The People Keeping Tombstone’s Wild West Spirit Alive
Come to Tombstone for Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the O.K. Corral. Stay a little longer, and you’ll discover another story worth knowing: the people who make this legendary town their home.
Behind the stagecoach rides, Western performances, handmade saddles, and irresistible fudge are families, craftspeople, and small-business owners whose work gives visitors a reason to linger. Their livelihoods are woven into the experience of Tombstone—and meeting them can be as memorable as seeing its famous landmarks.
A family with roots—and wheels—in Tombstone
When a stagecoach rolls down Allen Street, it brings a familiar image of the Old West to life. At Old Tombstone Tours, there’s a local family behind the ride.
The business is owned and operated by the Escapule family, fourth-generation Tombstone natives. Their fully narrated stagecoach and covered-wagon tours introduce visitors to the town from a wonderfully different vantage point. That distinction matters: this is a family with generations of roots in the community, sharing the place they call home. Climb aboard, slow down, and let the streets become part of the story.
A husband-and-wife team with the West in their story
Lee and Marla McKechnie, owners of Old Tombstone Western Theme Park, bring professional showmanship to their corner of town. Lee’s background includes more than 30 years of acting and stunt work in theater and television; Marla has acting and wardrobe credits in film and onstage.
Their own story has a Western setting, too. They met in Virginia City and married at the Ponderosa Ranch Chapel at Lake Tahoe. Today, their Tombstone business blends performance, humor, and family entertainment.
Catch a gunfight show, meet the performers, or step behind the bars for a jailhouse picture. A convincing outlaw expression is encouraged. It’s a playful souvenir—and a reminder that bringing the West to life takes people with timing, talent, and a willingness to entertain the next family through the gate.
The sweeter side of Allen Street
Even an outlaw needs a fudge break.
Next door to the Bird Cage Theatre, Fallen Angel Sweet Sin Parlor offers handcrafted fudge in flavors ranging from chocolate and butter pecan to lemon meringue and blueberry cheesecake. Choosing just one may be the hardest decision of your afternoon. The online shop also makes it possible to order a taste of Tombstone after you return home.
There’s a community story behind the sweets. The Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber lists Paula Hunley as the owner, and local reporting connects the shop and Bird Cage Theatre to the Hunley family. A Tombstone News story celebrating office manager Janie Martinez’s retirement after nearly 30 years with the family reveals the lasting working relationships behind these visitor destinations. These businesses are places of employment, friendship, and shared history, too.
Western craftsmanship, made by hand
At Geno’s Custom Saddles & Leather, the Western tradition takes shape in leather.
Geno D’Ambrose has spent more than 35 years making custom handcrafted saddles and leather goods. His work includes individual saddles, holsters, chaps, and other custom pieces, created for the customer rather than pulled from a standard collection. His shop at 401 East Allen Street also carries hats, spurs, and Western accessories.
For visitors, it’s an opportunity to appreciate a craft closely tied to life in the saddle. Look beyond the finished piece and consider the skill behind it: the maker’s judgment, the patient work, and the knowledge that turns leather into something both useful and beautiful.
Tombstone’s famous names will always draw us in. Its living community gives us reasons to return.
Take the ride. Enjoy the show. Stop for fudge. Visit the saddlemaker. Each purchase supports someone whose working life is part of this remarkable town. The “Town Too Tough to Die” still has stories to tell—and some of the best belong to the people you can meet today.
There’s so much to love.
