Frontier Town was a Wild West Theme Park in the Adirondack Region of Upstate New York that opened in 1952 and, except for a few years in the 1980s, remained open until 1998. The park has been abandoned since that time and still contains many of its original structures. Project Absurd visited what was left of Frontier Town in the summer of 2009, and have posted two pages worth of pictures and videos documenting our visits. Click on the links below to check them out.
Ham & Kelly
Project Absurd 
The teepee in one of the photos is not from Frontier Town — it’s been along that same stretch of Route 9 since I was 10, in 1976. However, I think the sign and the pillory are probably from FT. I’m very disappointed it’s gone — I now have kids of my own and would have loved to take them there.
Thanks for the information!
My parents met at Frontier Town while they were working there. If it weren’t for that place, I wouldn’t be here right now. I went there every summer up until it closed. I was five at the time. The area has never been the same since then. Just wanted to let everyone know about this. http://frontiertowncommitted.wikispaces.com/
Check it out. I think you’ll all like it. You can find me on facebook or email me at calebbauer23@yahoo.com.
Really enjoyed your pictures & video’s of Frontier Town. On one one they make me sad & on the other hand make me realize how fortunate to have visited several time from the late 60′ to the early 90’s with my own kids!!!!!
I remember visiting FT some time around 1965-66 with my parents. I was 9 or 10 at the time and I really enjoyed it -especially the train ride, where we were “robbed” by two or three villains. I still have the postcards my mom bought for me. Too bad it’s gone.
yea i remember those days i worked their as a cowboy robed stage coaches, trains, and the calvery and rode bucking stock in the rodeo three shows day
I was luckey enough to be there in i think 1967 an then again with my kids in 1993, I think it was. I love that place an then so did my kids. It is to bad its gone, We can only hope that someone starts it up again, For the kids of tomarrow. What a loss it would be to not have a place like that around. I was talking to a friend the other day,An thats what brought me to this site, They thought it would have been a place they would go an had wished they had. Its sad so sad! Was a great place, Thank you grandma for taking me there as a kid RIP
I worked there in 1967. I was a cowboy in the rodeo. I came from Kansas to get experience riding bucking horses. We also rode in the Cavalry, greeted adults & handed out sheriff badges to kids (we called it Howdy duty). Occasionally we robbed Old 44 the train and robbed stages.
It was great fun.
Kent Hewitt? I remember you from Frontier Town. I used to hang out there with Rand Corey.Didn’t you do some bull dogging also?
Well sure! Nice to hear from you. It was fun also to read Matoaka’s post below and see so many familiar names. Yes, I bulldogged and roped calves also, but mostly rode saddle broncs. I saw Rand when we were both at a team roping in Kansas, probably in the mid-80s. Tom Bass (Florida) and I correspond periodically. He is a representative for National Day of the Cowboy and says there’s also going be a reunion of some of the FT cowboys at the Kissimmee rodeo this winter. A couple other Kansas cowboys you may remember, Dr Wes Vogt (below) and Mike Nichols. Great memories of great times in Frontier Town.
hi i remember you me and tom bass came up their long time ago we live about a mile or so from each other tom was sick a while back but he is better now. i still got the letter you sent me about going to school up their,,,,,,,,,,,tuffy chambers
dk I remember you and bensen there and randy corey I was the guy riding 4 horses standing up . and going to Vermont for rodeos and painted pony in lake Luzerne you can e mail me or face book would love to here from some people from there
Yes Chris, and I just sent you a friend request. And sure Tuffy, I remember you too. This is a good place to “run into” everybody and we’ll have to keep in touch. Thanks
Thank you so much for taking me back to FT. I went as a child in the 70’s. I remember the pony rides around the circle. Was looking forward to taking my kids, it would’ve been so much fun to revisit. Its so sad that its gone and has been left to rot…..
I loved Frontier Town when I was little. I was looking forward to bringing my son there and just checked to see if it was still open and am sad to hear it hasn’t been for quite some time. Thanks for the pics! Brings back great memories. I guess with all the high tech stuff today a great place like this wasn’t in demand anymore. So sad!!
I actually have a picture of me in the stockade with my little brother pointing a “pistol” at me. Shame kids of today won’t experience that innocent fun.
it is sad – i lived in north Hudson and loved this place
I’ve got a picture of my late husband in the stocks, too. So sad it’s gone—I would’ve loved to take my grandkids, they would’ve loved it!
We were planning a trip to Lake Placid and I thought it’d be fun to take my boys to Frontier Town. I was very sad to learn that it was closed for some time now. I went with my grandparents in the 70’s. I loved it! It was neat to see your footage from last year – but very sad indeed to see how it has been let go. Too bad someone didn’t take it over and keep it up. As someone said earlier – most people are into the high tech amusement parks and don’t care for the simpler things in life. A shame. Thanks again for the memories…
How sad…as a child we visited many of the area amusement parks: Storytown, Gaslight Village, Frontier Town, and as a teen I worked at a couple of them: Gaslight Village & Time Town. Now they’re all gone.
Yes I remember back in the early seventies fondly visiting Frontier Town. I have many pictures my parents took when I was around 6-7 years old. Back then our vacations were road trips in the car from Quebec and we would drive down to all the theme parks in New England. My best memories…. By the way the Cdn. Flag at the old gas station across from Frontier Town was there because a lot of Canadians visited FT. Back then Canadian money was accepted at par.
Lyndon
How sad! another innocent era from our past has died.
It is shame that the youth of today will not experience the re-enactment of our frontier history.
I am a freelance photographer who visited Frontier Town as a child – shortly before its closing in the early 90s. As a native to the area I would love to go back to photography and explore the property but am (mildly) concerned about getting caught trespassing. Does the area seem to be patrolled at all?
Maggie – We didn’t see any police patrolling the area. However, the other group of people that we ran into told us that we should hide our car behind some bushes so police driving by on the main road wouldn’t see it. Also, on the second time we went to the area, there was a construction crew working on the “newer” entrance area – so we couldn’t explore that area.
I don’t know if you’ve made it up yet or not but, I know a few ways to get in without drawing attention to yourself. I’m on facebook or you can shoot me an email at calebbauer23@yahoo.com. Just don’t quite feel comfortable posting it on here. lol Don’t want anyone who wouldn’t want me sneaking in to know about it.
Hey Caleb….
You can drive right in with no problems. Two State Troopers drove by us at the main buildings, and could have cared less…be sure to wave!!!
P.S. don’t bother emailing him. His response back was “do you want to get caught by the cops or not”…useless.
Hey Erin……
You can drive right into the parking lot because it’s attached to a road that’s still open(Frontier Town Rd. a.k.a the only road that gets you too the North Hudson Trail System). The parking lot in front of the A-frame is commonly used to carpool. Of course they didn’t think anything of you sitting there and/or driving through it. And, funnily enough, I don’t recall you actually emailing me back. When you didn’t answer I naturally assumed either you decided you didn’t care anymore, or someone was trying to find out what to block off. Don’t feed me that bullshit. You wanted more? Then you should have replied back. And for the record…. the only people stupid and disrespectful to take their vehicles into the park are the kids who party there and abuse the history on that property.
It really is sad to see such places turn into run-down husks of their former selves. Very sad to see.
i saw the pictures of frontier town today and its heat breaking.because my grandfather worked out therefor 20 plus years.he was a stage coacxh driver out there.i knew almost everyone that worked out there. i wish someone would buy itand open it like it was.
I also worked at FT as a cowboy in the rodeo etc.
Summer of 1972. I was an adventure and a total
hoot!! It is sad that it is gone. New
generations . . new heros for children.
The photo of the stagecoach brings back memories… I remember screaming in fear and crying my eyes out when the stagecoach was robbed by masked bandits firing blanks from their six-shooters while I was riding on top with my sister and parents!
I live upstate and drive by the area on fly fishing trips to Keene/Wilmington. It’s spooky to see it all deserted and overgrown. From “Frontier Town” to “ghost town”!
Yeah, I remember Frontiertown in the late seventies early eithties, very cool place to be as a young kid. The train robbers became heroes of mine.
HI! I found a 1955 wheat penny encased in a Frontier Town casing souvenir. I tought you might be intrested. let me know if you would like to see a photo.
Yes, we would be interested in seeing a photo. Thanks!
As a young child, my parents took me to Frontier Town in the 60’s . We loved the area with Gaslight Village,too ! We were a camping family, so we went back there every year . Enjoyed riding the “Ticonderoga” on the Lake where when the boat turned around this neighborhood dog would greet us, bark at us til we were turned around and back to shore. Gaslight Village was so much fun too !!! The “Keystone” cops would chase mw all around the Village either on foot or on police car !! The melodrama’s in the theater were so awesome!! I even went back there when I got married for my honeymoon !! And again, when I was pregnant with my 1st child !!! Would love to take my grand kids there but can’t believe it’s all gone !! Remember riding the train and we were held up by Jessie James and his gang !! They were looking for gold in my fillings!! And the Indians robbed the stagecoach, so we had to race to the fort to get help from the calvary. Remember my dad going to the newspaper office and getting the Gazette for me, with headline’s that read, Lizette Freitas captures jessie James and his Gang !!! What a thrill for me !! WE have a park in North Dartmouth, Mass, now closed!! It was called Lincoln Park. The only thing that stands there now is part of the old wooden rollercoaster!! A place where I went, mykids and my first grand-daughter got to go too !! I will forever miss that park and Frontier Town too !!!
February 18, 2011
VERY NICE JOB PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, THANK YOU, SPENT EVERY SUMMER IN LAKE GEORGE WITH A VISIT TO FRONTIER TOWN INCLUDED IN THE 60’S GREAT MEMORIES
So sad to see the place in such a state of decay. I worked at Frontier Town from 1979 – 1982 while I was in high school. I worked at the Archery and the Express Shop engraving sherrif’s badges. I have so many fond memories of the place and all the friends made. What a great way to spend my summers!
I frequented Frontier Town as a child in the 90’s. This place had always been the one of most memorable. My fondest memories are of the taste of the most amazing kettle cooked split pea soup prepared by “Grandma” and the bandit shootouts. Frontier town was especially memorable because this was on of the few places I have spent with a united family, all separated now. Thank You frontier town for the wonderful times I will always cherish and keep in my heart. Thank You for creating a microcosm that was incredibly tangible! Peace and Love
I really enjoyed your pictures and videos of Frontier town. We went there many times in the 60’s and 70’s. It was my favorite place for summer vacation. We stayed in the motel, ate in the restaurant, the whole deal. The last time I was there was in like 1989 or 90. I took my wife to show her part of my childhood. It had changed quite a bit in 20 plus some years but my memories came back strong.
It is very sad to see that it has been left to ruins. If I ever won the lottery I would use my winnings to bring it back!
Were you able to just go onto the property with no questions asked? Are there any trespassing signs? We are headed to Lake Placid next week for vacation and if it’s fine to go onto the property I would stop in to travel down memory lane gain.
Thank you for sharing your photos and video’s.
Regards,
Jay Punt
My parents took me here as a young child, and I (hopefully) still have my sherrif’s badge from there, even if the pin is bent. I’m glad I happened upon your website, but am sorry to hear the place is gone. It’s not surprising it’s gone, but it’s sort of shocking that the ‘ruins’ remain. I would have thought the owners could have sold the property or something.
Wonderful pictures. Many thanks. Went there in 50’s as a kid, then in 80’s with our kids and the in early 90’s with my daughters scout troop. The girls fell in love with a cowboy named Shane. Would love to visit now. Is it totally gone or have you not returned since you took these pictures?
So sad to see it’s gone, my grandchildren would LOVE it.
thanks again for the memories.
Sherry
I loved this place growing up. It’s so sad that it never could make a go of it. I remember it was the first place I ever rode a real horse. They used to have a narrow circular path (fenced on both sides) where the horses would travel at a walk until they got back to where they started. The stagecoach was great as well. I went there when they were starting it back up in the very early 90’s I think. They had a vew of the stagecoach horses still there. They hitched them up after many many years of retirement, and they took off as fast as they could and crashed the stagecoach.
As I read these comments, I appreciate the memories that people have. I worked at Frontier Town with my family – The Swift Eagle family, from the time I was 4 years old in 1954, until I was 18, in 1968. I believe that my family, as a whole unit, was there when Frontier Town was at its best. I mean that there was such a community feeling among the workers. Everybody watched out for the employees’ kids, who were free to just be kids and generally were dressed in western clothes or Native clothing,in the case of my older brother and myself. Lots and lots of memories, lots of stories,
Hi, my name is Matoaka Little Eagle. I have an fb site. If you go to my notes, you’ll find some stories written from the perspective of me, as a little girl, growing up at Frontier Town. It was quite the adventure.
I am so glad that my father, Swift Eagle was strong and committed to be himself, as a Native man, with respect and integrity. I felt bad for my oldest brother because when we first started working there, the management convinced him to be an Indian that scared passengers on the stagecoach by messing up their hair. Poor guy would come home with bruises and marks on his body. Besides that, it was demeaning and just perpetrated a one-sided biased history of the west that did not look upon the actual history with enough references to what was happening with Native people at the time. (My opinion. Luckily, Powhatan, my older brother, and I did not have to do any hokey stuff. Actually, we refused. We were kids and didn’t have to worry about losing our jobs. Not that I am casting aspersions on my oldest brother. He did what he had to do to have a job at the time. I was so glad when he decided to be a cowboy instead, so he wouldn’t have to get beat up all of the time.
It is kind of funny to think about an Indian wanting to be a cowboy. There are lots of Native cowboys. But it’s sad, too, that he was driven to be something other than identifiable as a Native person. I used to joke that Indians can be cowboys, but cowboys can’t be Indians…unless they’re really Indian. Being a cowboy is an occupation and being an Indian is to be of a race, a real human being of a different ethnicity and culture.
Understand that in the 1950’s, it was very difficult to be a Native person, in real life, and to have people mock you, disrespect you, and even physically hurt you. It is not so easy to understand that they are playing and living their fantasies, while you are living your life. There is a clash of reality and surrealism. When people do not want to believe that you are really, who you say you are, and continue to disrespect you, it goes to racism, not fun. It took me many years to understand that many people were just ignorant of factual history or they had been educated to believe that manifest destiny was ok and justified the taking of land and the massacre of thousands of Native people – real men, women, and children, my relations. They also learned a lot of stereotypes and misinformation from school, movies, and tv. I’m not trying to lay a guilt trip on anyone. I’m just saying that there was a lot more happening at Frontier Town that what people saw on the surface. It took a lot of work for me to just be a little Indian girl who wanted to play and make friends, when people would hit me with their stereotype comments and refused to see the real me. I didn’t understand it when I was a child. I would hear things like, “If you’re not good, I’m going to leave you with the Indians.” Once I spent all day with a little girl who screamed with terror when she first saw me. It was my first day of being a behavior modification therapist! I was about 6 years old. It hurt me so badly that someone could be so afraid of me. I set out to prove that I was just a little girl like her, with a mom and dad, and liked butterflies and horses, and liked to laugh. By the end of the day, she was my friend. That was the day that the seeds were sown for me to become an educator and one who studies what makes people who they are.
Remember that when FT first opened in 1952 or 53, it had only been about 60 years since the last Indian wars. People had grandfathers who may have been around to hear stories from their mothers and fathers of what the West had been like. So the times were truly different back in the 1950’s. Maybe that is what made the Frontier Town experience so vibrant for people. Native people did not get citizenship until 1924. In my dad’s home state of New Mexico, the Native people there did not get their right to vote until 1948! Times were ripe for a Frontier Town experience. People were still intrigued by how the West was settled and the Lone Ranger was a hero. Zorro thrilled people with his good deeds. Gunsmoke (my favorite!) was a western tv series that featured many movie actors that went on to become famous in their later years. Great acting on that series. No fancy props or effects, just real character development and stories that went to the heart and imagination. (You can catch Gunsmoke on TV land channel. Worth watching, as is Lonesome Dove and currently Hell on Wheels!)
However, getting back to the fun of Frontier Town, there was plenty to be had. At one time, Powhatan (my older brother by 2 years) and I were given shetland ponies to ride and care for. That was great! We could recite, word for word, the entire taped programmed dialogue of all of the events. We knew all of the Western songs that were song. We played “rodeo” and hatched schemes with other employees children to be business typhoons (as Pow would say! LOL!) We were there to witness the development and growth of the town over a period of 14 years, and saw the creation and development of the various acts that would become the regular programming of the Frontier Town experience. There were so many memorable characters in real life! Including Mr. Arthur Benson, the visionary and owner of FT. He was a larger than life man, always busy, always thinking of ways to enrich the experience of FT. He would book engagements for my family to promote FT. It was scary riding in his station wagon to NYC. He would literally drive with one hand on the wheel…at 100 miles an hour. I’m not kidding! We were on television shows, in the Macy’s parade, on the Johnny Carson show – “Who Do You Trust” show, Captain Kangaroo, Magic Tom from Canada (a number of times – he was a nice man.) Lots more events and places.
Ok. I have to stop or I’ll be writing another story before I know it. I am not able to focus on that right now, but I will be writing some in-depth thoughts and adventures and opinions in the near future, so stay tuned. I will more than likely put my stories on my fb site or on the Frontier Town fb site.
By the way, I think the teepees that you see in the photos may have been from the Indian Village tourist attraction that was near Lake George. Also in Lake George was Ghost Town, Story Town, and Gaslight Village, plus the steam boat Minnehaha
I could go on and on with stories, but not right now. Check my fb site from time to time because I put my short stories in my notes. I am compiling my stories and may one day publish a book. I certainly have enough material! Please forgive me if I brought you down with the earlier paragraphs that I wrote, but I included them so that you could get a feel of what it was really like to work there as a Native person. Even with all of that, I have very fond memories of the people and times of Frontier Town, and made some amazing connections with some of the tourists that would return year after year. They liked the fun and adventure. And they especially liked that in the midst of all of the pretend, there were real people with hearts and warmth and compassion. My family was quite popular because we were ourselves. On top of that my parents were larger than life and charismatic. Irresistible personalities. Pow and I were just caught up in the wake of their waves. Lucky us! Well, we made our share of friends among the tourists as well. One just found me on facebook last week! She had a picture of us together at Frontier Town
The people who worked at FT back then were really committed to doing their best and playing their parts to the hilt, so that people would have good memories in their childhoods. We were very dear friends with Clarence Canary, the Hanneford family, the Millais family, Evelyn Clark, the Corys, the Odells, the Besseys, Percy Flemming, Joe Java, Evelyn Clark, and so many others. Lena Stillwell. June Hillman, Sandy McCasland. The Sharpe Family. Joe Evans, Margaret (Ovensen), Dick and Jan Olsen, the Medfords, so many people in our Frontier Town family. Many of them have passed on, including my parents and my sister. To them I send my greetings and my thanks for their caring and their love.
Have good holidays, Everyone! Sincerely, Matoaka Little Eagle
Thank you so much for sharing your story!
Matoka,
I couldn’t find your Facebook page, but I have one. I have a great pic of your father and a cute little anecdote about him. Please contact me.
Enjoyed the post from Makoakta. I was employed the summer of ’72 as a cowboy in the rodeo & cavalry. Great time. Great memories. As Swift
Eagle would say. . . Caaarry On!
MY NAME IS HUBERT HENDRIE, AND I KNEW YOU BACK IN THE MID 50’S AT FRONTIER TOWN…..SWIFTY WAS A GREAT FRIEND OF MINE AND THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM WAS ABOUT THE SUMMER OF 1977. HE TOLD ME THE SAD STORY ABOUT YOUR SISTER “SINGING EAGLE” WHOM I KNEW AND DATED A FEW TIMES…..REMEMBER THE BOAT RIDE IN THAT SMALL BOAT ?????? ALMOST SANK THE BOAT WITH ALL YOU KIDS IN IT AND “SQUAKING HAWk’ AND I……..WOULD YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF YOUR SISTER THAT YOU WOULD SHARE WITH ME….SEND TO …..HHENDRIE@AOL.COM……THANKS A BUNCH
Im Donna I need imfor on the bears before dolly and molly , I believe I have one of there parents (stuffed) it was said that the bear I have is a male and his mom got hit by a tractor trailer truck in 1971 and passed away , and there were 2 small cubs that arther benson went back to get cause they were to small on there own and samson also died that year, I know its not molly or dolly , cause they are still with us today,in florida , I just got him this weekend @ the tee pee in lake george , new york it was from the auction in 2004 and didnt sell along with his mom Delilah she is still there.standing up in a case, I don’t have a name with my bear , I have been at froniter town many times as a child and of course remembering them , he is on all fours with a white patch on his chest , looks to way about 450 , they lady said he died young but to believe in related to all they bears . It seems to be in good shape and is very very friendly looking , it looks to be patted daily , I took a liking to him for weeks , saved the money and went back down to get him this weekend , I love it just like a pet ,I cant explain it ! I need to give it back his or her name as it was then , and would like ant information pics that I can get ! It stays with me for life ,in my familly !! tahnks so much My e-mail donnascleaning65@hotmail.com again thanks so much Donna
Dear one. My name is Bonnie Kamp. Many years ago I worked at Frontier Town with your brother Danny. ( I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful those 10 years were.) We were very close at one time but as life changed I lost touch with him. I remember your mother too although she had retired from the park before I started. If possible is there a way that I could connect with Dancing Eagle again? My best to you always. Bonnie Kamp (518/365-9096)
HI! I am looking for my great uncle for my father..arthur lyall..famous artist back in the day who did portraits there on leather! do you remember him? trying to connect to someone or family who we can talk to! and get a piece of his art….thanks! from scotia, ny…i pass that way alot ! love the adks and frontier town! art died in 1991 and is buried in schroon river cemetary not far from there?
I was browsing through your web site and I came accross Frontier Town. I went there as a kid in 1966 and back in the mid 70’s and bought a stetson. I kept it all those years it’s at least 36 years old. I’ve e-mailed you 2 pics and you can clearly see that it came from Frontier Town I bought it in the 70’s with my minuscule economy at the time at the western outfitters where the gift shop was. It’s a shame that the place is closed and left to abandonment today because I would have brought my husband to visit it because as a kid he never visited places like that.
Frontier Town was built by my great-uncle, Arthur Bensen. How sad to see what has become of it since he sold it and retired, and later passed on.
I just bought his book in hopes to learn more on a bear I just purchased from the leather shop in the tee pee at lake george saying im one of the bears from frontier town , it autographed to someone elts , but still. from what i have read he was a great man. Im hoping to get my bears name and more imfo ,on the familly history , do you have any imfo I have some they his mom got killed by a tractor trailer truck in 1971 . Delilah was her name and dad was sampson . but its not dolly or molly as they are still doing very well in florida today.. Donna
Hi. My name is Bonnie Kamp. I used to visit Dolly and Molly when my boyfriend Jay Lewis used to feed them daily. They liked to reach out and touch us. It was awesome. I have 10 years of Frontier Town up close and personal. Wish we could all have a reunion up there.
Ian Stewart,
Viewed ads on tv in 70s on wptz always wanted to go to never made it though . sorry to hear it closed, important part of past nice pics almost as good but not as to visit. thanks
I have a Frontier Town, N.Y. pennant that I’m putting on eBay. I googled it to describe the park on my listing and found your site. Thank you for the info and your dedication on revisiting a childhood memory.
I went to Frontier Town twice in the early 70’s. Had the most memorable time of my life. When I went to look for the place again a couple years ago for my 10 year old it was gone. I so disappointed for him. But then I thought of how it was then and how wrong it was to envision the west through the eyes of Hollywood and not reality. The reality isn’t as fantisiful as the movies were and so I can see how it fell out of favor. Then I noticed that my son wasn’t “cowboys and indians”, in fact he wasn’t even interested in John Wayne….lol. Wayne doesn’t carry a semi-auto and only shoots 6 shots! And HORSES, no way. So, yeah, I guess times change. For the better and the worse, depending on your perspective.
Great job bringing back old memories!! Went there in the 70’s with my family! It was always fun!! About 10 years ago drove up by there and sad to see what is left. Great job!! Maybe somebody will bring back the good old days and remind people about the simple things in life. Maybe there wouldn’t be as many issues with our young minds today if we still had places like this to visit today!!
Quelle tristesse d apprendre la disparition de frontier towne
j avais l intention d ammener mes petit enfants pour leur faire decouvrir ce site qui me rappelle de si beaux souvenirs de jeunesse
I spent the week at Jelly Stone and I must of past by FT several times before I decided to pull in. With no gates I was able to drive my truck thru the entire place. My girl friend who went there for a vacation several years back was able to point out what each area was. I saddened by its condition, but compelled to research the property. There is still fresh water, room for live stock, a place to grow food and plenty of buildings that can with some TLC be lived in. I am considering purchasing the property to preserve, and maintain a simpliler way of life. A private self sustaining community if you will. If I was to do it would take more then just me to make this work……
Any takers?
Hold one now Vince. The idea of a self-sustaining community sounds great and all BUT, the idea of it not being Frontier Town anymore doesn’t quite sit well with me. If we could mesh the two ideas I could be very interested.
I lived on the Frontier Town property for 10 years (while an employee) and would love to live there again with or without it being a theme park. Art Benson was “led” to that particular spot and it is still has a special feeling. I think he would be pleased that anyone cared enough to buy it and love it again. Bonnie Kamp
My husband and I went to Frontier Town just last week. I have forgotten just as much as I remember about the place. It has gotten so overgrown. Its sad. I wish I could get robbed on the stagecoach or watch the rodeo again.Go to a pow wow or join the sheriff in catching the bad guys. Good times. My cousins worked there and we lived just down Route 9 so we probably went a dozen times a summer. Danny Eagle used to go hunting with my brothers. I miss everything about those times and a lot of good people who have passed on. Im really glad I have my memories.
I visited FT when I was a child, in the late ’60’s, and again with my future (now late) hubby in the early ’80’s. I have a photo of him in the pillory, & pictures from all over the park. Such good memories! And so sad that it’s in the shape it’s in. And I remember the stuffed bears.
Went to FT as a kid in the halcyon days if the 1970’s. I probably looked pretty similar to the “checked pants” photo. I remember getting robbed on the train and the rodeo. Too bad such places no longer exist (although ‘Storytown’ was purchased about 20 years ago by Six Flags and is now called ‘The Great Escape’). Gaslight Village, Time Town, Santa’s Workshop – all gone.
When did Santa’s Workshop close? My brother & I went there in the late ’60’s — same trip as Frontier Town, & they took his son in the mid-’90’s. So sad they’re all gone.
This was awesome. I grew up in Schroon Lake. My father was a state trooper and we went to frontier town as kids and swift eagle would always make my sister and I dance. Danny eagle was a good friend and I think of his family often. Miss u Danny ;(
My older brother worked there and then my sister and I did as well. We were Indian maidens in the all white horse show with the Anderson’s from Texas. We met a lot of awesome people who I have lost touch with. Stacy Anderson and I were very close. Most of my memories were after hours when the park closed but never slept. Oh my… Haha. Just had a blast from the past.
Miss the Frontier family.
My name is Kate (Hanchett) Collins… 😉
I am looking for my great uncle…arthur lyall…he was an adk artist who painted portraits on leather there many years ago..trying to find anything on him…could you help out? my dad has no family and we are trying to find someone who knew him..and a work or piece of his…thanks…Susan Lyall Aragosa..scotia, ny
I’ve become quite obsessed with Frontier Town since I’ve first discovered it via Project Absurd. I collect tons of memorabilia from the place and as of now, I’m debating the idea of paying the place a visit. I’m pretty apprehensive because of the massive size of the place, not having a map, trespassing and the abundance of insects (I’m extremely arachnophobic and I’ve learned there are plenty of spiders there) and also the sheer creepiness of it. I think I’d be kinda’ scared pocking around a huge dilapidated abandoned theme park. I can spend many an hour though scouring the web for photos of Frontier Town, videos, personal stories, etc. Recently I discovered there was once a McDonald’s franchise at Frontier Town and that blew my mind. One, because of the fact that I LOVE McDonald’s, especially vintage McDonald’s, and two, because I had a crazy ass dream where I went to Frontier Town and there was a McDonald’s that looked EXACTLY like the one there. Either I’m psychic and can see that there once was one/ see into the future and that I’d find out there was one OR I just heard about it before, dreamt about it, and forgot that I knew that information. I definitely believe in the latter because of the fact that I’m an atheist and don’t believe in the supernatural. I also seem to have the memory of a goldfish, so I can easily see myself forgetting that information and then thinking along the lines of “Whoa! I’m clairvoyant and shit.”. Long and boring story short thank you guys for introducing me to the weird and absurd wonderland of the long forgotten Frontier Town.
Melissa – Thanks for writing! Be careful if you do go to the Frontier Town site. I would suggest going with someone, and also wearing a lot of bug spray if you go in the Spring or Summer. Also, the McDonalds that was there was in the building with the peaked roof that is in the picture we used on this blog post.
HAM
I recall back in the 60’s the train ride in was actually held up by bandits on horses and they were looking for kids with gold fillings, scared my sister, she had braces. Went back with my kids in the mid 90’s and they really enjoyed it, but no bandits raiding the train. Great memories. Didn’t know it closed.
went to frontier town many times as a kid in the 50s and 60s and then was able to take my son there in 1985 and then my nephew there in the early 90s have a pic of me as a toddler my son as a toddler and my nephew all on the same canoe ride little blue form that had water and you just got carried around the ride , that was also where my son road his first pony and at 30 now has had many horses since too bad they let it go will look around for some pics
i remember going there as a kid and at the time was facsinated by it .its too bad that its now run down .
I worked for a savings and loan in the 80s that owned an interest in frontier town, we were taken over by the office of thrift supervision and declared insolvent. Many of the banks interests were then tied up in govt red tape. I was a supervisor in the main office of the original bank and remember trying my darndest to get someone from the govt or new bank taking over to take responsibility for the phone calls I was getting from folks managing frontier town about normal daily workings. It seems when our board of directors and upper management were let go there was no one calling the shots or paying the bills. Does anyone know if the property was ever sold or so now owns it? This has haunted me for many years which is how I came to search it today
Hi. I lived and worked at Frontier Town during those tough times. I wept the day it was sold and all the great stuff sold at auction. My boss the third owner still lives on site and we plan to visit him and the place next weekend. If you want to talk about all this please feel free to call me at 518/ 365-9096. Thanks for caring. Bonnie and Jay
When are we all going to meet up there for a “LOVE FRONTIER TOWN” reunion? Jay and I are in. We know Ken the former owner. I am sure he would help. Bonnie Kamp
I never worked there, but have visited a couple times. I would love to be included if there’s ever a reunion & I’ll bring my photos.
i am in a group that is call the spirit of the old west i try to set up a show there once but the guy that had it didnt want it we still do alot of shows we keep the old west alive now we do train robbers in coppertown ny like to know is there still any thing there at the park and if anyone is going to try and open it again?
Hi. My companion and I were actors at Frontier Town for years. Jay used to play all the parts from drill sargent to train robber. I played in the music hall, was a hostess etc.. We still have all our costumes. Would love to join forces with others to promote more opportunities for all of us to perform. Thanks. Bonnie K
Isnt there any interest in anyone that whats to rebuild this?
My companion and I worked at Frontier Town for many years and we are very interested in working with others to rebuild the place. Bonnie K
I still have the rifle that My Dad bought for my son We always stopped there on our way to Westport, always a great time.So many great memories!!!!
I went to frontier town with my family as a child n I have some awesome memory’s there n am very sad to hear that it’s closed down. I would love to see someone buy it n fix it up n get it running again.
I was Speedy Gonzales and the Frontier Scout as well as filler for the Pony Express and I rode in the rodeo as well as Pond Hill Painted Pony in Vermont on weekends for 2 years. I’m old now but if you have any questions or wants some history I would be glad to answer anything. You can reach me at wyldcat2500@hotmail.com. 🙂
I’ve got photos from there I’m not sure what year, but I’ve got a real good one of Quick Draw McGraw. I’ve also got several postcards from there, one I can remember offhand is of the Chapel. It’s so sad it’s gone, my grandkids would’ve loved it.
I am now 66 years old and I am dying. I regret that I will not be able to visit what remains of Frontier Town. I must have visited the place three times every summer in the 60`s. It was the happiest part of my childhood. I still have a bracelet from this magical place. I later ended of working at Walt Disney World when an e-ticket got you on every ride. Admission was only $11.95! I miss the Adirondacks.
For Christhas 2013 my daughter gave me a toy made by Coleco, that she was told, was sold at Frontier Town. It is called “Target Town” and contains a rifle that is connected to a western “town” via a wire that plugs into the “town”. Both the “town” and the rifle are powered by 9 volt batteries. Various doors in the “town” open to reveal bad guys that you shoot. What memories this brings back.
I have made an agreement with my nephew that after I pass, he will sprinkle my ashes at Frontier Town!
I visited Frontier Town in 1959, met and became friends with Swift Eagle he used tell stories and demonstrate dances and worked at the archery range, what great memories. I have some old photos I would like to upload one day.
I was lucky enough to visit Frontier town as a kid many times have a pic of on of the Indians holding me and I was crying and other pics but the one pic I love the most is the little canoe ride I have pics of me at age 3 , 5 and then pics of my son at age 3 and then my nephew age 6 and niece age 3 a few generations up there . It’s a shame that they let it go there was a history there
Very cool pictures, I was there in the mid to late 70’s these bring back good memorys
Same here i was there in mid 70’s & still have a VHS transfer recording from a roll of home movies of that place.. what a shame.. i was just thinking of bringing my kids there i have 3 daughter’s aged 8 , 11 and 13.
my name is chris clausen I worked at frontier town in the 60th and through the late 70th I was also the guy that rode the 4 horses standing up in the rodeo and alit of my family worked to my dad with picture of him kissing a possem you fine me on face book or e mail me at clccrazyhorse@aol.com love to see your vhs I was there a couple of years ago and seen it all grown up .hope to here from you
I still remember as a kid back in the 1950’s going there with our school class outing..i remember buying Frontier chewing gum..It was terrable…I’m 70, and still remember Frontier Town…Sad the way it ended up…
Hi! I am Susan Lyall Aragosa…doing family history and trying to find dads uncle…an adk artist back in those days who worked there painting portraits on leather..name Arthur Lyall…if anyone has any info on him or any works by him could you please contact me asap to reconnect my father with something of his past…Susie05@nycap.rr.com…Arthur passed away in 1991 and is buried in Schroon River Cemetary…if anyone knows of anything about him please contact me…thanks!
Hi Susan. I knew Art Lyall when I worked at FT. I started there in 1989 and used to sit with him at the A-frame restaurant to have coffee. He was a very sweet man. My companion had a gun belt that was signed by Art but it was stolen in his travels. He painted a picture of Clarence Canary that used to hang in the building. Clarence was a descendent of Calamity Jane. I could go on but have to get ready for work. God bless. Bonnie K
Hi Bonnie! Thanks for connecting me! Tonite I meet dad and tell him all i know so far about his family! I copied what you said..if you can keep in touch with me to continue on this quest, I would appreciate it! Wondering who may have something Art created so that we may get our hands on it…since we are family…Did he ever speak of his past? Thanks Bonnie!
I grew up in Miami Fla. and every summer we would visit my grandmother in Troy NY. Had the opportunity to visit Frontier Town a couple of times in the early 70’s. What a great place. So sad to see it closed. Friends of my grandmother had a great cabin right on the highway north of Frontier Town. We always stayed there and used to go watch the bears at night at the dump/landfill. I’m not even sure if the cabin is still there. I believe there was a motel right across the highway, that had little cabins. Have many fond memories of Frontier Town and the area.
Hello all, My name is don salva. I was a cowboy in the rodeo show as well as in the cavalry as wel all were. I was watching the PBR on tv tonite and it always reminds me of my experience there. I was there in the summer of 1989. We stayed in a bunkhouse just outside the park by the old resaurant, not the a-frame. I’d love to share stories and go to any reunuion that may take place. I plan on a road trip with my family this summer to go visit the old place.
Don. Your comments ring true. 1989 was my first year working at FT and it changed my life. I just read your comment to my companion of 23 years whom I met there too. He lived at the cowboy camp and I lived in the brown house across the pond from the big restaurant. You really set off a series of good memories. I hope you contact someone and have a look but be prepared to be sad because of how the beloved place has declined. God bless you. Bonnie K
I went to Frontier Town in 1971. I was 11 years at the time. I went with my parents and some friends. I tell you it was amazing. I don’t live in Canada, but I’ve been coming back a few times. When I came with my kids I told my friend to search for it but she couldn’t find the place. I checked on internet, and that moment didn’t find anything. We are coming back this summer. My kids are grown ups and we’re coming with one of the girlfriends. So hear you find me searching again to find that it’s been years since it doesn’t exist. It’s a pity and a shame. Thank you guys for making this research. We shouldn’t give up on shows like the ones Frontier Town gave us. Now a days we all go walking with cellphones in hand, mp3, tablets. Whatever makes people not watch eye to eye with their companions on the bus, the train…. We’re loosing ourselves. You did a good job exposing the conditions of our loved Frontier town. THe owners should feel very ashamed to let die such an historical place.
Dear Ester. I know how sad you feel because I lived and worked at Frontier for 10 years. It was a special time and place, But in all fairness I knew the owners and they tried their best to save it but just couldn’t. Times changed and the cost of changing with the times was too much. Bonnie K
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