25 Deserted Film Sets Frozen in Hollywood History

11. Contrabando Movie Set Town: Westerns

Along the Rio Grande in Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas, lie the weathered ruins of Contrabando, a movie set town used for numerous Westerns, including Lone Star (1996) and Streets of Laredo. Originally built in the 1980s, the adobe-style structures representing a Mexican border town were damaged by floods and time. While park authorities sometimes stabilize remnants, the site largely exists as picturesque ruins against the dramatic desert landscape. It offers a glimpse into the region's film history and the ephemeral nature of these purpose-built cinematic worlds.