Uploaded December 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Wheeler was founded in 1859 as part of the cotton mission and situated about a mile upstream from the present-day town. Due to a major flood in 1862, the town was relocated and renamed Grafton. By 1864, 28 families totalling 168 people farmed the area. They soon realised that water was needed to grow crops for survival, so most of the cotton was abandoned. The last residents left in 1945.
The town was purchased by the movie producer, Harry Sherman in the 1940s, to be used as a filming location. Scenes from the blockbuster “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, featuring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, were filmed here.
You may recognise Alonzo Hawenton Russell’s house, an extremely impressive residence, which was part of the set. He, his wife, and his young daughter are buried at Grafton cemetery, along with seventy-plus graves, many of which have no markers.
It said that Grafton is the most photographed ghost town in the west.
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MUSIC:
Desert Night by Sascha Ende®
Link: filmmusic.io/song/480-desert-night
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license
Wheeler was founded in 1859 as part of the cotton mission and situated about a mile upstream from the present-day town. Due to a major flood in 1862, the town was relocated and renamed Grafton. By 1864, 28 families totalling 168 people farmed the area. They soon realised that water was needed to grow crops for survival, so most of the cotton was abandoned. The last residents left in 1945.
The town was purchased by the movie producer, Harry Sherman in the 1940s, to be used as a filming location. Scenes from the blockbuster “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, featuring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, were filmed here.
You may recognise Alonzo Hawenton Russell’s house, an extremely impressive residence, which was part of the set. He, his wife, and his young daughter are buried at Grafton cemetery, along with seventy-plus graves, many of which have no markers.
It said that Grafton is the most photographed ghost town in the west.
If you like what we do and would like to support us:
✅ Become a Patreon: patreon.com/pinintheatlas
✅ Help fuel Tonto: paypal.com/paypalme/pinintheatlas
✅ AMAZON WISH LIST:
amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3FJC5W7Z1C19A/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1
Contact us: info4pinintheatlas@gmail.com
Website: pinintheatlas.com
MUSIC:
Desert Night by Sascha Ende®
Link: filmmusic.io/song/480-desert-night
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license
