Wild West City

50 Lackawanna Dr, Stanhope, NJ 07874, USA

Address:	50 Lackawanna Dr, Stanhope, NJ 07874, USA
Phone:	+1 973-347-8900
Site:	wildwestcity.com
Rating:	4.1
Working:	Closed Closed Closed Closed Closed 10:30AM–6PM 10:30AM–6PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 5

Laura Parisi

We love this place! My husband went as a child in the 80s and has many fond memories. Now we share this unique experience with our two kids, 6 and 9. We have gone for the past 4 years and always have a great time. There is simply no other place like it! Dont compare it to Disney or 6 Flags - keep in mind that this is a family run park, which has been in business for close to 60 years- that alone is amazing! It is rustic, but that is in keeping with the theme. See it as an opportunity to teach your kids about American history in a way that they will always remember. Today we went to see the Native American show for the first time and I was totally impressed. They have real members of the Mohawk tribe explaining their culture and even get audience members to dance with them. We will certainly go back again. Dont complain about the gift shop, just buy a cowboy hat and join in the fun. Someone described the shop as "dusty"- what do you expect, this is the Wild West, not a hospital! The roads are made of dirt and the horses trot along them - dont wear high heels or your best outift. There are little museums with antiques, a mini golf course, a petting zoo, a stage coach, a mining exhibit and a train ride. People who complain that they were "nickled and dimed" should appreciate that this is still an inexpensive day out. You can buy the food there (burgers, pizza, candy), or do as we do and bring your own sandwiches, snacks and water - they encourage that and provide picnic tables. The actors and staff are very friendly (we especially like Marshalls Ken and Glen). Most of them have been there for years, and some of them are second generation now, which says a lot. Obviously the owners take care of them to inspire this kind of loyalty. They encourage the children to participate in the action, which enhances the experience. Other than Woody from "Toy Story", what do our children know about cowboys? When do they see Native Americans? Dont miss out on this place. Go once, give it a fair shot, and tell me you dont love it too.

Nancy Elkins

Such an awesome place! I went about 10 years ago with my son and came back recently with a friend and her daughter. Its a very authentic, in that its a tourist attraction from the late 50s with very few changes. So, it might be a bit strange to younger people, who are used to slicker venues, but its a great chance to see what people were into back in the day. There used to be more places like this all over the country, but this is one of the last ones left, so we are so lucky to have it in New Jersey. Dont miss it. It is a little worn, and homemade looking, but what do you expect after almost 60 years! Thats part of the charm. I love the cowboy theme and they do little skits in the streets. The narrator has a voice with an accent you dont hear anymore and they play all the Cowboy movie song greats like Rawhide. Its good for giving kids the needed background knowledge for watching old Westerns. There are lots of guns and shooting (not real) and hold-ups--not the usual mild kids fare. Make sure you get a bottle of Sarsaparilla --its cold and delicious. They also have an extensive assortment of cowboy hats for sale at all price point. One warning--its kind of expensive if you bring a kid since you pay an entrance fee and then there are extra charges for activities. So get a coupon and/or save up and consider your fee as a contribution to preserving cultural history.

dino defuria

First let me say that its fantastic that a place like this even exists today. I brought my 3 kids 12, 10 and 7 there on a Sunday afternoon. We all wanted to like it here. The animals looked happy, the actors/employees were great, friendly and helpful. So whats the beef you say? Well, like any amusement park its expensive to get in but the a la carte rides are really annoying. You pay to get in then its $4.00 each person to ride the stagecoach, same for the train ride, same for the pony rides, same for mini-golf. Just charge one price to get in and ride everything ( like The Land of Make Believe). Next, I know its been there 60 years but it looks really run down. Heavy black mold on the covered wagon, rotted out and collapsing flower pots at the pizza place, a mini golf area that was worn out 20 years ago. Food was OK but again very expensive for a small park. The lady that was talking to us in the small school house was wonderful and knew a lot about local history and we stayed there about 20 minutes listening to her. PLEASE, I want this place to stay and be great! Invest some time and money here and let it last another 60 years.

A Private User

We went on a Sunday and there was hardly anyone there! My son is three and he seemed to enjoy it overall, until the stagecoach robbery, that scared him a bit, which happens. It isnt maintained that well, the store with the toys was dusty and dirty. The buildings that had the displays in them were poorly lit (if lit at all) and smelled so musty it was hard to stay in more than a minute. The displays themselves could be updated and made more interesting. It was hard to hear what was going on and where, especially since the times were off from the printed schedule that they gave us when we came in. The train is fun, and my son enjoyed the pony rides and feeding the animals. Overall I would not deter anyone from going, but just understand it is an older place that is looking its age. I was impressed that the SPCA came through to check on the animals, which all did appear to be taken care of well. If you have a few hours and a few bucks to kill this is a cute place to take the kids, they dont know the difference if something needs some paint and a good cleaning anyway!

William H

THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! Do not listen to the negative reviews, some people will never be happy!! I enjoy it so much that I purchased a season pass and spend my days off here! This place is extremely authentic, it is like stepping into the real wild west of the late 1800s! The acting is phenomenal! All of the actors are extremely talented! They put on a great show that is action packed all day long! The food is great in the Golden Nugget Saloon, they have a huge menu that has something for everyone! I recommend eating all meals here! wild west city also has their own sarsaparilla and root beer that you have to try! I go through about 2 bottles of each while Im there! This place truly is a New Jersey treasure and for what it would cost you to go to the movies you can spend your entire day here! All of the employees are very friendly and great people!