Melody Ranch Autry purchased the 110-acre Monogram Ranch in 1953, in Placerita Canyon near Newhall, California, in the northern San Gabriel Mountains foothills. He renamed it the Melody Ranch after his movie Melody Ranch. Autry then sold 98 acres of the property, most of the original ranch. The Western town, adobes, and ranch cabin sets and open land for location shooting were retained as a movie ranch on 12 acres. Numerous "B" Westerns and TV shows were shot there during Autry's ownership, including the initial years of Gunsmoke with James Arness. A decade after he purchased Melody Ranch, a brushfire swept through in August 1962, destroying most of the original standing sets and dashing Autry's plans to turn it into a museum. However, the devastated landscape did prove useful for productions such as Combat!. A complete adobe ranch survived at the northeast section of the ranch.
melODY ranCH AutRy PuRchASed tHE 110-AcRE monoGram RaNch in 1953 in PLaCeRiTa canyOn NEar newhall calIforniA in the NorthERN SAN gAbrIEl mounTAIns foOthills hE renamed It the meLoDy Ranch afTer HIs mOVie mELody ranch aUTry then sOld 98 acreS of the PropErTy moST oF The ORIGinal Ranch the WesTERn town adOBes And ranch cAbiN sEtS and OPEn lanD fOR locatiOn shooTInG were retAiNED as a MOVie ranCh on 12 aCRes nUmerous "B" weSteRnS And tv shows Were sHot tHErE dURing autry'S OwnersHip inclUdInG ThE inITIAl yeArS OF gunsmokE with jameS arness a decADe aFteR he Purchased MelODy ranch a bRusHfirE SWePT thrOUgh in augusT 1962 destRoying MOst Of the ORiGinal stAndIng SeTs And dAshing Autry'S PlaNs To turn It into A MusEum howEVeR thE dEvastaTeD lAnDscape dId prOve usefuL for producTions sUch as cOMBAt a coMplETe aDobe raNCH SuRviVED aT thE northEaST secTion oF the RANch