Tombstone, Arizona, Oct. 26, 1881: A cool breeze tussles the long black coats of the four men who, with guns in hand, walk the dusty road before them. A dust devil picks up, zigzags in front of them, then skitters across the road, leaving a wisp of dust in its wake. The men don’t pay any attention to the dust devil; their focus is on the gang of cattle rustlers thought to have recently robbed a Wells Fargo stagecoach—and the marshal of the town, Virgil Earp, isn’t going to stand for it. He and brothers Wyatt and Morgan Earp, along with friend Doc Holliday, now approach the cattle rustlers at the end of Fremont Street. But the Clanton and McLaury gang isn’t going to go quietly on this fateful day.
Soon, guns are discharged, bullets fly, and in a matter of 30 seconds nearly that many shots have been fired at close range between the two groups—lawmen and outlaws. When the guns stop firing, leaving the scent of burnt sulfur in the air, all the McLaury and Clanton members are dead. The Earp brothers, all except for Wyatt, are wounded, as is their friend Holliday. Justice had been served, but it came at a terrible price.
This episode, historically called the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral—dubbed the West’s most famous gunfight—is a moment frozen in the annals of the Old West, but its retelling continues today at the O.K. Corral. Groups can experience it for the price of a ticket. The reenactment of the famous gunfight might get your group members’ hearts pumping, but there are plenty of other attractions to help calm them.
Visit the O.K. Corral Museum to learn what daily life was like at the Corral, including the Cowboy Bunkhouse that showcases cowboy paraphernalia and an old water mining sluice where guests can try their hand at gemstone mining. The Tombstone Epitaph Newspaper Museum is another notable stop, where guests can read the original reports of the gunfight, learn how newspapers were printed in the 1880s, and glean historical tidbits about the time and place. Visitors can also take a buggy ride around town to see other nearby attractions.
The O.K. Corral is only one lick of the spoon in the big bowl of western flavors. There are many other attractions that make for memorable group trips across the West, including in the greater Tombstone area: Bird Cage Theatre, a theater and saloon showcasing Old West artifacts; Allen Street, lined with 1800s-style saloons, shops, and museums; Rose Tree Museum, showcasing the world’s largest rose tree and other flora; and the Old Tombstone Western Theme Park, where visitors can pan for gold, try their luck at a shooting gallery, and enjoy authentic cantina and chuckwagon meals with their group.
Broadening the sweep, other notable places with a western atmosphere to put on your itinerary include Deadwood, South Dakota; Cheyanne, Wyoming; Durango, Colorado; Fort Worth, Texas; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Credit: Travel South Dakota
Cemeteries, Spirits & Railroads
Five years before the shootout at the O.K. Corral, another shooting took the life of a lawman in Deadwood, South Dakota, today a popular tourist destination nestled in the Black Hills, a little over an hour from Mount Rushmore National Monument. James Butler Hickock—more popularly called “Wild Bill” Hickock—sat at a table playing cards in Saloon No. 10 when, unbeknownst to him, a man holding a grudge named Jack McCall, who claimed Hickock had killed his brother, came from behind and shot the former sheriff in the head. Notably, the hand Hickock was playing at the time has since been called the “Dead Man’s Hand.”
Deadwood has a population of a little more than 1,200 by 2022 census estimates, but you’d never know it considering it attracts more than 2 million visitors annually, tour groups among them. Deadwood came into existence in the 1800s as a mining-turned-casino town, and many buildings from those bygone days are still standing. Among the historical markers is the saloon where Hickock was shot. Guests to Saloon No. 10 can enjoy dining and entertainment in an Old West atmosphere, where thousands of artifacts and antiques grace the walls and ceiling. Although Hickock is resurrected every day for the reenactment, his real body lies in rest at Mount Moriah Cemetery, another popular draw that welcomes groups. Here, Hickock keeps company with other famous and infamous characters from the era. (Keep an eye out for ghosts, because legend says the cemetery is haunted.) Likewise, at the Historic Bullock Hotel, another must-stop in downtown Deadwood, stories are told of ghosts that roam this 1800s building along Main Street.
Keeping up appearances of the western theme, head to Durango, nestled in the Rocky Mountains, which offers a blend of Old West charm and stunning natural beauty. It also has both an old-time flair coupled with modernity—from cabins and historic hotels to top-tier lodgings, and from modern shopping and dining experiences to hot springs and other natural wonders. Home to Fort Lewis College, named one of the best colleges in Colorado by U.S. News & World Report, it also features the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. There’s also plenty of outside activities to satisfy any outdoor buff in your group.
Credit: Visit Fort Worth
Coliseums, Museums & Ranches
In that big sprawling state kitty-corner of Colorado lies Fort Worth, Texas, which, according to Visit Fort Worth, is the 12th-largest city in the country and welcomes more than 9 million visitors annually from around the globe. For a bit of western culture, plan a visit to the Stockyards National Historic District, one of the most popular attractions in Texas. Among the attractions is the Cowtown Coliseum, built in 1908 and named “one of the architectural gems of the Fort Worth Stockyards.” It was where the first indoor rodeo was held, and where the sport continues today. There’s also the must-stop National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, highlighting remarkable women in rodeo. The artsy folks in your group will enjoy The Amon Carter Museum of American Art that features a renowned collection of various art forms and exhibits, including the Carter’s collection, which has daguerreotypes and works by contemporary artists.
It has been said that everything is bigger in Texas, and that might be true when it comes to your group’s appetite. Being here, and after all the exploration, members might get a hankering for Tex-Mex. Thankfully, there is no dearth to fill the cravings. Try Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant for a plentiful array of drinks, meals, and desserts. Another option is Chuy’s, which sells the popular Chuy Chuy Churro Bites, a basket full of mini cinnamon churros served with caramel dipping sauce. And don’t miss the group-friendly Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que.
If your group members have come to Texas without their cowboy boots, that’s fine, but don’t have them leave without a trademark cowboy hat. There are several stores to choose from, among them Jobes Hat Store and The Best Hat Store.
Also in the Southwest is Albuquerque, New Mexico, which has a lot of options for tour groups, from fun events on the ground to soaring overhead in a hot air balloon. Of the latter, Rainbow Ryders has several options including morning and sunset flights. Of course, not many people can fit into an air balloon but there also are festivals, such as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, where all the balloons take to the air at approximately the same time.
Have a cultural experience in Albuquerque’s Old Town. Adobe buildings surround the central plaza, where, serving as its centerpiece, is the San Felipe de Neri Church. Built in 1793, it is described by Visit Albuquerque as being “the oldest building in the city and the third-oldest Hispanic church in New Mexico.” And don’t miss a stop at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, “the only national cultural institute dedicated to the study, advancement, and presentation of Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities.”
For good measure, plan a group visit to Terry Bison Ranch, located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and which offers a fun experience for groups to get an up-close look at real ranch life. The site touts its offerings as giving visitors “the West the way you want it.” The ranch has cabins, a trading post, RV park, and opportunities for fishing and horseback riding, says Jennifer Galloway, sales director of the site. And there are plenty of animals to see. Take the “Bison Train Tour,” the most popular way to see buffalo at the ranch. “We offer group tour combos that include a meal option and train tour, which is wonderful for groups of all ages,” Galloway says. “Being able to hand-feed our bison is an amazing experience.”
By Andrew Weeks
Main Image: Tombstone, Arizona; Credit: Unsplash/Xing Gao
