Okay, so, yesterday I decided to go on a little adventure to the old Paria movie set in Utah. It’s this place where they used to film a bunch of those classic Western movies. I’d heard about it from some friends and figured, why not check it out?
First off, I looked up the location online. Turns out, it’s pretty close to Highway 89, which is this scenic route connecting Page to Kanab. I packed some water, snacks, and my camera, and then I hit the road.
The drive to the turnoff was nice, just cruising along with some good music. Once I found the spot, which, by the way, is a big parking area right off the highway, I turned onto this dirt road. They call it the Paria Spur Road, or sometimes Movie Set Road. It was a bit bumpy, but nothing my old SUV couldn’t handle.
I drove down this road for a while, and let me tell you, the scenery was amazing. I’m talking about towering cliffs and these wide-open desert landscapes. It was like stepping back in time, I felt like a cowboy or something, haha. I even saw a rebuilt movie set along the way, which was really cool.
After driving a bit further, I finally arrived at the old Paria townsite. There used to be a few wooden buildings here, apparently part of the original movie set from way back in the 1930s. They filmed movies like “Buffalo Bill” and “The Outlaw Josey Wales” around here. It’s all part of the Grand Staircase National Monument now, so it’s totally free to visit, which is awesome.
I parked my car and started exploring.
- Wandered around the area: I just walked around, taking in the sights and imagining what it must have been like when they were filming those old Westerns. It was so peaceful and quiet.
- Took lots of photos: I snapped a ton of pictures of the landscape, the old buildings that were still somewhat standing, and the general scenery. It’s a photographer’s dream out there, really.
- Checked out the rebuilt movie set: I also went back to explore the rebuilt movie set I passed on the way in. It wasn’t part of the original set, but it was still pretty neat to see.
- Had a little picnic: There’s even a picnic area there, so I sat down, ate my snacks, and just enjoyed the views for a while. They have a toilet there too, which is handy.
It was a really cool experience, just getting away from everything and seeing a piece of movie history. If you’re ever in southern Utah and have some time, I definitely recommend checking out the old Paria movie set. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but that’s part of what makes it so special. You can stretch your legs there. Just remember to bring water and maybe some snacks, and be prepared for a bit of a bumpy ride on that dirt road. You won’t regret it!
