Tag Archives: Old West

Battlefield Panorama

In 1996 a rather famous film was made here at Indian Cliffs Ranch.  In that film, the ranch because Iraq during Gulf War I.  The movie starred Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Matt Damon.  It was titled Courage Under Fire.  Many of the props used in Courage Under Fire were left behind, and are now full-fledged tourist attractions here at the Indian Cliffs Ranch.

Iraqi heavy armor

Well, not all the hardware here started life as movie props.  At some point this was a very real Bell UH-1 Huey:

Bell UH-1 Huey

Other “helicopter” props are obviously meant to be seen only from a distance:

Fake helicopter

Courage Under Fire is far from the only film ever shot here at Indian Cliffs.  I’ve already mentioned Resurrection with Ellen Burstyn, but here’s a more obscure entry.  The Cadillac pictured below was used in a roll-over scene from the 1998 made-for-television film On the Border:

“On the Border” Cadillac

So, how about a new film titled “Courage on the Border While Under Fire“:

“Courage on the Border While Under Fire” starring Denzel Ryan and Meg Washington

But it’s the war hardware that I find more interesting.  So, I’ll leave you with this last taste of Indian Cliffs Ranch and Cattleman’s Steakhouse with a Fun Photo Friday gallery of more movie props from Courage Under Fire:

Iraqi heavy armor

Courage Under Fire

Iraqi heavy armor

Battlefield Panorama

Iraqi heavy armor

Courage Under Fire

Courage Under Fire

Courage Under Fire

Courage Under Fire

Indian Cliffs Ranch — Member of the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Ursula and I boarded the hayride and settled into our seats for the next stage of our post-steak dinner adventure at the world-famous Cattleman’s Steakhouse at Indian Cliffs Ranch.  Our tractor-pulled, canvas-covered trailer exited the steakhouse area and crossed the road onto the other side of Indian Cliffs Ranch — the time capsule.

Crossing the Road — Thunder Bumpers on the Horizon

Chihuahua Desert vegetation

The first thing to strike us on this excursion were the magnificent Rimrock Cliffs to the north:

Rimrock Cliffs

We turned south, away from the Rimrock Cliffs, and soon found ourselves in something reminiscent of Lucas McCain territory.

The McCain Spread

No, that above image isn’t it.  The first hint of what was to come was this fence:

Ranch Fencing

And, of course, the ranch corral had to be nearby:

Corral just up the road

Where are the horses?

We pulled up the horses . . . uh . . . tractor . . . by the ol’ homestead and stepped back into the 1880s:

Old Ranch House made of stone

Atop the roof were various ranching and farming implements.  Our tour guide told us that it was common practice to place such objects of value atop the home to make it more difficult for marauders to steal the equipment undetected.  So, footsteps on the roof were an early burglar alarm, apparently.

Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “Put up your tool”

One last look at this classic, pre-double wide (a bane to the aesthetics of the modern ranch, in my view) ranch home.

Attached Single Garage

We now turned back to the north and headed toward the base of the Rimrock “Indian” Cliffs.  But what’s this hiding in the brush?  You’ll find out Friday.

Something Hiding in the Brush