Photo by: Robert Houston
Kanab & Western Legends – General Info.
Howdy everyone! Kanab (also known as Utah’s “Little Hollywood”) is the home of where over 200 movies and television shows have been filmed, beginning with Tom Mix filming The Deadwood Coach in 1924. Just a few shows/movies filmed in and around Kanab were Gunsmoke; Wagon Train; The Lone Ranger; The Outlaw Josey Wales; The Greatest Story Ever Told; Planet of the Apes; Duel at Diablo; Brighty of the Grand Canyon; Have Gun Will Travel; How the West Was Won; The Six Million Dollar Man; Westward the Women; MacKenna’s Gold; Yellow Tomahawk, and many more! (Obviously there are too many to mention here.)
The dates for Western Legends Roundup will be August 26-28, 2010, with the main events being held on the 27th and 28th (Friday and Saturday). (Western Legends is held on the last full weekend in August.) It wouldn’t hurt to bring a hat. Kanab is at 5,000-foot elevation and sometimes the sun can get a little intense (although there is usually a nice breeze).
Photo by: Robert Houston
Western Legends has something for everyone. We have the autograph sessions and panel discussions with some of your favorite TV and movie stars; the street fair; Cowboy Poetry; Jr. Rodeo; Cowboy Quick Draw; Quilt Show; Dutch Oven Cook-off; Entertainment and MORE!
Kanab is also centrally located to many National and State Parks. You might want to visit a couple during your stay! Just to mention a few, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is just 1 ½ hours away; Zion National Park is 45 minutes away; and Bryce Canyon is just 1 ½ hours away. Lake Powell, Kodachrome Basin State Park, and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park are nearby as well. Monument Valley, where many of John Wayne and John Ford’s movies were filmed, is only about a 4-5 hour drive from Kanab. There are many more parks, most within 30 minutes to an hour and a half drive from Kanab.
Kanab is also home to the Best Friends Animal Society, the largest “no kill” animal sanctuary in the United States. Perhaps you’ve seen Best Friends “Dog Town” on the National Geographic Channel. (The Lone Ranger was filmed where Best Friends is now located.) Best Friends is celebrating their 25th Anniversary.
Photo by: Robert Houston
You can look up hotel accommodations for Kanab on our website at www.westernlegendsroundup.com. Just click on the LODGING tab, and it will list hotels and RV parks in Kanab, and their phone numbers. You can also contact the Kane County Tourism Bureau (their office is located in Kanab) at their website, www.kaneutah.com. You can view the visitor’s guide online. You can also order a copy of the visitor’s guide online or you can contact them by phone at 1-800-733-5263. They too have the hotels in Kanab listed and their phone numbers, and most of the hotel websites. The visitor’s guide lists the different parks and other sites to see in the area, and more.
Additionally, you can go to the Kanab visitor information website at www.visitkanab.info or contact them at (435) 644-2534. They list maps, restaurants, lodging, camping information and more. You can also go to the Kanab Chamber of Commerce website at www.kanabchamber.com or phone them at 1-800-733-5263. (The Chamber does NOT mail or distribute printed visitor information.)
If you are going to fly to Kanab, the closest airport is Las Vegas. From there you would have to rent a car and then drive to Kanab. It is just a little over a 3-hour drive from Las Vegas, Nevada to Kanab, Utah. You can also take a St. George Shuttle from the Las Vegas airport to St. George, Utah. (Reservations required.) Once in St. George, you would have to rent a car and drive to Kanab. It is just a little over a 1-hour drive (east) from St. George to Kanab. (I am aware of three shuttle services to St. George: the St. George Shuttle @ website www.stgeorgeshuttle.com; the St. George Executive Shuttle @ website www.stgeorgeexecutiveshuttle.com; and the St. George Express @ website www.stgeorgeexpress.com).
LAX (Los Angeles International) had a “shuttle plane” to St. George, Utah. (Check for availability.) There is also a “shuttle plane” available from Salt Lake City to St. George. Again, once in St. George, you would have to rent a car and drive to Kanab.
For those of you who will be driving to Kanab (via Las Vegas, NV/St. George, UT…I-15), there are two ways to get here. The Automobile Club and Map Quest will normally give you directions (through the back way into Kanab), which will take you through Zion National Park. Just for info, what they don’t tell you is there is a charge for going through the Park (it is $25) and you have to drive slowly through the Park. However, it is a beautiful drive and one way to see the national park. NOTE: Due to road construction, Zion will be closed from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
If you don’t wish to go through the park (or pay the $25), you can take I-15 north from Las Vegas to St. George, Utah. Drive approximately 6 miles past St. George and take EXIT 16 (Hwy 9) into Hurricane. Go approximately 10 miles and turn right at the Main Street traffic light almost at the end of town (there will be a sign on your right). Go one block and turn left at the 4 way stop onto HWY 59. Drive approximately 55 miles into Fredonia, Arizona. (Just before you get to Fredonia, the speed limit drops from 65mph to 35mph in about 2 blocks.) Turn left (north) at the stop sign (Hwy 89) and drive 7 miles into Kanab. From the signal – at the Chevron Station – in Kanab to the end of “downtown” Kanab is one mile.
If you are a senior, and you are going to drive through Zion (or go to any other national park) you can buy a “Golden Pass” (I believe it is $10) and that will enable you to visit any national park any time.
Whichever way you go, either way takes about the same amount of time. Be sure to drive safely and to avoid any fines, please obey all speed limits. Also, mule deer are plentiful (so be careful if driving from dusk to dawn).
Just for info, there is no public transportation in Kanab. A car rental agency recently opened in Kanab, however.
You will notice that for (most) events (for Western Legends Roundup) it says a “pin” is needed. The pins are $5.00 and can be purchased at the Western Legends Office (across from the Parry Lodge). In some cases, the pin is included in the price of the ticket. Again, just go to the Western Legends Office and show your ticket/receipt, and they will give you your pin. (The pin is dated, so it is a souvenir pin.)
Photo by: Robert Houston
I hope this information was helpful to you. Please feel free to contact us ANY TIME with any questions. We look forward to seeing all of you at the Western Legends Roundup! Happy trails!
