Chandler, Arizona - Rawhide Western City

Rawhide, at one time an after-work/weekend fake western town attraction in Scottsdale, rolled up its main street in 2005 and moved to a new location on the Gila Indian Reservation. Operating times are still after 5 pm and on weekends, admission is free, and the attractions require tickets.

The new Rawhide, judging from their promo literature, is slicker, but still offers gunslinger shootouts, stagecoach rides, and a 1880s style steakhouse experience. Visitors can hop on a miniature train through the desert, pan for gold, climb Deadman's Drop (an artificial climbing rock), or ride a burro. The photo op is "Arrest-A-Guest," where the sheriff locks up your family and then sells you photos of their incarceration.

We visited the 35+-year old Rawhide attraction a couple times while it was in Scottsdale, though we don't recall much. They had a display including Geronimo's moccasins and Tom Mix's boots. You could eat a steak dinner with all the fixin's. [Roadsideamerica.com Team, 03/11/2007]

[RA: July 2008: Rawhide has just reopened its Wild West Museum. The moccasins and boots may still be here, but the featured exhibit now is Billy the Kid's mailbox.]