Land of the Navajo - Land of The Classic Western Movies

12/31/2016

Monument Valley is truely one of the most magnificent wonders of the West. You have seen it if you have watched any of the classic western movies. While true John Ford shot many movies here; you would be surprised of some of the others. In 1939 John Ford shot STAGECOACH followed by other great westerns, SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON 1949, THE SEARCHERS 1956. All in all John Ford shot about ninteen movies here. You might be surprised that others were shot here too.

John Ford

Forrest Gump Stagecoach The Eiger Saction

The list of movies and TV shows is almost endless: Thelma and Lousise, Back To the Future III, Mission Impossible II, The Lone Ranger, A Space Odyssey
National Lampoons Vaction, so many more. TV: McGyver, Airwolf and others. Print Ads include The Marlboro Man.

Monument Valley has been the iconic place to lens any subject that revoles around "The West"

My favorites remain those movies of John Ford. In my mind if you speak of the West the images of John Wayne, Ward Bond, Maureen O'Hara Henry Fonda are formost.

hirintMonument Valley is located in the SE corner of Utah. Very close to the Four Corners. Here is where four States share a common border, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Monument Valley with the magnificent mesas, arches and buttes offer the visitor a grand view. Don't discount the night sky here either. Well worth staying into the dark of night to see the Milky Way and the wonderful display of stars. Be sure to drive the sevemteen mile road. Located just to the left of the parking lot. This dirt road will take you passed many of the "monuments". The road can be rough in areas and low clearence cars and RV greater then 20 feet are discouraged. Also I recommend hiring a Navajo guide to take you into the back country and is well worth it. Here you can get sunrise photos of the Totem Pole, The Dunes and many other areas not possible without being in the backcountry. The guides can be found at the hut in the main parking lot.

Above, Early morning reflection
Right, The Dunes at Totem Pole

Moccasin Arch

Sunrise at Totem Pole

Rug making.

Although these hand made rugs bring a high price, they are beautiful and will last a life time.

Turtle Rock Hogan Rug Weaving

Where to stay. There is the town Kayenta 24 miles South of Monument Valley that has a few motels; but in my opion the only place to stay is rich with history and a great place - GOULDING'S LODGE.
GOULDING'S has it all, from a grand hotel to RV and tent camping a gas station, the grocery store
even a car wash; oh and an airport! Here too you can book a guided tour of the area. This is well worth doing. Not only will you see the sights but the driver will give you the history as well. I have stayed at the RV area and the hotel. On this trip I had a two bedroom suite in the Hillside Suites.
Standing alone each with a living room and a nice kitchen area as well as a great view from the patio.

GOULDING'S has a rich history. Originally established in the 1920's by Harry Goulding and his wife Leone. In the early years of the "Trading Post" they lived in tents. After a few years the permanet building was constructed. The musem is housed in the original building. Things got a bit rough in the Great Depression and it was the "gold" of Hollywood movie production that saved Gouldings.

The first film was John Ford's STAGECOUCH staring John Wayne. Since then many movies have been shot here.

Whether you drive, RV, ride or fly GOULDINDS is the place to stay!

Inside the museum Old Tour Truck

Across the highway is the Navaho Visitor Center. Museum Gift Shop and the View Hotel. Take time
to wonder through the museum and learn of the Navaho Nation, Also there is a fine showcase of
the World War II Navaho Code Talkers.

See You Down The Road

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