are the majestic mountain range aproximatly 50 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona.