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Zane Grey Country


category : Famous People
Zane Grey Country Under the Tonto Rim, Code of the West, To the Last Man, are all western thrillers written by Zane Grey, one of the most prolific writers of all time. The inspiration for these and many of Grey's 85 novels, 114 movies, and 215 short stories was the Tonto Rim, also known as "Zane Grey Country."

The son of a farmer, preacher, and dentist, Pearl Zane Grey attended the University of Pennsylvania on a baseball scholarship. Despite the fact that he knew more about baseball than chemistry, he eventually graduated from the school of denistry. But Grey's talent was with a pen rather than a drill, and his many trips to his beloved spot under the Tonto Rim both inspired him and gave him the experience he needed to chronicle this exciting new frontier.

The popular Western novelist retreated frequently during the early decades of the 1900s to the cabin he had built near the headwaters of Tonto Creek. Here he would sit in a Morris chair on the porch of his hunting lodge overlooking the Tonto Basin. In longhand, on a lapboard, he would dash off a new western in as little as a month.

His frontier epics were drawn from real life. Plots came from authentic range wars. Settings were created by lowering his manuscript and looking about him. Arizona's Rim Country's pioneering Haught family, some of whom served as guides on his hunting trips and from whom he bought land for his cabin, became featured characters in his novels.

Among the five movies based on his novels that were filmed in Arizona Rim Country. To the Last Man is probably the best known. It stars Nash Berry, Richard Dix and Lois Wilson, and recounts the story of the Pleasant Valley War and the infamous Graham-Tewksbury feud.

Grey's books, which have been translated into over 20 languages, are noted for their vivid imagery, their descriptions of scenery, and for their ability to appeal to readers' senses of smell and sound as well as sight.

While Grey's original cabin burned down in the 1990 Dude Fire, a replica featuring many original artifacts is planned for the Rim Country Museum in downtown Payson.

To this day, his writings serve as foundation to understanding our early western heritage and the frontier life of our forefathers. Zane Grey tours are available at the Chamber of Commerce and various outfitting businesses to visit some of the places Zane Grey depicted in his novels.


Phone: 928-474-3483
Our Email: rimmuseum@cybertrails.com

Come visit us in Payson, Arizona

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Rim Country Museum

The museum, which is housed in Payson's 1906 Forest Service ranger station and a replica of a historic local hotel, contains an extensive collection of artifacts and memorabilia, telling the history of the Rim country and focusing on what life was like as a forest ranger in the early years.

Payson, AZ Museums

Payson Parks

The Payson Parks and Recreation Department manages and maintains over 150 acres of parkland for the benefit and enjoyment of its citizens and visitors alike. Please stop by and spend some time at our facilities – we know you'll like what you find. Green Valley Park is a 40

Payson, AZ City Parks

Zane Grey Country

Under the Tonto Rim, Code of the West, To the Last Man, are all western thrillers written by Zane Grey, one of the most prolific writers of all time. The inspiration for these and many of Grey's 85 novels, 114 movies, and 215 short stories was the Tonto Rim, also known as "

Payson, AZ Famous People

The Mogollon Rim

The Mogollon Rim, Arizona's mighty backbone, is an epic in natural, human history.

Payson, AZ Landmarks

Payson Golf Course

This 18 hole course is open to the public. The course's front nine is wide open and its back nine is more hilly. The greens are slow, and there is a creek that comes into play on seven holes. The course was built at 5,000

Payson, AZ Golf Courses

Things to do Famous People near Payson, AZ