Thousand Oaks in Ventura County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Movie Making in Wildwood

Janss Conejo Ranch

— Thousand Oaks, CA —

Movie Making in Wildwood marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, November 28, 2023

1. Movie Making in Wildwood marker

Inscription. Many people who come to Wildwood Park are unaware of its history as a movie making location. More than 300 movies and television episodes have been filmed in the Conejo Valley since the early 1900's, many in Wildwood Park. The park hosted a number of movie/TV productions including Spartacus (1960), Wuthering Heights (1939), Wagon Train (1957-65), The Rifleman (1958-63) and Gunsmoke (1955-75). This is where John Wayne taught Jimmy Stewart how to use a gun in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). It's also where Paul Newman tackled one of his earliest roles, as Billy the Kid in Arthur Penn's debut film The Left Handed Gun (1958). Even Elvis carried a gun here, in Don Siegel's Flaming Star (1960).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 34° 13.196′ N, 118° 54.187′ W. Marker is in Thousand Oaks, California, in Ventura County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Avenida de los Arboles and Big Sky Drive, on the left when traveling west. Located near the parking lot at Wildwood Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 928 W Avenida de los Arboles, Thousand Oaks CA 91360, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Pederson Ranch House (approx. 1½ miles away); Santa Rosa School

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(approx. 2.2 miles away); Norwegian Grade (approx. 2.4 miles away); Hunt Olive Tree (approx. 2½ miles away); Civic Center (approx. 2.6 miles away); Joel McCrea Ranch (approx. 2.9 miles away); Stagecoach Inn and Sycamore Tree (approx. 2.9 miles away); Stagecoach Inn (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thousand Oaks.

Also see . . . Janss Conejo Ranch. The Iverson Movie Ranch Blog has a detailed look at the history of filming at Wildwood. Excerpt:

"Gunsmoke" began filming regularly in the Conejo Valley early in season three, and never left. The show continued to do much of its location filming in the region for the next 18 years, through its final season in 1974-75.
"Gunsmoke's" long stand in the Conejo Valley started in 1957 with a residency on the Janss Conejo Ranch, whose trademark rocky bluffs are a familiar sight to fans of many of the most popular TV Westerns of the '50s and '60s.

(Submitted on November 29, 2023.)

“Gunsmoke” with Wildwood Mesa in background image. Click for full size.

courtesy Iverson Movie Ranch Blog

2. “Gunsmoke” with Wildwood Mesa in background

“The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” image. Click for full size.

circa 1962

3. “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”

Photographed By Craig Baker, November 28, 2023

4. Movie Making in Wildwood marker

Wildwood Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, November 28, 2023

5. Wildwood Park

Wildwood Mesa's rocky ridge is seen in many westerns.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 188 times since then and 134 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 28, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on November 29, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 28, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.