Wells, NV, Wants Movie Makers
Wells can be any town, any where. We have perfect settings for westerns, road flicks, or Bonnie & Clyde knockoffs. Our diversity of landscape can take you from sagebrush high desert, to working ranches with lush meadows beneath snow-capped mountains, to abandoned mines, to unspoiled streams nourishing aspens. Real cowboys, real cows.
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Wells History
Although the town of Wells was founded in 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad, use of the Humboldt Wells dates back to the Western Shoshone who still live in a colony overlooking the town. Shoshone, Hudson Bay trappers, mountain men, and westbound wagon trains replenished at the Humboldt Wells.
Wells has a surviving wild west commercial district where trains still rumble by stirring up dust and ghosts in the old buildings. In Wells the book is still open to that trans-continental chapter of America's past where our Old Town commercial block illuminates the lives of those gone before. In its scale and surrounding landscape Front Street would still be recognizable to early pioneers. Wells awaits, a time tunnel connecting the Nineteenth Century with the 21st Century. This portal to the past stands open showing the role Wells and other transcontinental towns played in American history.
Lights, Camera, Action! ...
What Wells Has to Offer
The inventory of available Wells buildings includes a brick jail. The old firehouse with a huge open bay where fire engines once parked can be your soundstage. We have neon-lit motels dating to the 1940's, two-story city brick buildings that could double for General Sherman's headquarters or an old west governor's mansion, and big-time truck stops. The modern offices of Wells Rural Electric Company have a conference room that can double for the Pentagon or a governor's cabinet room. Want to remake High Noon? See our circa 1898 steepled Presbyterian Church. Want to remake Last Picture Show? You get the idea.
Need twenty mattresses? We got 'em for happy landings when your stunt person falls face forward from a second floor Nevada Hotel window or tumbles off the Bulls Head balcony.
The cooperative city of Wells wants you to make pictures and their bite will only be a $30 business license. No other permits required. To get crews back on the set fast the 4-Way Restaurant-Casino can cater, or the crew can visit the 4-Way all-you-can-eat salad bar. The Flying J all-you-can-eat buffet can feed a tour bus of tourists plus truck drivers, all at the same time. Burger King does a great job of boxing orders for take-out. Get your lattes at Dee's Restaurant, try a great steak, or ask for a vegetarian special. The Deli in Stuart's Supermarket has a lunch special, M-F.
Trains, Planes, Automobiles
As long as it isn't deer season or car show weekend our motels can accommodate most picture companies. Or film on car show weekend (second largest show in State) against a backdrop of nifty cruisers and happy enthusiasts at a big cruise that has to be seen to be believed. The drags fast and slow shouldn't be missed. A street dance follows. The city airport will welcome moviemakers. The chariot races, Senior Pro Rodeo, or Barrel-racing make for interesting action shots. Our rodeo grounds could double for a multitude of outdoor facilities. Working ranches are waiting to welcome you.
Guns to arm actors for another shootout at the O.K. Corral or a contemporary 9mm vs. .357 shootout are available at nominal cost, but don't expect rapid fire blank adapters on semi-auto weapons. Some military uniforms reflecting various periods may be available with reasonable advance notice.
Need a 1948 Dodge Sedan, 1970 Mustang, 1937 Chevrolet tow truck, 1966 Malibu convertible? A wide range of cars can be found in Wells. Tell us your needs and we will contact owners.
Collision grade running autos can be had from Billy Robert Garcia whose wrecking yard is in itself a potential set with numerous 1940's car bodies and complete cars available for background. Billy Robert can be seen as a soldier-extra in Mullholland Falls and also worked with the grip on that picture's Nevada scenes.
Horses, mules, goats, a pair of llamas, and Patch the border collie are on hand at Jim Stanton's distinctive log house. Jim and his horse signed on as extras for The Misfits but Jim doesn’t think any of the footage he was in made it to the silver screen. You can rent his log house and stock, and he's only one of the experienced buckaroos who stand ready to help with any oater.
Do your actors need help with firearms handling or horse riding skills? Instructors are available.
The Wells Chamber of Commerce can arrange for technical experts on ranching, law enforcement, military history, western history, to help without charge provided your picture credits express appreciation to the City of Wells and Chamber of Commerce. Expert defined herein as "been there, done that" and qualified to teach the subject at college.
We Can Look for What You Need, Set Up Meetings With Building Owners and Businesses, Contact Restaurants and Motels
If we can help, we will. All we ask is mention Wells in the credits and, even better, in your pre-release publicity. We also request you leave a prop or set from the movie that can go into our filmmaker's museum. We'd really like to get that started but at the moment all we have is a poster for Joyride, some of which was filmed in Wells.
Ask for our disk that shows over 40 potential buildings with owners eager to put Wells on the motion picture map. The Chamber of Commerce stands ready to help.
Wells Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 291
Wells, NV 89835
(775) 752-3540, fax to pax: (775) 752-2172
or email to coc@wellsnevada.com
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