Trail Dust Town facts for kids
Trail Dust Town is a fun outdoor shopping area in Tucson, Arizona. It looks like an old Wild West town!
Even though it's a shopping center, Trail Dust Town has many cool historical items. One special item is an Allan Herschell merry-go-round from 1954. It still has its original horses and benches, which is pretty neat!
Contents
History of Trail Dust Town
Trail Dust Town was first built in 1961. It started as a place for shops. In 1962, the Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse opened there. It became very popular and was even shown on the Man v. Food TV show in 2019. People sometimes thought Trail Dust Town used to be a movie set, but that has never been proven.
The Playbox Theatre
From 1961 to 1982, Trail Dust Town was home to the Playbox Theatre. This was one of the first community theaters in Tucson. The theater moved to Trail Dust Town to grow bigger. Today, that building is called The Savoy Opera House. It is now used for parties and other events. The stage from the old theater is still there!
The Museum of the Horse Soldier
Trail Dust Town also used to have a special museum called the Museum of the Horse Soldier. This museum taught visitors about the history of U.S. soldiers who rode horses. It had one of the biggest collections of items from the time when soldiers used horses. You could see old saddles, uniforms, weapons, and firearms.
The museum started in 2013 and became famous around the world. It was featured on the BBC, History Channel, and Discovery Channel. Some of its best parts included the only Civil War collection open to the public in Arizona. It also had rare U.S. military saddles from the 1830s until today. The museum moved out of Trail Dust Town in June 2019 and is still looking for a new home.
Fun Things to Do at Trail Dust Town
Ride the Trail Dust Town Train
The Trail Dust Town Railroad is a small, motorized train. It runs on a looped track that is 24 inches wide. You can get on the train at the train depot. This depot looks like an old train station from Wallace, New York. The train engine is named "C. P. Huntington" and is number 287. It pulls two passenger cars around the town. The train goes through different themed areas, two tunnels, and over small railroad crossings.
Watch the Wild West Show
The Pistoleros Wild West Show is a funny stunt show. It's like a slapstick comedy tribute to the wild west. The shows happen twice every evening, from Friday to Sunday. They last about 20 to 30 minutes. You can watch the show on Dragoon Street, at the north end of Trail Dust Town. The outdoor theater has metal benches and can seat about 175 people. The shows often include actors falling from two-story buildings. They also have cool dynamite explosion effects and many "rough and tumble" choreographed fights.
