Anybody ever visit the OK Corral in Tombstone?

Question

What did you think? Is 4 hours there long enough? We're planning a trip in May and it's on our list of places to go.

Answer 1

Tombstone has become something of a tourist trap in the last few decades with many guady decorations, fake attractions, cheap curio shops selling rubber tomahawks and many unhistoric additions and changes. It has become bad enough that the National Register of Historic Places has threatened to revoke the town's historic district designation (see link below).

Don't get me wrong... Tombstone is still a fun place to visit if you take it a light-hearted Disney 'Frontierland' kinda way rather than as a serious historic site. I always stop for a bit when passing by that area, but you have to take it in the right frame of mind.

As for the OK Corral itself... a number of fires around the turn of the last century destroyed many of the town's original buildings from the famous Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday period including those at the OK Corral. The buildings at the OK Corral today are reproductions and because they have walled off the whole area to keep non-paying visitors out, even the open corral area itself where the fight took place does not really look or feel like it did at the time of the fight when it was essentially an open vacant lot with easy access to the street.

Tombstone was already becoming a popular tourist spot in the 1920s due to popular books at the time (and early silent movies) about Earp and the wild west. The OK Corral was one of the town's first 'tourist attractions' and many of the displays there now (like the funky little animated panorama thing) have become something of historic attractions in their own right.

Other historic attractions worth visiting in town are the Bird Cage Theater mentioned by posters above (probably the most authentic of the surviving Earp period buildings) and the nice State Parks museum in the old Courthouse building. Boothill is a joke (fake tombstones and hidden speakers playing western music). In my experience, none of the food or lodging options in town are that great.

You can pretty much see all there is to see in Tombstone in about 4-5 hours (not counting any meals). The OK Corral itself would take about an hour tops if you sit through the little show.

As some posters above have mentioned, there are much more realistic and interesting historic sites in the area. Bisbee (about 20 minutes to the southeast) was a major copper mining camp and has many excellent historic buildings all built on the walls of steep canyon slopes like a little San Francisco. It has become a popular places with artists and retirees lately and has many art galleries and antique shops as well as some great cafes and saloons. The underground mine tour at the Copper Queen Mine is one of the best and most popular southeastern Arizona attractions.

There are many 'real' ghost towns in the area as well that have ruins of old west buildings and few (or none) people living there today. The main ones are Charleston and Fairbanks along the San Pedro river to the west and Gleason, Courtland and Pearce along the southern edge of the Dragoon Mountains to the east.

Answer 2

Yes, I've practically lived in Tombstone, if your going to Tombstone don't miss Bisbee. They are very different but both very cool. Best Cheese Burgers in SE Arizona is at Vogan's Alley across from the Crystal Palace. After you've had the Cheese Burger and have been in Big Nose Kate's, then head SE to a ghost town called Gleason, but make a right and go to the Snake ranch before getting to Gleason. Good luck and have fun. The Snake Ranch is the most interesting. The Snake Ranch is on the back way to Bisbee.

Answer 3

its ok - Tombstone has become a tourist mecca - mostly shops that sell souvenirs - etc

You can see a lot in Tombstone in 4 hours - I recommend the Bird Cage theater tour - worth the admission. It was featured on Ghost Hunters, as well as the OK corral. Just down the road is Boothill cemetery - its free to get in, they just ask for a donation

If you are down in that area anyways try and make it to Bisbee an old mining town - lots of little shops and galleries to check out.

Answer 4

All what you need to know, my show today: A look at the U.S. Marshals Service with Mike Earp and a trip to Tombstone, Arizona and a conversation with Clanton descendant Terry “Ike” Clanton, Kenn Barrett and Stephen Keith in the role of Doc Holliday, Wednesday, June 11, 3 pm ET. We promise a rootin’ tootin’ show. http://bit.ly/hcjmain

Answer 5

It is a very cool place to travel to! It was like being transported back in time! Yes, I do think four hours is enough time...it's a small town. Keep an open mind when entering into the Bird Cage...that building is *seriously* haunted!! It was fantastic!

Answer 6

It's worth going, especially if you have kids. 4 hours is enough...you won't need more.