How far is Kanab from some of your favorite attractions? 
10 Ways to Experience the Magic of the Wild West around Kanab
1) Check out the Kane County Visitors Center
Did you know more than 130 movies, documentaries, and TV shows have been filmed in the Kanab area? The stunning vistas, red rock, and unique geological formations have inspired generations of filmmakers. Kanab shows up in plenty of westerns, such as How the West Was Won, The Desperados, and The Lone Ranger (the 1938 movie, 1956 movie, and the TV show). It has also been home to classics ranging from the first Planet of the Apes movie to the Six Million Dollar Man TV show.
You can find a full list of movies plus more information about Kanab’s claims to fame and things to do in the area at the Kane County Visitor’s Center, located at 78 South 100 East in Kanab.
2) Take a stroll down Little Hollywood’s Walk of Fame
As you walk down the streets of downtown Kanab, you’ll find plaques memorializing the actors and other film industry professionals who helped earn Kanab its nickname of “Little Hollywood.” Read tributes to Charleton Heston, Clint Eastwood, Maureen O’Hara and more using the map below, and check out the latest plaques added each year during the Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival.
3) Drive by the old Gunsmoke set
The legendary Gunsmoke television show ran from 1955 to 1975, and many of the outdoor scenes for the show were filmed in Johnson Canyon near Kanab. See history come to life by visiting the old Gunsmoke set just three miles outside of Kanab. Learn more here.
4) Visit Kanab’s Western Legends Heritage Music Festival
Each August, visitors flock to Kanab to pay tribute to the American West through country music, western films, a rodeo, and more at the Western Legends Heritage Music Festival (formerly known as the Western RoundUp). The popular event has been expanded from a single weekend to a month-long celebration of heritage and culture.
5) Stay at the historic Perry Lodge
Hundreds of movie stars have stayed and dined at Parry Lodge in Kanab over the years, including John Wayne, Robert Taylor, Frank Sinatra, James Garner and Clint Eastwood to name a few. If you’re there in the summer months, take in a classic western movie filmed in the area at the Old Barn Theater, which used to house visitors’ horses.
6) Dine at the Iron Horse Restaurant
The Iron Horse Restaurant offers a fun old-west setting, great BBQ, indoor and outdoor seating, and live music. It’s a great way to soak in the atmosphere of Kanab.
7) Visit the Little Hollywood Museum
Learn more about Kanab’s rich movie industry history at the Little Hollywood Museum, located at 297 W Center Street (look for the large white horse sculpture). The museum uses several actual movie sets as the backdrop to its storytelling, including the set of Clint Eastwood’s The Outlaw Josey Wales, Homestead, Michael Cimino’s remake of Desperados, and more. While you’re there, pick up a souvenier from the Trading Post or enjoy a meal at the bar and grill.
8) Shop at the old Kanab Mercantile
The old Kanab Mercantile, now Duke’s Clothing Store, is one of Kanab’s many historic buildings with a colorful past. A member of Butch Cassidy’s gang convalesced here while recovering from a gunshot wound.
9) Watch some music videos filmed here
Kanab has famously been home to many movie sets, but other projects, including several music videos, have also been filmed here. Watch one now:
10) Watch a rodeo
Kanab’s beautiful Kaneplex Arena overlooking the Jackson Flat Reservoir and the glowing red cliffs of Kanab is home to multiple rodeos where the west’s cowboys and cowgirls show off their skill and grit. Check out a rodeo in June as part of Jacob Hamblind Days, in August as part of the Western Legends Heritage Music Festival, and in October or November as part of the RMPRA Rodeo Finals.
Rodeo dates
- June as part of Jacob Hamblin Days
- August as part of Western Legends
- October or November for the RMPRA Rodeo Finals
