Guest Book Through May 2008
Aug 21, 2006 at 07:54:02Steve Gross
Welcome to the Frontier Town web site guest book.

Aug 21, 2006 at 14:34:35Gail Daha
Looking for potetial partners or investors to put together a revival plan for Frontier Town. Any interested parties? Please contact me at gdaha@ottercreekbrewing.com

Aug 22, 2006 at 20:29:19Vincent Philion
As a kid (25 years ago!), my parents would bring me to Frontier Town and it was wonderful. Thi summer I was trying to find activities for my kids (2 & 4) and I learned via this site that Frontier Town is gone. Always sad to see part of your childhood go away.

Aug 25, 2006 at 10:30:11NICK GRAZIANIO
FRONTIER TOWN GIVES ME SO MANY FUN MEMEORIES AS A KID ,WE WOULD GO THERE EVERY SUMMER AND JOIN THE CALVARY IT WAS A MAGICAL PLACE i ONLY WISH I COULD HAVE BROUGHT MY TWO SONS THERE SO THEY COULD OF HAD THE MEMORIES THAT I DID .FRONTIER TOWN WE MISS YOU

Aug 26, 2006 at 10:13:58anonymous
I lived in the area for a year as a child (2nd grade) and trully loved it there. I have never been able to return but think of that area often and am now planing a return trip to visit the entire area. Mel

Aug 27, 2006 at 11:10:58RANDY KNEER
I JUST WANTED TO SAY IT WAS GREAT VISITING YOUR WEB SITE,IT BRINGS BACK OLD MEMORIES WHEN MY DAD TOOK ME THERE BACK IN 1972. I HAVE AN OLD BROCURE IN MINT CONDITION FROM FRONTIER TOWN.IPUT IT IN A PICTURE FRAME.JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA HOW OLD IT IS,ON THE BACK OF THE BROCURE IT SAYS,VOTE YES FOR ADIRONDACK NORTHWAY.

Aug 27, 2006 at 11:18:11RANDY KNEER
I JUST SIGN YOUR GUEST BOOK BUT FOR GOT TO ENTER MY NAME DOWN. I AM PROUD TO HAVE THAT OLD BROCURE FROM FRONTIER TOWN ITS IN MINT CONDITION. :::: RANDY KNEER RKNEER40@AOL.COM:::: GRAFTON N.Y.::

Sep 1, 2006 at 19:26:20rob brouwer
I have very fond memories as a kid of our visit to Frontier Town... I remember being scared silly getting a shave by the barber with the old razer and shaving cream !!! Even have a picture of me scared numb ! :)::Also, the cowboys and horses, riding the pony... so wonderful. I now live in Vancouver and am visiting my brother in Quebec... was hoping to take a trip down to see it again..,. very sad to discover that it is closed :(

Sep 1, 2006 at 22:59:40Ben
Just wanted to say thanks for doing this website. Frontier Town took on mythical importance for me and a slightly older friend of mine. I don't know how old I was when I first went there (5?), or even how many times I went there (2-3) as a kid. All I remember is that the place held a nearly mecca-like quality to it for a couple of kids who grew up watching Wild Wild West reruns. I loved that place and I wish I could share it with my own children, but time has a way of marching on. It's too bad that places like Frontier Town that were as real as phony can get, lost out to places like The Great Escape aka Storytown, which was my sister's favorite back then. ;-) Anyways, I enjoyed the trip down memory lane and I still have my deputy badge.::::

Sep 4, 2006 at 08:28:56Bertrand Courtemanche
September 4 2006::::My wife and I have fond memories of Frontier Town. My family drove from Montreal Quebec, her family from Ottawa Ontario to see it. I must have been about 8 years old (1974). I remember it as a grand day. The recreations of cowboy fights, and of course the famous sherif badge that each kid would get when entering the park. Re-opening the park would be a sure hit: increased population, double-income parents, nostalgia, movie hits involving cowboys such as Disney's Toy Story. If Frontier Town re-opens in the next 10 years I can guarantee that our family (4), my brothers family (4), and my brother-in-law's family (4) will visit. Thank you Steve for the wonderful web site.::::Bertrand

Sep 8, 2006 at 20:08:19Paul
Great web site! Thanks for taking the time to put it together. I'm currently digitizing all of my parents' old 8mm home movies and there are multiple rolls of film of my family at Frontier Town (across several years from the late 1950's. Maybe some from the early 60's too, but I haven't gotten up to that decade yet). I'm looking forward to perusing the rest of the info on your web site too!

Sep 9, 2006 at 05:53:12anonymous
My name is Joan and my Friend Harold Bessey worked at Frontier Town until the late 50's.I would appreciate anyone willing to share video's or Photo's of those times.My email is Joanph41@Hotmail.com.Or post them on Steve's site.

Sep 10, 2006 at 19:39:45Tammy Whitty - Rock
Oh My goodness... I am so happy to see that someone is trying to perserve the memories of Frontier Town. I grew up just down the road from the park, and worked there all through high school and even went back a couple summers after I graduated. I made so many wonderful memories, and had many wonderful friends there. I would not trade one of them for anything. It was the most rewarding experience to help children walk back in to the past. See there faces happy. I worked in the Pony Park from 1980-1984. Gail, Joanne, Linda, Denise, Randy, Johnnie, Steve, Rick, and the rest of the gang, I miss you dearly.

Sep 13, 2006 at 07:39:34Mike in Connecticut
Dear Steve::Great website! I'm now in my 40's with young children of my own.::The memories I have of Frontier Town are priceless.::I wish it was still there for my kids.::My son has (my old) Frontier Town penant hanging in his room.::He loves it, and I see his eyes 'light up' whenever::I tell him stories about when I visited Frontier as a kid.::I see in your comments section that someone else::wants to revive Frontier Town.::Believe me, if I had the money I would ...::If it were not for my Father, who recently passed ,::I would never have known the joys made possible at Frontier. ::I was very saddened when Frontier Town closed.::Please keep this site going::God bless you for creating it... ::Keep on sharing those memories everyone!::::Mike in CT

Sep 18, 2006 at 19:39:41dook2448@hotmail.com
It is great to finally see websites like this devoted to memories from our childhood days. The Lake George area was THE vacation for our family. ::::I only have some faint memories of Frontier Town, because we stopped going when I was still quite young (about 6). (I guess, being the next-to-youngest in a family of five children, I missed out on a few previous trips.) What I do remember are memories of simpler times (I'm sure being young had something to do with my perception of the "simpler times" - which were thre early 70's), and fun times with Mom & Dad, my brothers and sisters, and cowboys and indians. ::::GAIL, I sure hope you are having good luck with your venture. I was just thinking about what it would take to start it up again, since I did see it was sold off in what looks like a couple of parcels to two different buyers. I just might e-mail you to see how you're doing with it.::::Keep the website going! I'm sure you'll find more reminiscing surfers out there!

Sep 21, 2006 at 09:25:48Matthew
Hello,::::Thanks ever so much for the site. My parents took my brother and I to Frontier Town a couple of times in the late 70's and early 80's. My father had been raised on Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Zane Grey and had made sure that his kids enjoyed the thrill of firing off cap guns and wearing stetsons. I guess that made us stand out in school but when we got to Frontier Town, we fit in. My brother cried during one of the hold-ups and I got locked up in a jail. My parents splurged for replica rifles. And we all got sunburned. Great times for our family from Ottawa, Ontario. I'm now a father of three, and I'm not sure what my wife would think, of a trip to a Frontier Village today. But I'll bet my kids would have been thrilled to have been able to visit it. I'm glad my parents took photos. If they let me borrow them, I'll scan a few and send them over.::::all the best::::matthew

Sep 22, 2006 at 15:17:19Pitgirl
I love ur website so much daddy.

Sep 26, 2006 at 17:44:33Dave G, Plainview,NY
I think of my Memories of Frontier TOwn Every Day!::::Miss the sound of the train echoeing through the Valley, and the sounds of Swift Eagles Drums as Danny, Dancing Eagle would dance...and also the Rodeo's the Old Gold Mine Shaft(IN THE DARK!)...The Stage Coach to the TRain Roberies to the smell of the old Jail cell, to being sworn in as deputies, and joining the 7th calvary!!! And seeing the Water Pee out of one of the Dalton Gangs Boot after a dunking by the Marshall & Judge Roy BEAN!!! God, I miss my Childhood! I miss FRONTIER TOWN!!!::Peace... Dave Gold::

Oct 1, 2006 at 19:08:04David Sandelin
The ol' #99 train now resides at Marshall's Family Fun Park in Fitchburg, MA. I was just there last weekend for my children's birthday party.

Oct 16, 2006 at 18:30:13anonymous
A never to be forgotten summer's work, 1956. My brother and 'Smokey, the trained bull' performed their act and was available to have your picture taken on Smokey. I remember the Hannefords, Clarence Canary, the rodeo crew-especially Lee Wheaton, Roger McLaughton, Jerry McMinn, Bob Swift. Somewhere I have a photo album of that summer. Hope to find it soon. Do these names ring any bells to you?..donna

Oct 26, 2006 at 22:34:14annie destito
when i was a child my dad took me here.. i am now 28 yrs old and 3 yrs ago i bought a house in mineville ny about 15 min from the a frame building that still exist.. as i passed it one day on my way home to rome ny i said wow this is like i have been here.. so i asked my dad and he told me of the times we had visited.. i even found a photo of us fishing just in that river on the other side of the interstate.. ::::i love this place.. do u have any idea of contact info on the owner... current owner of that aframe ::::thanks annie destito.. ::www.anniedestit.com

Nov 12, 2006 at 10:09:15joe chundak
my father took me to frontier town when i was 9. i enjoyed all of the sights and the rides.

Nov 16, 2006 at 14:23:18Jeff Beauchamp
Frontier Town holds many memories for myself and my family, as we used to spend our summer vacations there. Our experiences there were a little different than most peoples because Art Bensen was my mothers brother, but still, everyone I've ever talked to that visited Frontier Town seemed to enjoy it immensely. If Uncle Art were still with us I'm sure he would be very happy to know that so many have such fond memories of what he created.::::Kudos to Mr. Gross for doing such a fine job with this website and for helping to keep the memories of Frontier Town alive.

Nov 16, 2006 at 14:29:10Keith Hannon
One time when I was 8 years old I got picked to be part of the shoot out on main street and the town Sheriff arrested me (he suspected I was part of the gang bothering the town) and put me in the jail, but he forgot about me and left me in there for 4 hours. My parents got really mad because nobody knew where I was and they called the police. I hate Fronteir town.

Nov 16, 2006 at 16:44:01Jim Havalack
Frontier town was a really great place to as a kid and later as a 39 year old.::I had a great time there! This site is the next best thing to being there.::Keep up the great work Steve!!! Your the best!

Nov 16, 2006 at 17:59:21Doug Bensen
Hey Jeff...How are you?I am still living up here in Schroon Lake. I took a walk thru the town about 2 weeks ago.Looks like a ghost town now. Email me if you like-Hickboy75@aol.com:: Hey Steve...The Terkelsen pics are great! Some of those little blond headed kids are my brothers.The woman in front of the blockhose with the plaid shirt is my Mom. Thanks for keeping the site up, Doug

Dec 7, 2006 at 16:37:22William Murphy
I use to go to Frontier Town in the 50's. I still have the pictures and some great Home movies of the town that my Dad made, the train ,cowboys , the rodeo, and so on. Just a great place.

Dec 8, 2006 at 13:51:07Richard A. Fritz
What memories! What heartbreak to realize it is now gone. It meant so much to me as a kid. Especially a city kid. I've been to Ghost town in the sky, I've been to Tombstone, Az. I still like Frontier Town!

Dec 12, 2006 at 04:26:39susan w
My parents took me to Frontiertown when I was about 6 or 7 back in the sixties. I remember riding in the stagecoach and being "robbed". To an impressionable young child, I thought it was real! The robber asked me if I could cook for him, I just shook my head no. So sorry to hear it is gone.

Dec 12, 2006 at 08:44:32Bruce K. Lee
Hey, Great to find this site. My wife and I worked at Frontier town in 92-93. I rodeo broncs, picked up and worked in the saddle shop. We didn't make a great deal of money but we had a blast! Now we're all grown up-I teach school and my wife is a nurse down in Arkansas. I still keep up with a few folks we worked with::Bruce K. Lee::Bluffton, ARK

Dec 13, 2006 at 03:15:54Marti Lee
This is a wonderful website! My husband and I (along with our son, Jeff) worked at F.T. the summers of 92-93. We had the time of our lives, seasoned a very green horse to "Frontier Life" and made some wonderful friends and priceless memories. We live in Arkansas now. I am an E.R. nurse, my hubby Bruce is a school teacher, our son is a college grad working in the poultry business as well as carrying on our rodeo traditions as a professional rodeo clown and bullfighter. We also have added a daughter to our family since being up there. Sarah Rose loves to hear tales about our adventures up there; from the rodeos and gunfights, to the times we took all the kids up there on our version of a "snipe hunt". would love to hear from any of the old gang up there. Marti Lee,P.O.Box13, Bluffton, Ark. 72827

Dec 18, 2006 at 18:50:27Dan N.
Hold shares of PMWP Panther Moumtain Water Park and they are looking to take back the property and increase the outstanding shares from 100 Million to 1.5 Billion, yes BILLION to get enough funds together to rebuild property. Proxy out on it as of today. 12/18/2006

Dec 27, 2006 at 20:55:35Roger Gustafson
Hi Steve,::My name is Roger Gustafson, and I live in Gardner Mass with my wife Deb. My kids are 30 & 29. My father's sister was married to Bill Jensen who worked at Frontier Town for much of his adult life. My uncle Bill owned a small motel in the Schroon Lake area. ::My mom/dad/2 older brothers/and myself spent a week or 2 at Frontier Town every year. Arthur Bensen was "Uncle Arthur" to me. I remember him taking me up in his airplane one summer day for a spectacular and thrilling adventure. I wanted to be a pilot ever since that day. My brothers and I always got to ride the horses and sometimes got to play the bandits on the railroad train. I remember the winter visits, when we rode in the back of the pickup truck throwing out hay to the animals. I also remember putting those bumper stickers on with their wire twist-ties to everyones metal bumpers (sure beats the unremoveable kind we have now). ::It's been a long time since I've come across anyone who even heard of Frontier Town. I read an entry by Jeff Beauchamp, and I believe he is the younger brother of my close boyhood friend Jim where I grew up on Staten Island. I've completely lost touch with them over the 55 years and hope they read this entry and get in touch.::Thanks for bringing back some great memories. ::roger.gustafson@verizon.net::

Jan 14, 2007 at 14:23:52Lynda
I have WONDERFUL memories of our annual family summer vacation to Garnet Lake Lodge. We always went to Frontier Town. I have pictures of us there in the 1960's. I remember all the things the other people have talked about too. What a special place that created precious memories.

Feb 10, 2007 at 10:56:27Blue Tib
Thanks a lot for keeping alive beautiful memories, this park was really popular here in Quebec because they were present in many medias in Montreal, sorry that it was not possible for my 2 kids to live that experience, but at least i can show them the pictures and relive special moments with them.::::Please keep this site active even if not updated.::::Tks a lot!

Feb 28, 2007 at 06:02:10CARLY BARROWS
MY GREAT-GRAMP& GRAMP LIBERTY HELPED TO LOG AND BUILD THE BUILDINGS WHAT IS/WAS FRONTIER TOWN. THAT'S WHERE MY MOM,HER SIBLINGS WORKED,MY DAD-DANIEL BOONE,MYSELF&BROTHER,COUSINS&MET GOOD FRIENDS, BUT MOST MEMORABLE WOULD BE TO YOU&VISITORS TO THIS SITE IS FROM THE FIRST OPENING UNTIL THE SAD END OF FRONTIER TOWN IS MY GRAMMY DOT LIBERTY WHO WORKED IN THE PRAIRE/COUNTRY HOME MAKING FROM SCRATCH IN THE HOT SUMMERS HOMEMADE PEA SOUP OVER AN OPEN FIRE IN A CAST IRON KETTLE,HANDING OUT TO VISITORS AND STAFF IF THERE WAS ENOUGH.I DRIVE PAST THE ORIGINAL ENTRANCE THE POND I SWAM IN ICE I LEARNED TO SKATE ON.I ALWAYS PASS ON THE MEMMORIES THAT WERE PASSED ON TO ME AND MY OWN FOND MEMORIES TO MY CHILDREN. WE STILL PLAY AND FLY KITES AND THE SEE-SAWS ARE STILL AT THE J-BAR-E WHERE GRAMMY'S GRANDKIDS PLAYED AS WELL AS NOW HER 5 G.GRANDCHILDREN PLAY. A NATIVE OF NORTH HUDSON EVERY TIME I COME HOME IT ALWAYS SADDENS ME TO GET OFF EXIT 29 TURN R ON MY WAY LESS THAN1/4 MILE TO MY FAMILIES HOMES AND SEE THE DELAPIDATED PLACE THAT MEANT SO MUCH FOR MY FAMILY AS WELL AS A MEANS OF INCOME.. THANK YOU FOR THIS WEBSITE. MY GRAM IS PICTURED AS WELL AS TALK OF MY G,GRAMP IN THE BLUE COVERED ORIGINAL BOOKS BY ART & ASSOCIATE.

Mar 10, 2007 at 09:35:26Pete
Nice Website . I have fond memories of Frontier town from a vacation during the summer of 1968 . Our parents took me, my sisters and grandmom on a vacation to the adirondacks in a '61 ford galaxie 500. I was 8 years old and will never forget when the train robbers asked my grandmom if she had any money in her purse...my youngest sister cried ..funny ! ::Exactly 30 years later I visited with my wife, my youngest sister and her family . She didn't cry this time , but we were both a little sad to see the place had made a huge downward slide . One of the employees said the high value of the dollar had limited canadian traffic to the area and was one of the contributing factors . Don't know if that's true but that is what was said . Anyhow, my kids 9 and 6 at the time thought it was great and I'm glad they'll have the same happy memories of Frontier Town as I did as a kid .

Mar 16, 2007 at 09:04:02Rob Glasier
I am a classic “first generation” Baby Boomer, just turned 60 in late October, and grew up in Upstate NY (Chautauqua County). My folks took us kids (5 boys and the occasional cousin or neighbor) to the Adirondacks every Summer. We usually camped at Raquette Lake State Park, and "toured" the area. A "MUST" was always going to Frontier Town. I have so many of my most cherished memories of those Summer trips wrapped up around Frontier Town. As I write this, I am looking at a frosted, probably 10 oz. glass, with a painted picture of Davy Crockett holding a rifle across his chest, standing on the top of a fort wall - you can see the tops of the fence posts beside him, the fort blockhouse in the background over his shoulder, and a big "Fontier Town, NY" below him, and the slogan "in the Adirondacks" over the blockhouse. My Mother sent this to me shortly before she passed away a few years ago. Inside the glass is the note she sent me with glass - in her own, now gone, handwriting - "Remember when you were little and we went to the Adirondacks camping, and we went to Frontier Town? I found this glass and thought you might like it for a souvenir". ::::Do I remember? - you bet. Do I want the glass? - till my last breath. I just found this web site, because I pulled the glass off my shelf here in my office, and decided to Google Frontier Town, and up popped this site.::::I am so saddened by its passing. Kids today don’t know what they are missing. Most of today’s adults never knew it existed either. I especially loved the stage coach rides, the “bad guys” holding us up, and the shoot-out. Also, the train ride, and the outlaws walking through the train, robbing us of our cherished possessions, and then jumping back off.::::It was a great place, great memorie

Mar 16, 2007 at 09:06:18anonymous
I guess my entry is a two-parter, beacuse when I sent the first part, the end got cut off. The entry above this one is my forst part; this is the end.::::It was a great place, great memories, and so sad that it will not be there anymore…::::Steve – thank you for this site.::::Rob Glasier, Huntsville, Alabama::

Mar 23, 2007 at 19:46:07Tom Barney
Not long ago I revisited Frontier Town with my daughter Brooke and it was Quite bittersweet. How I long for wonderful memories and the beautiful setting of that place. I once landed a Piper Cherokee 140 at the airstrip and in later years after it was closed I landed a helicopter in the camping area across the street and stayed for the night. I remember so many things like the Indian Hoop dance one of my favorites. It would be so wonderfull if there were more places like this today. Our children are surely suffering from the lack of this type of family place and environment. Maybe again someday. ::Tom Barney::B.C. Helicopter::TBarney@TotalRF.com

Mar 26, 2007 at 09:50:59Ralph - Alpine Pizza
We have a great collection of Frontier Town photos on the wall of our Pizza Shop in Schroon Lake, NY. Please stop by and have a look.

Mar 28, 2007 at 00:42:43anonymous
I think this website is great, i live in schroon lake just south of frontiertown and i remember going there in the 1970's when my family would vacation up here from jersey. i moved here in 1989 and have been a avide history buff and i am currently helping my son with a research project on frontiertown so any additional info you have please send to higcafe@nycap.rr.com thanks

Apr 3, 2007 at 07:28:30Marge Bruchac
Kwai kwai, Greetings, Steve!::Thank you for creating the Frontier Town website. It brings back all kinds of memories, and it also offers some chilling insights into the circumstances of my own family and childhood. We are a family of mixed-blood Abenaki Indian people, and growing up in the Adirondacks in the 1940s and 1950s, with any kind of Native American ancestry, well, it was a dangerous time. Native people here and elsewhere in the northeast learned to "hide in plain sight" by keeping their heads down, and many tried to find work that would keep them close to traditional ways if possible - logging, working with horses, Indian doctoring, sport guiding, etc. were some of the ways Native folks held themselves and their families together. And then came Frontier Town. The irony is, it provided work for a lot of folks in the lower Adirondacks - including Indian families - but many of the local Indian families didn't dare "play Indian" at Frontier Town. It was already tough enough dealing with the everyday racism and prejudice. We were, however, blessed with the presence of Swift Eagle, Chee Chee Bird, Powhatan, Danny, and Matoaka, a Tewa/ApacheChickahominy family from the southwest who were hired to play "wild west" Indians. They dressed in Plains Indian garb, chased wagon trains, and posed for tourist photos. Among their many visitors were local Native people - including my family - who forged deep and lasting friendships with the Eagles. It was really difficult for these Native kids to be on display, to be targets of all of the stupid stereotyping of Indians that is so deeply embedded in American culture, but Swift Eagel and Chee Chee were so full of love and light, and that family played a key role in re-connecting local Native families with each other - they created sort of a magnetic safe space for real Indians hidden within a fantasy village. These thoughts were filling my mind when I read through the memories on your site. When I get a chance, I'll email some family pictures from Frontier Town of me, dressed up, of course, "playing Cowboy".::Wlibomkanni, travel well,::Marge

Apr 4, 2007 at 11:47:50Josef Kalna
My uncle was Ed Ovensen . . . recently passed . . . ::::Who did the concert show in the rodeo arena, it was some big CW singer back in the 1960's . . . I've forgotten now . . . thanks in advance . . . ~jk

Apr 4, 2007 at 12:49:50Stanley Gursky
Took MANY trips to Fontier Town with Joe Kalna and his Mom. In the early sixties, I lived in Mineville. There was no Exit 29 or Northway for that matter until around 1966. Our route took us over the North Hudson Rd. onto Rte.9. Too many memories to list here, but they were all good ones. I learned later on that my future wife's uncle worked as the bandit who robbed the train. Any more locals out there? I don't recall the CW singer in the 60's so please jog MY memmory if you can. SG

Apr 4, 2007 at 14:20:53anonymous
I tell you man, swear it was Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash . . . but I'm not too sure . . . many years have passed. Need to scan all of my old photographs and send them on . . . great site . . . ~jk

Apr 4, 2007 at 16:43:55Josef K.
It was Johnny Cash, someone from Witherbee's forwarding photo scans to me ! ! !::::~jk

Apr 15, 2007 at 19:57:34Glenn Fox
I worked at Frontier Town 1989-1990, I rode bulls and broncs. I have many great memories. I watched the pony express movie, that was me in 1990. It was like stepping back in time. If anyone I worked with those years reads this, I would love to hear from you contact me at gfoxcabinets@aol.com. Thanks for a great website

Apr 27, 2007 at 01:28:45gregory burt
steve, you brought me back 35 years. thank you

Apr 28, 2007 at 10:51:58Tammy
I can remember going to Frontier Town when I was a little girl and working at the A-Frame when I was in high school. It is very sad that such a wonderful place was lost, however the memories will last forever! Thank you so much for taking the time to create this site and for sharing.

May 4, 2007 at 13:41:32gene berman
I worked at the NY Serpentarium (4 mi. north of FT) in 1956 and 1957. Knew::Clarence Canary, their trick-rider and trick-shot artist and his girl friend (whose name I've forgotten but was well-known in the older circus circles). We had a bet with some of the cowboys (we'd run into them at Gabe Eagler's saloon) that we'd ride their bulls if they'd rassle our 'gators. Well, our Earl Carver (d. circa 1988) stayed on everything they had--but they never did come up and try out the 'gators.::::Swift Eagle had a daughter--Singing Eagle--that I dated a number of times. He made me a belt that I had him cover with a beautiful Russel's Viper skin I'd made and I wore that first till the snakeskin wore out and then for quite a few years more 'til the gut just got too big for the thing to manage.::::Earl and I spent most evenings after work at Eagler's. There was another fellow there one of the first times we went there. He had a coin-op vending machine business in the area aqnd would always be there with a mountain of change. Apparently, he'd sworn to Gabe and others present that if he'd ever meet anyone who could out-bullshit him, he'd buy his drinks forever. He said, "I swore it--but I never expected there'd be TWO of 'em. But he was true to his word--we never paid as long as he was there.::::I once met and spoke with the guy who'd started Frontier Town, though I forget his name. He claimed to have seen a vision of the place in a dream--also with some religious overtones--some time after having visited Knott's Berry Farm in California. He visited our exhibit, with which he was quite impressed; I was the guide on duty at the time and he later remarked to Bo Miller (the owner) that I could use a better shave and shorter sideburns. Bo's son "Big Jim" lives in Austin, TX and we're

May 6, 2007 at 17:13:14char
Great site and Im glad that I had a chance for my children and I to visit such a fun and great place years ago..they dont have many places left like that. keep up the great work on the site

May 10, 2007 at 22:26:07Michelle in Montreal, QC
Wow, what momeries. My family and I would visit Forntier Town EVERY summer. It was magical. The Calvary, the rodeo, the indians, the stagecoach, this brings back so many amazing times. I was so looking forward to bringing my kids to Frontier Town. I can't tell you how disappointing it is to hear of it's closure. This was a part of our childhood. I would love to see this part come alive again - good luck with that. I'm sure you'd get enormous support from past patriots. Thanks for the memories!

May 20, 2007 at 21:11:45Don Michalek
Thank you for keeping the memory of Frontier Town alive. I am sad to see that it is gone. I remember visiting as a child when I lived in Canaan, NY.::::Don M::Virginia Beach, VA

May 26, 2007 at 09:58:05Joyce (Hammond) Harvey
Hi Steve,:: Enjoyed your site so much. I worked at Frontier Town in 1959. I have so many fond memories of working in the gift shop (post office) where I was robbed 3 or 4 times aday. I also worked at the canteen selling ham sandwiches with Pidy McKenzie, Sandy Petro,and Cheryl Matherly. Why, I remember so vividly? I have a picture with their names written on the back. I have a few more pictures of Paul Bensen, (I think he worked printing the daily newspaper,Perci Flemmings and Jimmy Rogers waiting with their guns to rob the stage or whatever. Their is a picture of myself in Mr. Bensen's book Adirondack Mt. Adventure where I'm feeding a duck. I was so afraid of that duck. I think I was the first female to be ducked in the ducking pool. I don't have a picture of that and I don't remember their names of the guys who did it. :: Has anyone thought of having a reunion of the group that worked at Frontier Town all those years? :: Sincerely,:: Joyce

May 26, 2007 at 11:39:29Grover Furr
My wife and I went with our three children to Frontiertown every year from about 1981 to 1985, when we started going elsewhere for vacation. They loved it, and so did we! I remember every detail -- especially the raid by robbers and shootout with the sheriff. It was really a fun place! I'm sorry it's gone, but grateful you have set up this site. Thanks!

Jun 9, 2007 at 11:39:01zane burke
It was a one dollar bill on the calf's tail.I have one that I won in about 1970.

Jun 10, 2007 at 11:51:19anonymous
i went to frontier town yesterday it is now one of the scariest places ive ever been to it looks straight out of a horror movie.

Jun 11, 2007 at 06:15:26Doug Bensen
To the previous anonymous poster,I would then suggest you stay away from the Town.Hopefully you have some pleasant memories from an earlier time.I am amazed at how quickly a place can deteriorate in 10 years.To me it just looks empty...like any other old west town that has been abandoned and is now a ghost town and the spirit (memories) of all the characters of its past still haunt the place.

Jun 18, 2007 at 21:07:15Sharon Andersen
Thanks for the memories of Frontier Town! I practically grew up here as my Uncle was one of the owners - mac Andersen. He loved to play the town drunk and it was his voice that was on the announcements of the Dalton Boys coming to town, the calvary coming in, time for the rodeo, etc. We owned the SDilver Spruce Motel off Highway 9 just south of the Schroon River. I miss it dearly - it was part of what I consider to be "home'. ::::

Jun 18, 2007 at 21:12:51Sharon Andersen
For my cousin, Lynn Olsen, I write this; We miss Frontier Town with all it's fun, authentic history, and the family of the people who worked there and let's not forget the animals too. R.I.P. Sampson and Delilah, Clarence Canary, Arthur, and Uncle Magnus (Mac).

Jun 20, 2007 at 08:25:26Sharon Andersen
I agree with Doug. Frontier Town holds special memories for some of us and is less scary than nostalgia-inducing for loved ones who are no longer with us, but who were very much a part of the heart and soul of Frontier Town. My Uncle, Magnus Andersen, was one of the three founding owners of the Town. He is gone now, but hisspirit lives on in memories of his laugh over the loudspeaker, or the drama in his voice as he built up the tension for visitors about the impending arrival of the Dalton Boys gang. If it scares you - stay away or turn the sight into one of pleasant memories.

Jul 4, 2007 at 11:52:32Mike CT 7-4-07
My family and I will be visiting Frontier Town this coming week. We still visit FT whenever we go to the Lake George area because it means so much to us.::My heart will always belong to FT. God bless all those who worked there and made FT as wonderful as it was. God bless for this website and all those who continue to write. No matter what they decide to build in its (FT) place, that parcel of land will always be sacred to me. Have a great summer everyone ! Mike Connecticut

Jul 13, 2007 at 21:22:15hey you crew
I went to Ft in the 70's twice. I thought it was great. So when I heard it was being sold I had to go back. Went the week before the auction.Molly and Dolly were still there. Got some nice pics.Saw locals taking things not nailed down.Shame on you. Ps just as a piece of usless info.Less than 5 miles away is an icon of the cold war.An icbm silo. Just imagin how many people visited with out even knowing 4 megatons of wmd was so close.

Jul 17, 2007 at 05:11:06Doug Bensen
Hey You Crew,:: E-mail me sometime when you have a minute, thanks.Hickboy75@aol.com:: :: Doug

Jul 21, 2007 at 04:28:20Matthew Morse, VT
It's a shame Frontier Town is gone now. I went there with my parents at about age 10 in the mid 1970's. I still remember the TV ads they had. "FRONTIER TOWN, The Great American Adventure!!" I especially remember the stagecoach ride, and the robbers that stopped it. I got a fake Colt Peacemaker stuck in my face by one robber, and told to be quiet, and give him my all my money.::::I think the death of Frontier Town was 2 sided. That being that Western shows such as "Gunsmoke", plus older Western shows lost popularity on TV, and political correctness moved in with the "Hippie" generation getting older, and coming into to political power. Afterall, as of today in 2007 I think if some children had a fake gun stuck in their face, and asked to give up their money?, you might have a lawsuit! They would say the kid suffered permanent truama. At the least, it's no longer politically correct.::::Anyway, I grew up in the older era. Too bad I can't share Frontier Town with my 4 year old. It's a great loss...::::Matthew Morse::42 Years Old::Vermont::::

Jul 26, 2007 at 02:37:32Matthew Morse
Earlier this week (July 23, 2007), my 4 year old son, myself, my cousin Dave, his wife and their two boys were on a trip to Santa's Village. In talking on the way I informed my cousin and his family that Frontier Town was gone now. They had no idea it was even closed. There was a sad silence for a moment. But then my cousin Dave said, "I'm glad we took the boys there before it closed." They went there the last year it was open. We all agree it's a great loss. As New England kids we all went to Frontier Town, and every other fun or theme park in the area.::::The next conversation was, "What is next to be gone?" I think we all better take our kids to Santa's Village or Clark's Trading Post before they fall and get auctioned off too. After seeing this great Frontier Town website, and being saddened, I took my son to both the remaining parks I mentioned earlier this Summer. Granted there's still Storytown (Now called The Great Escape)in Lake George. But since 6 Flags Bought it, it doesn't have the charachter it did in the old days when I went there as a kid.::::Clark's and Santa's Village have not changed much since I went there in the 70's as a kid. I think if you went to either as a kid, and have children now, you should share these places with your children before they become like Frontier Town.::Sincerely, Matt

Jul 29, 2007 at 10:45:58george
I went to Frontier Town in the early 60s @ age 8 with my mom and grandparents.We traveled from western Pa to upper NY. I remember riding in the stagecoach and being chased by robbers. I am always telling my wife and daughter about that trip, sorry to see the pake is gone although in todays world it is to be expected.

Aug 1, 2007 at 23:25:32Brett
Great site, thanks for the wonderful memories. Does anyone remember the drive-in movie advertisement for Frontier Town? It played regularly at drive-ins around here (Glens Falls and Lake George, especially the old Fort George, which is where Water Slide World is now). I remember that it showed a man in buckskin and a coonskin cap firing a rifle at the camera, and showed clips from the park, including robbers riding along side the train. That advertisement would always get me so excited, and I'd bug my dad relentlessly until we made our annual trek to the park. I'd love to see that clip again if it exists. telbrett@yahoo.com.

Aug 6, 2007 at 04:33:09John Kost
Steve,:: Thanks for all your hard work on this great web page, I like one of your previous posts am from chautauqua county in western New York and went to Frontier Town in the early sixties and have many fond memories. Went back with my own family in 1988 and 89 and have many pictures of revisiting my childhood. Sad that times change and I am thankful that I grew up in what seemed like a more innocent time. I have many slides taken during the early 1960's of our trips to Frontier Town and would be glad to share them for your web page in the future, Thank You Again!!!::John Kost, Frewsburg, New York

Aug 13, 2007 at 15:31:07Jim S.
Dear Steve.....Thank you so much for restoring my wonderful childhood memories of Frontier Town. My parents started bringing me there in 1957 as part of our annual vacation from the Bronx to Lake George (a tradition that I continued with my children in the early 90's). I not only have picture albums of our visits, but also have several reels of 8mm movies taken by my father, "capturing" all of the action. I searched for these movies after my wife & I took our 2 children to Frontier Town for the first time. At the "dunking pond", I was explaining to my kids that when I first visited Frontier Town, the pond was located in an open area, and not the tree lined location it was currently in. Of course when I checked the old movies, the location was exactly the same, but those little trees had grown quite a bit in 30 years!! Watching the 8mm movies from the 50's with my family today, together with our own video from the 90's, is a testimony to the legend of Frontier Town. The images & the memories are timeless. Thank you so very much for keeping them alive.

Sep 4, 2007 at 16:39:57Bob McFerran
I worked at here in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Started out putting names on badges, and became assistant town manager. Meant I had to fill in for all the parts in the shows, Wyatt Earp, The town drunk, The Barber, Judge Roy Bean etc.. Loved every minute. By coincidence my wife and I visited the park by accident in 1975 while on our honeymoon (We lived in St Lawrence Co.) Got a teching job in Newcomb and now teach at Moriah. Will have to go over one more time.

Sep 5, 2007 at 08:17:38Donna
I remember visiting this area in the late 1960's. That summer my parents took my sister, brother and I to the Adirondacks area. Frontier Town was a great place to see. I loved the fort and the cavalry. We say that of all our vacations,, this was the top of our list. We also visited the Enchanted Forest and the North Pole. When you're a kid, traveling seems to take forever to get to your destination. But it was worth the trip. Thanks for all the wonderful and cherished childhood memories.

Sep 22, 2007 at 13:48:10The Merineau family
Thanks so much for the great memory! We lived in MOntreal and my parents took us often the the States. I was born in 1961. I clearly remember going to frontier town, me and my brother normand enjoyed the village. I remember the train, the robbery, and not speaking english back then, I was only about 7-8, I remember walking with my father and then an "outlaw" asked me if I had a gold tooth! What I also remember is the sheriff badge, the newspaper with our names and the A frame building. What I also remember is being mixed between cowboys, indians and astronauts. Back then, the space program was going full steam and I remember hearing about the gemini and apollo program. We had halloween suits from Frontier town, and at the same time, space suits! What a great memory. I own a plane and reside in West Seneca, NY. I would love to know the exact location of that runway where FT is located. It's exit no 29 of the 87? Someone, please tell me, I will fly there and walk through memories! Thanks moondance080@yahoo.com

Oct 30, 2007 at 01:43:56rob
I went to Frontier Town several times in the 1950's...The last time I was there was in 1993 with my 2 children.. We were all on the Stage Coach ride (after the robber had demanded all of our money and cigarettes) and I got to talking to the stage coach driver (I was ridin' Shotgun). I told him with a sense of pride that I came to Frontier Town as a kid over 30 years ago, and then asked him how long he had been working there...very humbly he replied 'just over 40 years'..I said to him that he must like it there, he said 'oh yeah'...it was then that it occurred to me that Frontier Town had not changed at all... it was me who had changed.

Jan 12, 2008 at 21:01:15Derry S. Jones
Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories of Frontier Town, from an old::Frontier Town Rodeo cowboy from the 60's.

Jan 18, 2008 at 22:56:27Vickie Scelta
When I was a child I went to Frontier Town on a family trip back from Canada. I fell in love with the place and the people. When I was 19 years old (1970) I had just got my drivers licence and my girlfriend and I went to Frontier Town for a vacation and met so many cowboys and two wonderful Native American Indians Swift Eagle and his son Dancing Eagle. I would go up for long weekends. I now live in Florida, but I will always have great memories of Frontier Town...

Jan 24, 2008 at 16:28:22Jeff Beauchamp
On Aug 1, 2007 at 23:25:32 Brett posted:::"Does anyone remember the drive-in movie advertisement for Frontier Town? It played regularly at drive-ins around here (Glens Falls and Lake George, especially the old Fort George, which is where Water Slide World is now). I remember that it showed a man in buckskin and a coonskin cap firing a rifle at the camera, and showed clips from the park, including robbers riding along side the train. That advertisement would always get me so excited, and I'd bug my dad relentlessly until we made our annual trek to the park. I'd love to see that clip again if it exists. telbrett@yahoo.com. "::::Brett, that film still exists. The Splice-O-Film company of Babylon, NY made a super-8mm [silent] version that was for sale to FT visitors. As the name implies, this reel was intended to be spliced into a visitors' own home movies to "punch them up" if you will. ::::I have this reel - it is part of a DVD project I have been working on for several years; collecting home movies, slides, and video into a compilation for the enjoyment of friends, family (Art Bensen, who founded FT, was my uncle)and fans of FT. ::::If you e-mail me I will send you a copy. ::::I would also encourage anyone who might have material that could be added to this project to contact me:::::Jeff Beauchamp::The Frontier Town Archive::FTArchive@aol.com

Jan 28, 2008 at 07:58:10Ryan C
My parents took my to Frontier Town once, 15 or so years ago. It is one of my sacred childhood memories, remembering being asked by the train robber "you chewing gum kid?" my favorite part. I'm very glad you've brought me back to this place through memory Mr. Gross. A terrible disappoint for me to just learn now it has been closed for a decade. As I sit now, aged, I can only think of how many years it has been, and how quickly. It was only this last year, that when preparing to toss out an old recliner, did my father notice that my lost silver 6-shooter cap gun that had disappeared years before was stuck between the cushion. So as I sit in my residence at university, now dripping with nostalgia, I thank you for bringing a facet of my past back to colour.:: - A friend from Canada::

Feb 23, 2008 at 16:04:12Wayne Duprez
I enjoyed your site very much. My family has had a summer camp in North Hudson since 1970. We went to frontier Town every year until it closed. My son loved every patt of the town. We liked the down home feel. If I ever win Mega Lotto, Frontier Town will open.

Feb 28, 2008 at 13:45:05Tom Jacques
When I was young we never entered Frontier Town but drove past when going from Cohoes to Montreal. I did take my children there about '85 when we did a week in the Adirondacks. Northpole, StoryTown, Lake Placid, etc. It was a GREAT week of true family fun. WOW, this takes me back,,,time passes too quickly....::I am telling all my friends about this website. This is great.. ::Does anyone have film to include as a video?::Thank you for all your time and work in creating this.

Mar 11, 2008 at 12:30:54anonymous
i i am very disapointed that the park is shut down i always had the idea of brigning my own children here. my son would have loved it the gunfights, cwboys, indians, bank robbers, all that stuff is right up his alley, i doubt being able to travel all the way to north carolina so he'll never get to see all that action::

Mar 12, 2008 at 14:13:36Valerie Solazzi Erickson
I have such fond memories of FT. My family vacationed in Lake George every year and visited FT without fail. We started going there in the 50's when it opened and I was just as excited to visit in the 80's with my children. I can still smell the cap guns as I sit here today. I also can recall being asked by the train robber to open my mouth to see if I was hiding any gold. I remember him saying "no gold but lots of silver". I was so afraid, being only 4 or 5 years old, and have to admit felt that same scariness into my teens!!! I think my sister really thought she was Annie Oakley, both of us being dressed as cowgirls from head to toe. I recently was looking at all our FT pictures so checking out this site brings tears to my eyes, happy ones... regards all my fellow deputies!!!!!

Mar 15, 2008 at 23:32:24fvecchi76@aol.com
This was one of my earliest memorable times with my grandparents. I was one of the few 6 year olds in 1979 who had to beat up on the bad guys. i remember vividly punching the bad guy in the stomach and saving the day. Fronier town put on a show which I thought was the real thing as a 6 year old. Its too bad the frontier town longer exists. My grandparents actually caught the experience on video which was rare at that time. This was a great experience, especially from a kid who gre up in Queens N.y.

Mar 24, 2008 at 09:25:50Clay
Great sight. I guess it's my age (a few years older than you), but I love the nostalgia thing. I "googled" Frontier Town to see if there was anyting about the Frontier Town in Fairfax, Virginia (late 50s). Came across your site. Great work... thanks!

Mar 24, 2008 at 11:30:53Ray from Rhode Island
Plenty of great memories of this place, a friend was asking where to bring his little kid this summer and I immdediately though of this region, and this park... makes me sad to find out it's no more. I remember the first time I went I got inducted into the cavalry and nearly cried thinking I was going off to fight in some sort of war, leaving my family behind... think I was 4 or 5 at the time... loved the dunking and taking the stage coach by "boot hill".::

Apr 4, 2008 at 16:20:37Kyle Conger
someone has to buy the town and fix it up. I guess I'll have to as soon as i win mega bucks.

Apr 4, 2008 at 20:52:35ED BEEKMAN
GREAT WEBSITE. MY BROTHER AND I HAVE LOTS OF MEMORIES OF FRONTIER TOWN. TOO BAD IT'S NOT OPEN FOR OUR KIDS TO ENJOY. THANKS FOR KEEPING THE MEMORY ALIVE.

Apr 11, 2008 at 11:12:38anonymous
I remember well going to frontier town several times. I must say the rodeo was not for me as I felt the town should be somehow like house on the prairie. I remember the stage with the indians running through it and the train holdup. I loved the feeling of being in a western town and always had the dream of trying to open a general mercantile as part of frontier town. I even tried to contact the owner after the closing to find out possibilities of doing just the,,,,if it ever reopened.

Apr 14, 2008 at 23:20:02Tammy Whitty -Rock
Hey Gang, I am currently a History Major at Plattsburgh State and I am currently getting ready to take on my senior thesis. I have decided to write it on Frontier Town and how it impacted our lives and the lives of all the tourist that walked through its gates. This is not only my thesis but it will be a labor of love. As many of you have, I spend the best years of my teens working with in the walls of Frontier. Working with the late Evelyn Clark, and Clarence Canary. Working with so many wonderful people that are still alive, like Dottie Liberty. Dot I still will not eat anyone elses pea soup except yours and mine because you taught me how to make it. ::::So here is what I need. I would love to have people write me about how their employement or visit to frontier town affected their lives, either for the good for the bad. I would really like to hear from as many old employees as possible. My email address is rock8154@mail.plattsburgh.edu or adirondacklady66@yahoo.com. Hope to hear from many of you soon.

Apr 25, 2008 at 14:57:34Brian Scrivener
My wife and I found Frontier Town by accident one July day in 1992. I just fell in love with the place. In 1999 I tried to find information on the place but was unable to, I am sad to hear that it closed down. I always wanted to go back but circumstances prevented me from doing so. I found this site by accident when I was doing a search to see if there is a frontier town in Virginia, since we are going there for a trip this summer. My favorite part of the day at Frontier Town was the gun fight, boy it sure was loud. Being from Canada we don't have places like this that put on gun fights or cavalry charges. I hope some day that Frontier will be reserected for future generations.

May 20, 2008 at 03:31:38Bill Allen
It's amazing how things change. I thought Frontier Town was lost totally after the Northway opened, now I find it lasted longer than I thought it would. A bit saddening, my father ran Allen Press in Fort Edward and did some printing for F.T., Forrest Jones (one of the partners, I guess) was a friend of my Dad's and got me a ride in the cab of the train engine in about 1956. Thanks for the memories (sorry Mr. Hope)from Gulfport, MS

May 21, 2008 at 10:05:54rob@absprop1.com
I was only just about 4 or 5 years old when I went to F.T. but I can still vividly remember the train robbery. My boys are 3yrs and 7mos and was looking forward to taking them to the park. I am very sad to hear it has closed. Maybe in another life all of the people who loved it so much could band together bring it back to life.