‘Film was the obvious answer’: Greater Zion group marks 100 years of movie-making in Washington County

Greater Zion Convention and Tourism Sales and Events Manager Joyce Kelly told St. George News the time is fitting since the first silent western movie”Ramona” was filmed in the area in 1927 in Zion National Park, Springdale and Cedar Breaks National Monument.

“Washington County has a rich film history, and I am so thrilled to see it growing and reaching new heights of success,” Kelly said. “Bringing films like Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ to Washington County and constructing film-related infrastructure like Territory Film Studios elevates our entire film industry, allowing us to retain and provide jobs for the over 4,000 Utah-born and raised students who are pursuing film careers. In Greater Zion alone, there are over 200 students enrolled in Utah Tech University’s film program.”

The movie celebration will feature the following:

• April 17 at 7 p.m. — “The Car” at the Electric Theater.
• June 14 at 8:56 p.m. — “The Flyboys” at Town Square.
• June 8:30 p.m. — “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” at the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater.
• July 13 at 7 p.m. — “The Electric Horseman” at the Bumbleberry Theatre.

Kelly added that Washington County has been a contributor to the film industry for years, including many westerns filmed in Zion National Park, including “The Vanishing Pioneer” (1928), “The Dude Ranger” (1934), “The Arizona Kid” (1939) and others.

More than 40 years later, 20th Century Fox landed in St. George to begin filming “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Katharine Ross. Kelly said that Redford’s great appreciation for Utah led him to film several other films here, including “Jeremiah Johnson” (1972) and “The Electric Horsemen.”

Redford’s movies inspired other filmmakers to come to Washington County. Movies include “The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing” (1973) and “The Eiger Sanction” (1975).

One of the last movies filmed in Zion National Park was “The Car” in 1977. Kelly said. “The Fly Boys” and High School Musical 2 (2007) were also produced in Washington County. Since then, many short films, documentaries, music videos, commercials and Hallmark movies have chosen Washington County as their film location.

Decades after filming the first silent western “Ramona” in Washington County, Academy Award-winning actor and director Kevin Costner chose the area for his four-chapter full-length feature western “Horizon: An American Saga.” Kelly said Chapter 1 features shots of Washington County and Chapter 2 began filming in various locations throughout the county in 2023.

Kelly noted that Costner’s western Saga will film Chapters 3 and 4 in Southern Utah this year. Community members and students from Utah Tech University were hired as crew, creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to add Horizon to their resumes.

“The town was giddy with excitement when the call for hiring extras was announced,” Kelly said. “As we continue to grow, our county leaders have recognized the need for an additional industry.”

Utah has over 4,000 students in higher education majoring in and taking film courses.

“All of our universities, our applied technology and even our high schools offer film classes. When students graduate, they leave Utah unable to find work in their chosen profession,” Kelly said. “Utah is where they were raised and educated and Washington County is encouraging that growth.”

Kelly added that young people have shown great interest in the film industry. When one adds Southern Utah’s beautiful landscapes, “Film was the obvious answer.”

Kelly said in 1979, Redford addressed a group of college students, stating he would like to see a soundstage constructed in St. George.

Like Redford, Costner also recognized the beauty and importance of a soundstage in Washington County. This year, preparations are underway for the groundbreaking of Territory Film Studios, a joint venture with Kevin Costner and Brett Burgess.

“Our history shows us that filmmaking has always been desired in Washington County. With the filming of Horizon and the new studio, we anticipate Washington County will become a hub for making films in the southwest,” Kelly said.

Sweetening the pot, the Utah Legislature updated the motion picture incentives amendment bill, also known as the rural tax rebate program. This bill repeals the sunset date for specific motion picture incentives that are available only for rural productions.

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