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Bracketville, Texas: Alamo Village (Closed)

Tourist attraction included a replica Alamo, gunfight show, fake western town used as a movie set, and a couple of museums.

Directions:
AKA Happy Shahan's Alamo Village Movie Location. 7 miles North of Brackettville on F.M. 674; 120 miles West of San Antonio and 30 miles East of Del Rio on Hwy 90.
Hours:
August 2010: Closed.
Status:
Closed

Visitor Tips and News About Alamo Village

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Alamo Village letterhead.

Alamo Village

According to a report on the Associated Press, 74-year old businessman David Jones wants to buy the long-closed Alamo Village movie set and reopen it as a Texas-style Old West theme park, similar to Old Tucson in Arizona. Jones estimates it will cost $8 million to buy the 400-acre site ("the world's largest movie set") and fix up its crumbling buildings, including a replica of the battle-battered Alamo built by John Wayne in the late 1950s.

The news story reported that Jones was "close" to raising the money, and eager to rehabilitate the property for tourists. Alamo Village operated as an occasional movie set and tourist attraction (gunfights were performed in the street). Since closing in 2010, however, the former Hollywood destination has mostly been used for hunting and cattle grazing.

[RoadsideAmerica.com Team, 12/31/2014]
Alamo Village - Closed

Alamo Village, Inc. issued this statement on August 28, 2010: "After a valiant attempt to keep Alamo Village available to visitors on a limited basis, the family has made the painful decision to close it permanently. This will be effective immediately.

"After being totally closed to the public on July 1, 2009, due to the death of owner and rancher Virginia Webb Shahan, Alamo Village was re-opened in March [2010] on a reduced schedule. This was in response to constant requests from travelers and buffs wishing to photograph the sets, walk the famous streets and stand on the ramparts of John Wayne's Alamo.

The statement closes with: "Family and management alike wish to thank all those who have contributed their hearts, talents and hard work to Alamo Village over the past fifty years."

[Kevin Young, 08/31/2010]
Alamo Village

Well it's closed until further notice. We drove 115 miles from San Antonio (one way) to this site and found the gates locked and the open sign still up. We met a Border Patrol agent and he said that it was closed for a while. Then spoke to a Ranger at the Alamo, and found out the owner had died and the wife had died, and now the family doesn't know if they are going to keep it open or close it forever. This is what I was told, anyway.

If you do go, make sure if you are a green card carrying person you bring your green card. There are numerous check points and border patrol doing their jobs out there.

[Leif Anderson, 08/17/2009]

Would be a shame if it closes for good. It's a long-lived Texas attraction.

Alamo Village

Alamo Village was the first movie location built in the state of Texas; visitors are welcome to watch filming and walk around the Village where crews are not filming. Alamo Village features the world's only replica of the 1836 Alamo mission/fortress. The movie set built for John Wayne's epic movie "The Alamo," the authentically replicated adobe mission and town took almost two years to complete. It's like you've stepped back in time.

Within a seven mile radius many "real" and "reel" heroes have lived, died and played: Richard Widmark, James Stewart, Dean Martin, Drew Barrymore, Shirley Jones, and Raquel Welch, etc.

Cattle in town.

Alamo Village features the John Wayne Museum, Country & Wagon Museum, and 27 other buildings and interiors that have been used in films. Alamo Village is a complete town with jail, church, bank, blacksmith shop, stables, 2 stores (Indian store and trading post). Take home a souvenir picture or book on John Wayne or the Old West, or a coonskin cap or cap gun.

Several "in character" people wander the streets to greet you and talk about Alamo Village and just answer your questions.

Four shows a day (10:30, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30) include a live tribute to Cowboy Music show in the Cantina, followed by a rip-roaring gunfight in the street.

[Virginia Shahan, 07/23/2008]

Alamo Village Vacationland logo.

John Wayne's Alamo Movie Set

The set for the movie The Alamo, starring John Wayne, was built in the 1950's by Wayne. It was also used for the filming of Lonesome Dove. There are shows from Memorial Day until Labor Day, including old west shootouts, etc. It is well worth the 125 miles (or so) from San Antonio to see this attraction. 72 movies, 6 documentaries, 6 music videos and 13 commercials have been filmed here so far. Some of the movies include "Arrowhead" - Charleton Heston, "Two Rode Together" - Jimmy Stewart and Richard Widmark, and "Bandolero" - Raquel Welch. One side of the town was created specifically for John Wayne and his movies, and the other side was created for other filming endeavors.

[Lindy Housson, 03/29/2005]

Known for a long time as "Alamo Village Vacationland" (we dug this old logo out of our files), the movie set is on the Shahan HV Ranch, about two hours west of the real Alamo, 40 miles or so from the Mexican border. It was built in 1957-59 and used in the John Wayne epic version of The Alamo -- the battle-battered facade is easily recognized. Today Alamo Village continues to operate as a tourist attraction and occasional movie set. On July 4th weekend, "Re-enactors, Living History, Cowboy Shooters, And Plain Old Bad Guys And Gals Will Be Shooting It Out On The Streets Of Alamo Village In The Annual Gunfighters Competition. Don't Worry -- Only Blanks Are Used."


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