In June of 1969, Paramount Pictures released the film, “True Grit”, staring John Wayne as US Marshall, Rooster Cogburn, Glen Campbell as Texas Ranger La Boeuf, and Kim Darby as Mattie Ross, the tenacious teenager in search of the man who shot and killed her father.

This movie earned Wayne the only Oscar he ever received for best actor and he also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a motion picture – drama.

Filming took place mainly in Ouray County around Ridgway, Colorado. Although it was 56 years ago, some movie memorabilia and scenes can still be found around Ridgway.

The opening and closing scene took place at what is referred to as Mattie’s Ranch, which is located about 20 minutes from Ridgway. This is all private property, but the house and area have been restored. You aren’t allowed to walk onto the property but can take good photos from the road. Looking around, you can visualize the camera angles utilized in both scenes.

Katie’s Meadow, better known as Deb’s Meadow, with Chimney Rock in the background, is the site of one of the most memorable scenes from True Grit. This is the location of the climactic showdown between Rooster Cogburn and the outlaws, where Robert Duvall taunts John Wayne by shouting “I call that big talk for a one-eyed fat man!” Wayne replies, “Fill your hand you son-of-a-bitch!”, takes the reins in his teeth and charges across the meadow with both guns blazing.

Deb’s Meadow is a bit difficult to find and there are no signs identifying it, but it’s worth the drive if you can find it and your GPS works. When you walk out into the meadow and see Chimney Rock, everything fits. The name Deb’s Meadow is in honor of Debbie Reynolds, because this area was also used in the movie, “The Unsinkable Mollie Brown” which she starred in.

In town is Hartwell Park, which was the scene of the triple hanging. They claim that some of the trees in the park today were there when the movie was filmed. You will have to use your imagination as the where the gallows were located.

The location of the place where Rooster Cogburn lived with Chen Lee and his cat, General Sterling Price, on Clinton Street is now a restaurant and nowhere resembles the location in the movie.

Ouray County Ranch History Museum located just north of Hartwell Park has a good number of photos and memorabilia from the film as well as the actual paddy wagon used in the movie. The building itself was in the movie as the train depot.

The Ouray County Courthouse in Ouray was used for the interior scenes in the courtroom including the staircase scene, but the scenes of Rooster Cogburn and Mattie Ross walking down the street was in Ridgway on Clinton Street.

A significant portion of downtown Ridgway was transformed into the set for the fictional town of Fort Smith, Arkansas. This included constructing buildings like Judge Parker’s courthouse facade on Lena Street.

Visiting these movie sites would not be complete without visiting the True Grit Café, on the south side of the park on Lena St. The café was built as a tribute to the movie and around an exterior wall painted for the film which reads, “Chamber’s Staple & Fancy Groceries – Fruits & Vegetables.” In the movie, it is visible when Rooster Cogburn brings the paddy wagon into town. There are movie posters and memorabilia from True Grit as well as other John Wayne movies and the food and service is very good. Alas, no Corn Dodgers on the menu.

For John Wayne fans and set-jetters who enjoy film tourism, Ridgway is a must-see to go and visit.