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JazzMe
Citizen
Username: Jazzme
Post Number: 228
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 10:25 am: | 
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Just thought I'd share this with parents looking to do something different with the kids on these cooler summer days.
I will be taking my kids again to Wild West City this w-e. It's about 35 miles from Maplewood and it's a real blast - it's a recreation of a far-west town, with shops, saloon, horses, actors in costumes, etc. and it presents shows and programs reflecting the history of the American West.
It's relatively cheap ($12 for everything) and the kids had tons of fun.
Check it out http://www.wildwestcity.com/ |
daylaborer
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 898
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 10:40 am: |
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Make sure ya bring body armor for everyone!
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tnews/NewsItemDisplay.php3?Tip_AttrId=13483 |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 4124
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 11:19 am: |
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I believe Uncle Floyd sings the "Wild West City" Jingle in the TV ads.
-s. |
JazzMe
Citizen
Username: Jazzme
Post Number: 230
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 5:17 pm: |
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We decided to live dangerously and - despite daylaborer's great insight ( ) - we went today and it was great!
The kids had lunch (a total of $15 for one adult and 4 kids, wow!), did pony riding, went on the horse carriage, loved spending time at the petting zoo, went on the train, and watched the re-enactment of some typical western situations... 4 and a half hour of GREAT FUN!
I once again highly recommend this place.
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daylaborer
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 899
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 6:22 pm: |
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Sounds like you had a great time. Our daughter lives not far away in Budd Lake, so when the grandson is a little older, we'll have to check it out. As for the shooting, I've been following this story all summer. This would make a great plot for a mystery or better, CSI. Since they don't have the bullet, they don't know who to look at! |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1736
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 7:37 pm: |
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Different strokes - my kids (& I) didn't love it...tho. it was about 1000 degrees when we were there & so we didn't play min. golf or go to the petting zoo - it sort of bummed me out that the stage coach & pony rides cost extra...seemed that the admission was mostly just for the western show. |
nan
Citizen
Username: Nan
Post Number: 2403
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 8:49 pm: |
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Another Wild West City fan here!
I love the place, but I'm a Western nut. Just thinking about cattle fording steams gets me delirious. As doulamomma points out, it is not for everyone. In fact, many people just can't stand the place. They just don't get it.
That is a shame because it is one of the most unique places you will every visit, and it won't last forever. I doubt the family that runs it is making big bucks on the place. I think they have regular day jobs during the week. Most of the people working there are relatives and down-on-their-luck friends. Everyone is friendly and looking to start up a conversation. You don't have to worry about crowds, even on the weekends.
You just have to get in the right frame of mind. It's like going back in time to the late 50's. It's westerns in terms of Western Movies. One of the marketing problems they face is that it opened when kids up to jr. high thought cowboys were cool. Now it is mostly younger kids that get taken there and the acts are bit over their heads. They get a hat and a gun and run around shooting and then want to go home. They don't appreciate the long-dead crackling voice of the announcer, the authentic and tacky details and the theme from Bonanza
I was there recently with a 10 and a 9 year old (about the oldest kids in attendence)and they had a great time once they realized that whining would get them nowhere. We all spent much of the afternoon getting private whip snapping lessons from an old cowboy that looked straight out of Central Casting. There we were standing on the dusty streets of Dodge City (which is what the place is modeled after) snapping whips. In the middle of New Jersey. The Time Warp Trio had nothing on us.
And they both loved the Saspirilla soda too.
So go. No childhood is complete without a trip to WWC! Bring your camera.
Hydration tip: If you purchase a souvenier plastic Wild West drink bottle for about $2.50, the Saloon and one of the resturants will fill it for free with ice and water.
You can also bring your own water. Unlike many modern attractions, they don't strip search you at the front door under the guise of preventing terriorism, but really to make sure that you don't bring in any contraband refreshments.
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JazzMe
Citizen
Username: Jazzme
Post Number: 231
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 9:06 pm: |
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What nan said... EXACTLY! 
Doulamomma, I'm sure the hot weather didn't help. I took 4 kids today (7,8,9, and 10) and they just loved petting the animals and run to the stores, then listen to the coutry music show in the saloon, then run to climb the rocks again and jump back to amin street to watch the show, etc. I imagine this must be quite difficult to do on a hot & humid summer day. I don't know, perhaps should you try another (cooler) day.
Interestingly, my girls are not familiar at all with the western genre and still they dug the afternoon (4 and a half hour and I still had to drag them out of the place!).
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Psychomom
Citizen
Username: Psychomom
Post Number: 566
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 2:11 am: |
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Another fun place is Space Farms...an eclectic collection part zoo, part museum, part picnic park...something for everyone.
Also my youngest went to day camp and they went to a mine in Ogdensburg I think it was...he loved going down in the cave and there's a part on the tour where they pretend that there's a power outage and plunge the group into total darkness for 30 seconds with the appropriate screams from the kids. |
Geri Fletcher
Citizen
Username: Gerif
Post Number: 64
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 4:17 pm: |
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Oh my goodness - we went there when I was like 10, that was many years ago  and LOVED it! I remember the stage coach ride was a blast! |
nan
Citizen
Username: Nan
Post Number: 2404
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 4:40 pm: |
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The Ogdensburg mine is great. I think it goes by the name Sterling Hill Museum—or they are close by. I've been there a few times.
Also, if you want to go a bit further out, the coal mine in Scranton, PA is a worthwhile day trip. In that one ou get to ride a mine car to the bottom of the shaft. There is also an adjacent museum.
I have not yet been to Space Farms, but it is on the list for the fall. Thanks for the recommendation.
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mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 683
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 11:47 am: |
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We went to Space Farms a few years back, and I honestly found it depressing. Unless they have rehabbed the place significantly, I cannot recommend it.
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Psychomom
Citizen
Username: Psychomom
Post Number: 584
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 12:44 pm: |
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To be honest it's been a while since we went to Space Farms (my "baby" is now 19)so it must be more than 10 years ago that we went there, but our experience was great. Hubby enjoyed the old cars and we both loved the building that has the old toys in it. It was funny to see the things that we played as kids with being displayed as museum pieces. The kids got a kick out of it too, and ribbed us about being so OLD that our toys were antiques etc. We brought sandwiches and a cooler and ate at the picnic tables they provide. |
Flying_char
Citizen
Username: Flying_char
Post Number: 235
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 9:54 pm: |
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The guy, who got shot is my girlfriend's friends cousin... |
Psychomom
Citizen
Username: Psychomom
Post Number: 593
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 10:31 am: |
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What guy??? |
papayagirl
Citizen
Username: Papayagirl
Post Number: 644
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 1:43 pm: |
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What's the best time of year to go to WWC? Is it open year-round? Or is a significant part of it outdoors, making it most worthwhile to go during the warmer months?
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JazzMe
Citizen
Username: Jazzme
Post Number: 237
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 7:28 pm: |
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Papayagirl, here's their schedule.
DAILY: June 19th - Labor Day Weekend
WEEKENDS: May 6 th – Columbus Day
HOURS OF OPERATION: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm
Anytime is good except I would avoid high heat day (see doulammoma's post). |
Kevin
Supporter
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 836
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 8:43 am: |
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In my best Uncle Floyd voice....
Come to Wild West City -
a city runnin' wild.
Come to Wild West City -
bring the missus and the child.
I'll wear my ten-gallon hat
and I'll twirl my gun -
join the posse
and have some fun.
I'm goin' to Wild West City -
a city runnin' wild.
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JazzMe
Citizen
Username: Jazzme
Post Number: 239
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 10:00 am: |
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Wild West City
City runnin' wild.
I'm goin' to Wild West City
Bring the misses and the child.
Gonna wear my hat
Twirl my gun
Join the posse
And have some fun.
I'm goin' to Wild West City -
A city runnin' wild.
-----
tsss tsss Kevin 
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