"True Grit" Locations In Ridgway, Colorado

Above, the park that was used for the public hanging scene. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, Mitch Geriminsky and I roamed around the historic district of Ridgway, Colorado, the location of True Grit (1969) starring John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall and Jeff Corey.

Above, the old fire station that was shown in the movie and
was actually used as a fire station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some of the locations used are still recognizable and some have changed over the years. Some of the buildings used had facades put over them, while others (such as the courthouse) were false buildings (facades only).

After arriving, we walked around the park that was used for the hanging scene. It looked pretty much the same as it did back in 1969.

Above, Rooster Cogburn's paddy wagon at the museum yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

From there, after getting directions from a nice lady in an antique shop, we went to the museum to see Rooster Cogburn's (John Wayne) horse-drawn paddy wagon. It is on display in the museum yard.

Afterwards, after discovering plaques on buildings used in the movie, I wandered around to take pictures of the plaques and the corresponding buildings describing what they were specifically used for.

Above, inside the True Grit Cafe is the painted wall sign featured in the movie when Rooster Cogburn
 delivered some prisoners to the courthouse. The building that the cafe is in was added in 1986 and
 the original building's exterior wall is preserved inside. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a shy waitress holds up a photo from True Grit showing the painted wall
 sign and John Wayne in front of the same wall today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I was done with that, we did some shopping in an antique store next to the True Grit Cafe. Then, we had lunch in the True Grit Cafe. The staff at the cafe were quite friendly and gave us some information and took our photos. Photos of the cafe to follow.

The following are photos of each building's plaque along with the buildings as they are today:

Inside the True Grit Cafe.

The True Grit Cafe (built in 1986) is loaded with lots of John Wayne True Grit memorabilia as well as other films from his career. There is an upstairs dining area (we didn't go up there). We did partake in some lunch (I had their beef chili, which was quite good).