The inspiring people who keep the Old West alive
Rick Harker and his Western Town in Tucson, Arizona
I met Rick a few years back. We got in touch by pure chance as I looked for some Tucson people I had met in Tombstone and unfortunately misplaced their name card. He helped me out and out of a simple email we developed a wonderful friendship. When I got to know Rick Harker personally I was taken by surprise to meet a very inspiring and humble person, seated in a wheel chair and yet so cheerful and bright like a sunny Arizona day, a true role model.
Rick showed me his little Western town he had built on his property and Boy, was I astonished. He had built it from scratch with the help of some friends and by pulling wood boards with his wheel chair. The buildings are not just fake surfaces like in many movie sets but real buildings with authentic interior decorations and furniture.
Before his terrible accident Rick appeared in Western movies such as the remake of “Stagecoach” with Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, “Poker Alice” with Elizabeth Taylor and George Hamilton, “Desperado 1” and “Desperado 2” with Alex Mc Carther. He also worked at Old Tucson Studios. He is deeply connected to the Wild West Frontier times. No wonder he achieved the goal to build his own movie set.
Nowadays the Western town he built is available for photo shootings, video and movie productions. Music Videos are frequently filmed there as well.
Fast draw competitions and even training of future stuntmen take place there. And the town still keeps growing. He organizes charity events for veterans and collects food donations for homeless people. He is an outstanding character not at all complaining about his handicap and I am proud to call him and his lovely wife Penny friends.
For me Rick Harker perfectly resamples pioneer spirit and an unbreakable will to keep moving forward just like the folks who conquered the West. He is one of the main characters in my book “Stronghold Canyon” (Outlaws Publishing) because his spirit and character are so strong.
Rick Harker´s Western town is a well-kept secret and not open to public. But Rick can be contacted on Facebook under Rick E. Harker. Productions are warmly welcome.
Check out Rick Harker´s and his lovely wife Penny´s place. With such inspiring people movies and Western shows can be brought back to Arizona for sure.
