Gene Autry 12 acres. A decade after he purchased Melody Ranch, a brushfire swept through in August 1962, destroying most of the original standing sets. However, the devastated landscape did prove useful for productions such as "Combat!." A complete adobe ranch survived at the northeast section of the ranch. In 1990, after his favorite horse Champion, which lived in retirement there, died, Autry put the remaining 12-acre ranch up for sale. It is now known as the Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio and Melody Ranch Studios on 22 acres. The ranch has Melody Ranch Museum open year-round; and one weekend a year,
Jackie Autry Barbara Sinatra Children's Center. She is President of Gene Autry Music Publishing Companies which houses four publishing companies. She is President of the Autry Foundation which was established by Gene and Ina Autry. Funding from this Foundation provided the funds to build a world class western history museum contiguous to the Los Angeles Zoo. The . Museum now called the Autry National Center houses the Museum of the American West, Southwest Museum of the American Indian and the Institute for the Study of the American West. After 13 years she retired as Board chairman and now holds the position of