The Legacy of Buckskin Joe is a 30-minute documentary that traces the history of a once-thriving mining town turned iconic movie set, reflecting on its role in shaping the image of the Old West in American cinema and the emotional impact of its eventual sale and relocation.

SYNOPSIS:

The Legacy of Buckskin Joe is a powerful 30-minute documentary that tells the story of a once-thriving Colorado mining town that found new life as an iconic Western movie set. From its beginnings as a gold rush camp in the 1860s to its role as Hollywood’s go-to filming location for Westerns, Buckskin Joe’s rich history reflects the spirit of the Old West in both reality and fiction.

The documentary takes viewers on a journey through time, tracing the town’s rise and fall as a mining hub, its rebirth as a fully reconstructed frontier town in the 1950s, and its starring role in films featuring legends like John Wayne, Charles Bronson, and Kevin Costner. Through interviews with local historians, filmmakers, and former employees of Buckskin Joe, we explore the town’s role as both a historical landmark and a cultural touchstone for Western cinema.

The film also examines the emotional and cultural impact of Buckskin Joe’s sale in 2010, when billionaire William Koch purchased the town and relocated it to his private ranch in Gunnison, Colorado. This controversial move left the local community feeling a profound sense of loss, but The Legacy of Buckskin Joe reminds us that the town’s spirit lives on through its cinematic contributions and the memories of those who experienced it.

With stunning visuals of Colorado’s rugged landscape and the Royal Gorge, alongside archival footage from classic Westerns, The Legacy of Buckskin Joe captures the enduring appeal of the Old West and the town that became its symbol on the silver screen.