Old Tucson

What Old Tucson does

Old Tucson is an American movie studio and theme park founded in 1939 by Paramount Pictures, operating today as a seasonal entertainment destination and active film ranch on 300 acres in Tucson, Arizona. The company is a subsidiary within the American Heritage Railways family of heritage tourism properties and serves a diversified mix of visitors including families, individual tourists, corporate groups, school field trips, private-party hosts, and film/TV production clients. Its core products span year-round seasonal event programming: the Wild West Adventure Park (January-April live stunt shows and Western attractions), Ghost Tours and Old Tucson Studios Tours, the Halloween-themed Nightfall, the holiday Yuletide event, and twice-monthly Summer Night Markets. Ancillary revenue streams include season passes, on-site food and beverage (Big Jake's BBQ, High Noon Pizzeria, Rosa's Sweet Shop), retail at The Last Outpost and Corner Store, ECV and wagon rentals, private event catering, and film ranch rentals leveraging the property's 60+ period-accurate buildings.

The business model is event-driven and multi-channel: ticket sales flow primarily through ETIX online ticketing with supplementary phone, walk-up, and dedicated group sales channels, while pricing tiers range from $15-$45 individual admissions up to $99 annual Season Passes and tiered group discounts ($4-$8 off per ticket at 25+ attendees). Customer segments are segmented into corporate groups, school and educational institutions, families and individual tourists, private celebrations, and film/media production clients, each with dedicated packages and contact channels. The technology stack is composed entirely of third-party SaaS integrations — ETIX for ticketing, Paycom for HR, Square for point-of-sale, and Triple Seat for group event management — with no proprietary platform or AI/ML capabilities disclosed. Go-to-market is digital-first via the company website, email newsletter, and an active social media presence across Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, supplemented by seasonal event marketing campaigns and B2B group sales outreach.

Name

Old Tucson

Legal name

Old Tucson Entertainment

Website

https://oldtucson.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Old Tucson is a seasonal American movie studio and theme park founded in 1939 in Tucson, Arizona, operating as a working film ranch and event-driven entertainment destination within the American Heritage Railways family, serving families, corporate and school groups, and film production clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theme Park and Entertainment Venue

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (713110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Amusement Parks (Regional/Local Ride Parks & Funfairs) (THAJAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Destination Theme Parks (Large-Scale, Multi-Attraction Parks) (THAJAEAA)

Keywords

• Theme park
• Movie film ranch
• Western entertainment
• Seasonal events
• Film production location

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Core revenue from ticket sales for park admission, with prices varying by seasonal event (Wild West Adventure Park, Ghost Tours, Nightfall, Yuletide). Online booking via etix.com with walk-up availability.
2. Season Passes: Annual season passes providing unlimited admission to all events, free ride wristbands at Night Markets, bring-a-partner free tickets, souvenir cup with refills, and food/retail discounts. Current promotion: $99 for 2026 season.
3. Food and Beverage: On-site dining through Big Jake's BBQ, High Noon Pizzeria, Rosa's Sweet Shop, and Elixir beverage counter. Group meal vouchers available at $16 per person.
4. Retail Sales: Gift shop retail through The Last Outpost and Corner Store offering Old Tucson merchandise, clothing, souvenirs, and local crafts. Open during park hours.
5. Film Production Rental: Film ranch location rental for movie and television production. 300 acres available with over 60 buildings on 20 acres. Production teams can access maps, photos, specs, and daily rates.
6. Group Events and Private Parties: Revenue from corporate events, private parties, school field trips, holiday events, and group bookings with discounted ticket rates and catering packages.
7. Studio Tours: 90-minute semi-private historical tours led by Old Tucson historian, offered at multiple times daily. Included with park admission during Wild West Adventure Park; separate ticket required when park is closed.
8. Equipment Rentals: ECV and wagon rentals for guests with mobility needs. ECV rates $20-$65 depending on event and season. Card-only payments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Old Tucson is a Western-themed entertainment park and active film ranch in Tucson, Arizona. It sells admission to seasonal events (Wild West Adventure Park, Ghost Tours, Nightfall, Yuletide, Summer Night Markets), studio tours, dining and retail, and rents its 300-acre property with period-accurate sets for film and television production.

Product overview

Old Tucson is an entertainment park and active film ranch offering a portfolio of seasonal experiences. The core offerings include the Wild West Adventure Park (live stunt shows, rides, and Western attractions), Ghost Tours (paranormal guided experiences), and Old Tucson Studios Tours (historical film studio excursions). Seasonal events include Yuletide (holiday winter wonderland), Nightfall (Halloween attractions), and Summer Night Markets (vendor markets). Additional offerings include Season Passes (unlimited annual access), Group Events and Private Parties (catering services), Filming and Production Services (film ranch rentals), and the Old Time Photo Studio. The company operates as part of the American Heritage Railways family of heritage entertainment destinations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wild West Adventure Park Seasonal family entertainment park featuring Hollywood-style stunt shows, magic acts, saloon performances, shoot-out reenactments, carnival rides, stagecoach rides, train rides, carnival games, and Western-themed attractions from January through April.
• Ghost Tours 90-minute guided paranormal tours where lantern-carrying guides lead guests through legends and stories of Old Tucson's haunting history, concluding with an authentic paranormal investigation. Personal EMF reader rentals available.
• Old Tucson Studios Tours 90-minute semi-private historical tours led by Old Tucson historians, combining walking and tram segments through the park's legacy as a working film and television studio. Over 500 productions have been filmed on-site.
• Yuletide Holiday seasonal event transforming the park into a festive winter wonderland with holiday entertainment, seasonal decor, Santa experiences, dazzling lights, and family-friendly fun from November through December.
• Nightfall Halloween-themed event featuring live actors, immersive themed attractions, and spine-tingling interactive experiences after dark in October.
• Summer Night Markets Evening vendor markets running twice monthly from May through September, featuring over 45 local Tucson vendors with food, art, crafts, live music, stunt show demonstrations, carnival games, and free admission/parking.
• Season Passes Annual unlimited admission pass offering access to Wild West Adventure Park, Nightfall, and Yuletide, free rides wristbands at Summer Night Markets, one free guest ticket, souvenir cup with free refills, and discounts on food, retail, and select tours.
• Group Events and Private Parties Private event catering services for corporate events, family reunions, birthday parties, Quinceañeras, school field trips, and holiday parties with discounted group tickets, meal vouchers, and customizable food and beverage packages.
• Filming and Production Services Film ranch services offering 300 acres of available space with over 60 buildings on 20 acres, located between Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park, providing unobstructed desert views for major film and television productions.
• Old Time Photo Studio Professional Western-themed photography experience including full costume dressing, 3-5 poses, and digital photo downloads with various template options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 productions filmed on property including classic Western films
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Knott's Berry Farm: California regional theme park with a Western/frontier heritage theme. Both operate as regional amusement parks with family attractions, live entertainment, and seasonal events targeted at day-trip and tourist visitors in the American Southwest/West.
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood: Active film studio offering guided historical tours of production facilities. Directly comparable to Old Tucson Studios Tours as a working film studio that monetizes visitor access to production sets and film history.
• Paramount Pictures Studio Tour: Old Tucson was originally built by Paramount Pictures in 1939. Paramount's own studio tour in Hollywood is a direct comparable as a historic film studio offering guided tours to the public.
• Goldfield Ghost Town: Historic Arizona mining town turned tourist attraction offering mine tours, train rides, and Old West entertainment. Direct comparable as a smaller-scale authentic Western heritage attraction competing for similar visitor segments in Arizona.

Broad incumbents

• Six Flags Entertainment: Large regional amusement park operator with multiple properties. Comparable as a regional theme park competitor for entertainment dollars, though Six Flags focuses on thrill rides versus Old Tucson's Western heritage and live entertainment model.
• Universal Studios Hollywood: Combines a working film studio with a theme park, similar to Old Tucson's dual identity as film ranch and entertainment park. Significantly larger scale but represents the same hybrid film/entertainment business model.
• Disneyland Resort: Destination theme park offering themed entertainment with seasonal events and multi-day experiences. While far larger, Disneyland competes with Old Tucson for vacation entertainment dollars from Southern California and Southwest visitors.

Regional players

• Rawhide Western Town: Arizona-based Western heritage attraction and event venue in Scottsdale. Direct regional competitor for Western-themed entertainment, group events, and tourist visitation in the Arizona market.
• Tombstone Historic District: Famous Arizona Old West town (filmed at Old Tucson) that competes for Western heritage tourist visitation. Both target heritage travelers seeking authentic Western experiences in Southern Arizona.
• Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary: Arizona-based attraction offering educational visitor experiences with ticketed admissions. Comparable as a regional Arizona attraction targeting families and school field trips, though focused on wildlife rather than Western entertainment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oldtucsonstudio
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChikrMC9pVYb6jGrQuWbtbg
• Facebookfacebook.com/oldtucson
• Instagraminstagram.com/oldtucson
• TikToktiktok.com/@oldtucsonaz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oldtucsoncompany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Old Tucson