Things may not be as they appear
Look! An old building! It’s been abandoned right here on the border for years. I bet it can tell you some tales – banditos crossing the river (in both directions!), shootouts, bad guys, good guys, love gained, love betrayed. Etc.
Only: it’s part of a movie set. It was built in 1985 for a movie called “Uphill all the Way” which starred Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, and Burl Ives. (The information sign indicated this movie was a “border-western comedy.” Whatever that means.) Since then, it’s been used for several other movies and music videos. Including this one by country music superstars Brooks and Dunn*, which you might want to watch it with the sound off, as it’s pretty twangy.
near Lajitas, Texas
photographed 1.20.2013
* I am pretty sure I am somehow legally obligated to include the words “county music superstars” with any reference to Brooks and Dunn. Better safe than sorry, I say.
Posted on February 9, 2013, in architecture, Photography and tagged 365 photo project, architecture, black and white photography, lajitas, lajitas texas, melinda green harvey, movie set, one day one image, photo a day, photography, texas. Bookmark the permalink. 14 Comments.
One Day | One Image 
The photo is pretty cool, the song and vid, too.
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Thanks (for the comment re. the photo – I can’t take credit for the video!). It was an odd place; all the buildings looked old at first, but then you could see things like plywood and MDF and wire mesh that wouldn’t have been exactly historically accurate.
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I think there is a future for you in scouting movie locations. How could they possibly have needed to build an abandoned building in Texas when they seem to provide endless subjects for your blog?
I am with Ken on admiring this photo, less enthusiastic about the video. I also like that your foot note refers to the somewhat lesser “county music” which rather undermines the superstar bit.
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The only rational explanation is blogs hadn’t been invented yet in 1985, so there was really no option other than building a fake old town. Maybe I need to link my blog to the Texas Film Commission.
Re. the footnote: sometimes I crack myself up, which I believe you already know.
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Nicely done, have you been out there lately?? Lots of water damage on the lower buildings.
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Thanks, Derrick. All of these West Texas shots I’ve been posting are from a trip I took out there in January. I did notice that the buildings closest to the river looked pretty bad, especially the one that looks like a church.
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yeah… that one’s in bad shape for sure!!
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stocco is sure a favorite in texas. when i lived there it seemed to last a lot longer then other building types
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I guess that stucco does well in dry cllimates, and it’s plenty dry down there around Terlingua and Lajitas!
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plus texas has freezing rain more than snow and freezing rain splits stone
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Brilliant–this is a fantastic example of illusion and myth within the West, and the use of tonal blocks as a compositional element. You’re on fire!
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Thanks, Brett. Finding a movie set along a deserted road along the border was completely unexpected, and we spent quite a while looking around. Two men stopped while we were there, and one of them said to me, “This is somethin’, ain’t it?” which just about summed it up!
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