The High Chaparral was a great Western television series which aired on NBC from 1967 to 1971. The show was created by David Dortort, also known for creating the equally enjoyable Bonanza TV series for the network. The famous High Chaparral ranch house and stables set was built at Old Tucson, Arizona which helped vitalize the Old Tucson Studios financially during the time.

The High Chaparral starred Leif Erickson as "Big" John Cannon, a gruff rancher who lived in the Arizona Territory during the 1870s. He ran the ranch with his brother Buck (Cameron Mitchell) and son Billy Blue (Mark Slade). Billy Blue's mother (Joan Caulfield) was killed in the first episode. John Cannon courted and later married Victoria (Linda Cristal), the daughter of the powerful Don Sebastián Montoya. His marriage to Victoria Montoya introduced her brother Manolito (Henry Darrow) into the picture, who also came to live with the family.

The above photo was taken in 2007. Unfortunately, many of the other buildings, windmill, etc. seen on The High Chaparral TV series are no longer there. The ranch itself is just a shell and with no more than a shell of an inside. Oddly enough the "wooden" posts in front of the ranch are actually metallic in construction. While still a remarkable relic of TV days gone by, the lack of other buildings, etc. during the series heyday, are sorely missed.