Indian Dunes
Indian Dunes was a 600 acres (2.4 km2) film ranch owned by Newhall Land & Farming Company. Located near the Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in Valencia, California, it was a favorite of filmmakers for its versatility and location within the thirty-mile zone until its owners returned the site to farming in 1990 following a reduced interest in the kind of action television programs and films that had been produced there. The company reportedly grossed up to $600,000 (US Dollars, 1990) annually at one time.
The site portrayed the American Southwest, Brazil, Japan, France and Germany, Africa, Afghanistan, Burma, Central America and often Vietnam. It featured its hills, flat planes, riverbeds and densely wooded forest land could portray locations around the world. In exchange for reduced rental rates, previous productions had also left behind standing sets including a village, labor-camp, prison, ranch house, military barracks and 4.5 miles (7.2 km) railroad line including locomotive and train cars that could be re-used, reducing production costs. The location is best known for a helicopter accident which occurred there during the making of Twilight Zone: The Movie which claimed the lives of actor Vic Morrow and two child actors.
The site was popular with television programs in the 1980s such as The A-Team, MacGyver, The Fall Guy and the The Incredible Hulk as well as films like The Color Purple, Escape From New York. China Beach. was the last television production shot there. Music videos featuring bands such as Van Halen and the Fixx were also filmed at the ranch.
Newhall Land & Farming Company build Indian Dunes Airport on the site in the 1960s with a single unpaved runway running northeast to southwest. The airport was used for company aircraft and was sometimes leased to film and television shows including Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series).
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