[1] The site portrayed the American Southwest, Brazil, Japan, France and Germany, Africa, Afghanistan, Burma, Central America and often Vietnam.
It featured hills, flat plains, riverbeds and densely wooded forest land that could portray locations around the world.
In exchange for reduced rental rates, previous productions had also left behind standing sets including a village, labor-camp, prison, ranch house, military barracks and 4.5-mile (7.2 km) railroad line including locomotive and train cars that could be re-used, reducing production costs.
[2] The site was popular with television programs in the 1980s such as The A-Team, MacGyver, The Fall Guy and The Incredible Hulk as well as films including The Color Purple and Escape from New York.
Newhall Land & Farming Company built Indian Dunes Airport on the site in the 1960s with a single unpaved runway running northeast to southwest.