Fans Of The Show Gunsmoke Will Recognize This Abandoned Film Set In Utah

Do you remember the TV show Gunsmoke? For twenty years, Americans tuned in to see Matt Dillon, Festus, Miss Kitty, and Doc dealing with the trials and tribulations of life in the Wild West in Dodge City, Kansas. The show ran from 1955 to 1975, and was so popular that when CBS tried to cancel it in 1967, public outcry convinced the network to change its mind. Though the show was set in Kansas, the Gunsmoke filming location was right here in Kanab, Utah and we are so happy that the abandoned film set is still standing! So if you've ever thought, or been asked the question, "Where was Gunsmoke filmed?" read on to get all of the details!

Gunsmoke was a popular radio series in the early 1950s, and became a television show in 1955.

Its cast included James Arness as Matt Dillon, Ken Curtis as Festus, Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty, and Milburn Stone as Doc. That's a lot of celebrity power in one show!

The beloved characters of the show lived in Dodge City, Kansas, but the actual Gunsmoke filiming location - for many scenes - was just three miles outside of Kanab, Utah.

The red-rock cliffs and sage brush hills were the perfect setting to depict the Wild West. This photo was taken several years ago.

The show ran for 635 episodes, from 1955 to 1975, which was an amazing run for that time in television.

The ruins of the set are located in Johnson Canyon, though over the years they've deteriorated considerably.

The buildings where was Gunsmoke filmed are located on private property.

And because of their condition, it's dangerous to get too close. If you want to see them, you'll have to do so from the other side of the fence. But you can take in the beautiful Utah landscape while you're there as well.

Even as they slowly rot and collapse, these old buildings are fascinating to see.

They really are a big part of Utah history.

If you use a little bit of imagination...

... you can almost hear Matt Dillon telling the bad guys to get out of town!

Though time is slowly erasing the Gunsmoke set today, we're proud that Utah played a big part in its legacy.

As abandoned places in Utah go, this is one of the more popular to visit.Take a look at YouTuber Aimless Adventures' exploration of the abandoned set from several years ago:

While you definitely should not get close to this film set, it's fun to see photos of it, and if you have a camera with a decent zoom lens (or a pair of binoculars), you can see it from the fence. Have you seen (from a distance, of course) this abandoned Gunsmoke filming location? If so, we'd love to see your photos and read your comments about it below!

Film history buffs will want to check out these places that were the backdrop for numerous movies in Utah! And if you're interested in making a weekend trip to Kanab, there is no better place to spend the night than at the nearby SpringHill Suites Springdale Zion National Park.

Are you looking for other fun things to do in Utah? Then check out this video: