Helldorado town, located on 4th and Toughnut Street, is under construction in preparation for Helldorado Days thanks to new owners Lee and Marla McKechnie.

The couple has big plans for the tourist attraction since they purchased the property in August, and hope to spruce up what the Arizona sun has worn down.

Currently, construction on the town’s outdoor theater is nearing completion. Fresh additions to the venue include a larger shaded seating area, new stage, and accessible handicap pathways. Other improvements to the property include additions of entertainment displays on the mini-golf course, renovation of the shooting gallery, an old-town photo booth and gift shop.

However, all changes are not superficial. A new “Tricks of the Trade” show, performed in the outdoor theater, will give audience members a chance to see how stuntmen perform gunfights and dangerous feats.

“We want to educate locals and tourists on how we do stunts for movies, things we call ‘squibs’ or touchlines; basically a fighting demo”, said McKechnie.

The new show will have three acts, first being the stunt demo, with a comedy show and historical reenactment making up the latter portion.

McKechnie is also leasing the building that once was Maryann Welch’s Tombstone Sandwich Shoppe to Chuck Sperry for the future “Chuck Wagon” restaurant. The lease for Welch’s shop ended under new ownership and has since closed. McKechnie also noted the building needs to be renovated to meet health code standards before Sperry will be able to open for business, hopefully in time for Helldorado Days.

The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch, ice cream, beer and wine.

“It will be like you’re going to a ball game, but you’re going to a gunfight,” Sperry says. “Just a sandwich or burger and beer.”

McKechnie is not trying to ruffle any feathers though. Although the new restaurant will be serving beer and wine, he does not want it to be considered a “bar”.

“We don’t want to compete, just serve guests and tourists a cold beverage, but not to sit around getting drunk,” he said. “We want it to be family friendly.”

So why all the changes? After leasing the property on-and-off since 1997, the Tombstone Trolley Tours Owner decided it was time to get serious, purchase the property and re-vamp the tourist attractions. He hopes after construction is complete, the new-fangled Helldorado Town will attract corporate functions, wedding parties, tours groups or city functions. He even mentioned the possibility of utilizing the outdoor entertainment venue for karaoke or live music.

A soft opening will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8, and the Grand Opening on Helldorado Days Oct. 21-23.