Frontier Town - A Western Theme Park Abandoned in the Adirondack Mountains

[@dshepherd107]

This was in North Hudson, NY. I lived about 2.5 miles from it. I was there from the late 90s through 2008. It was already closed down back then, but me & my German Shepherd Dogs would hike through there often, especially in winter. There’s trail systems there, Schroon River, & Palmers Pond across the street, fed by the Boreas River. It’s a beautiful place in the mountains. It’s as to see how much it’s fallen apart in the last 15 years. Nature takes over quick.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

There's a very unique sense of beauty found in a place slowly succumbing to nature.

[@dshepherd107]

@@AntiquityEchoes Yes, I would tend to agree with you. Having lived near there, it is also sad bc most of the people who lived around there have been forced to leave bc this region’s industry ended, & other reasons. I had to leave for that very reason. Still, you are also right.

[@TheGraffitiWanderer]

There’s like 5 million “urban explorer” KZbin channels present day... all doing the same stuff... all for the glory of smashing that like button. They have no clue... this channel is one of the first showing abandoned places properly... thank you for continuing to bring great content.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Appreciate the kind words! We try our best to convey the emotion of a place, at least so far as we perceived it while filming. Obviously the feel of a place varies from one person to the next, but most often we find the documenting of abandoned locations to be somber affairs. In the case of Frontier Town though it was more of a bittersweet nostalgia that hung about the place.

[@debrabuckley5011]

to any one who was brought here as a child .this only seems like it never happened but when you see this video you know it was real .thats the way i felt .i brought my kids in the 80 so they can shear my experiences as their own .as my parents did .sadly when the grandkids time came they had to place .it closed and was left to rot. this place was a attraction of theater. you felt it was real and had great rodeos .train rides .i loved it as my four kids did .its like a photo .time in memory.it was closed because of violence.it teaches .but they never shut down movie theaters .or video games that kids kill humans that are walking dead .humm if it was still here today you would have loved it .it was a experience of its self.thanks for sharing memories .

[@Briguygtr]

Awesome...Who remembers Time Town? Went there as a kid on school trips from Lake George, but nothing was as cool as the OG Storytown!

[@theresamoore7634]

That use to be a beautiful place , I know because my husband & I would go there often in the summer ,. We loved frontier town & had a lot of fun there & it is shame to let it go like that , I have a lot of photos of that place from back then ! Wish they would bring it back again

[@AntiquityEchoes]

We wish we could have known it in better times.

[@SusanIseman-eh6me]

I remember my family and always going to Frontier Land for the entire day a couple days a week in the summer it was such an amazing experience and so much fun too. And I had lot of fun there with my family and friends. So many memories to share with others that will never get the chance to see what Frontier Town was like. And it’s really hard and scary and sad to see it now in this state of mind completely destroyed and shattered and forgotten but we will always cherish the moment and memories to have for years to come now Sincerly Susan Lee Iseman from Upstate New York the capital region area

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Walking the property, one could feel it was saturated with the memories from generations of families. It's still beautiful.

[@rakeenan3]

This is probably the BEST video montage of it's kind that I've ever seen! Very well done!

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Thank you so much!

[@fredericripoche2840]

So many beautiful memories with my parents. I watch the video and it's sad and beautiful at the same time...

[@AntiquityEchoes]

That's nostalgia in a nutshell - A somber happiness from the beautiful memories we hold which took place in a world that no longer exists.

[@beccacalli9881]

I remember my parents taking me there when I was itty bitty!! I have some random memories of being on a train that was "hijacked" by train thieves LOL. It lead to me to be nervous riding trains growing up thinking it was a typical occurrence...

[@AntiquityEchoes]

That's really funny, and also a wonderful memory.

[@alexandraspinelli9309]

Same haha I wonder what it is now

[@shaunreid7929]

This is by far one of if not the best channels on all of KZbin, bravo

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Niche as we may be, it's great to hear our work is appreciared.

[@shaunreid7929]

@@AntiquityEchoes HIGHLY appreciated, I often share your vids on my Facebook, everyone thinks I'm crazy but I can't get enough of the beauty in urban decay and the relaxation I get from the perfect music and calming nature of your vids

[@johncraddock9871]

Brought back a childhood memory of attending this park back in the 60's. I was about 7. Was on the stagecoach when the robbers stopped it. He asked me something, which I can't remember, but I do remember I broke down in tears.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

What a surreal experience that mustt have been. You could tell, even in its abandoned state, that these grounds are steeped with memories.

[@richardlemme3603]

Remember going to Frontier Town and other places while spending my summers on Lake George.

[@JMExplorations]

What an AWESOME video!!! This was so well done! We're surprised that it is still there! We thought the campground would have taken it over by now! We went a few years back and got a rude awakening when we got there. We had to trudge through 4 feet of snow but we did it! lol It looks so much better in nicer weather!! We may have to make a return trip!! Thanks so much for showing it to us!!! AMAZING!!! 🙂👍👏

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you. The Frontier Town campground was rumored to have been built on the old theme park, but is actually a short drive away, in a completely different area. That said, hiking the property in the snow must have been exhausting, but summer here brings massive swarms of mosquitoes. We've never seen anything like it, and had to hide away in buildings a few times to escape them.

[@wrightchoiceintupperware3053]

Thank you for sharing this. I have visited that park many times when I was a child, I had also brought my children when they were very young. It is sad to see, I have so many memories.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

You're welcome, comments like yours are why we are driven to document these places in the first place, it's we who should thank you for sharing your memories.

[@travisjohn7044]

Glad I found this. If you were a kid in the mid 90s that grew up in northern NY going to Frontier Town was kind of a rite of passage. Went here a year or two before it closed when I was 5 or 6, and fondly remember participating in the train robbery where I was given a cap gun and instructed to "shoot" one of the robbers lol.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

@@travisjohn7044 Thanks for sharing your memories here. You may be happy to know that the train was rescued, restored, and is actually still in use at a different property.

[@briandobie8544]

Awesome to find this video,, great job of preserving the old days. My first job was at FT,, as I was lucky enough to grow up in Blue Ridge,, only a few miles away. Spent many days and summers there, doing a variety of jobs.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

The place seems to really tie a lot of people together across generations of time.

[@tabarnakopoulos]

Used to go there as a kid with my parents. Fond memories of that time and place. I hike the ADK a lot, so I might add a visit to Frontier Town as a side quest type thing when next I go on a hike in the area.

[@Mrdjlimp]

I remember going here as a very young kid(3 - 5). They used to have robbers jump onto the train ride from horses. When I was asked if I had any silver or gold I held out my handful of change and the “actor” staying in character took it 😂

[@AntiquityEchoes]

That's hilarious. From a reenactment to a genuine robbery.

[@jonb2793]

Another great episode! Nice music choice as always

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Thank you! We always credit the song title and artist in our video description, but if you missed it - The backing track is 'The Wild West' by Ross Bugden.

[@mmeter3]

Went there in 1965. Still remember the ducking stool, the train, stagecoach.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Sone places have the ability to make lasting memories, Frontier Town seems to be one of those places. You make like knowing that the train was actually saved, restored, and is now in service by Richfield Springs Scenic Railway.

[@alexclarke4606]

Miss that place sooo much!!!

[@AntiquityEchoes]

We wish we could have known it during its prime.

[@theadirondackkids4734]

i recall being there as a boy. We had the Frontier Town card wired to the car bumper. my parents avoided Gaslight Village - thought it was inappropriate for young kids my age...

[@suespony]

I remember going here as a child in the early 70's

[@AntiquityEchoes]

It must have been an amazing place.

[@suespony]

@@AntiquityEchoes what I recall, it was pretty amazing for a 10 year old. Sad it is gone

[@AntiquityEchoes]

@@suespony Growing up in NJ, our own childhood memories come from the Wild West City theme park, which was very much like Frontier Town, opening not all that long afterwards.

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

Visited there in the mid-90's. Sad to see one of the original theme parks in such a state. If I dig around enough, I may have some photos of the place i when it was open. AFAIK, the only remaining traditional theme park would be "Santa's Workshop" in North Pole, NY, near Whiteface Mtn.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

It seemed to have been a well-loved places. We would love to see you photos if you ever come across them.

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

@@AntiquityEchoesUnfortunately, those photo albums are buried in a "hope chest" that's had a shelf built over, and supported by it, so accessing it's contents, or adding to them would require significant disassembly of my desk/ham shack//electronics workbench. I recall my parents kidnapped my older sister and her daughter for a weekend, and we hit Frontier Town and ?Natural Bridge(?Caves) that weekend trip.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

@@ravenbarsrepairs5594 Sounds like a time capsule of sorts. Still, it's good to know they are safe and tucked away.

[@robertstauffer2865]

Going to be headed up I87 tomorrow to see the total eclipse on Monday 4/8/24 from exactly this area. Too bad Frontier Town is long defunct. It's the kind of place I would have looked to bring my kids to and spend the day. Really wonderful video and information about the Arthur Benson.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Thank you, and we agree - It's such a shame the place ended up shuttering.

[@bender7565]

The old footage mixed in was out of character for AE but I liked it VERY much. Thanks.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Glad you enjoyed the video. We have actually mixed historical footage into our work in the past, though it's not terribly often because old footage is a rarity. In this specific case, we purchased the (black and white) 8mm reel and digitized it ourselves for inclusion in this video.

[@M0rshu64]

Another Fantastic video as always. I have a location suggestion for a potential future photo/video shoot for you in my home state of Virginia. The Dejarnette Sanitarium in Staunton.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Appreciate the lead, thank you. It's actually a location on our 'radar'.

[@joesneon]

Great job folks!!! I grew up there!!!

[@AntiquityEchoes]

We wish we could have seen the property during the heyday of the park.

[@xomeep]

was there any trouble with security and stuff ? also where did you park ?

[@AntiquityEchoes]

The property is now a nature preserve with marked and named trails on Google maps. Obviously it's frowned upon to enter the structures, but wandering the grounds seems encouraged. As for parking, it depends on where you want to enter from, There's a couple roads that are options, we would suggest looking at the place on satellite view to beat plan your trip.

[@xomeep]

@@AntiquityEchoes appreciate the knowledge ! now im 100% filming there

[@tabarnakopoulos]

@@AntiquityEchoes Frowned upon to enter the structures probably due to security and structure integrity issues. After all, it's been abandoned for 35 years.

[@ZTenski]

I went here when I was a kid many times, and then one year we rolled up with the family and it was just.... gone lol. We walked the grounds a bit out of curiosity then left. I have many good memories here, there was a stagecoach that would take you through the town and kids would shoot their capguns, taking down the "robber". What a shame to see the shape it's in a couple decades later

[@AntiquityEchoes]

It's a sad sight for sure, and must have been a strange experience for you. If it helps any, there's a wonderful Western themed park in NJ called Wild West City that hails from the same era and is still going strong today.

[@fay8687]

Wow this is excellent !

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Thank you!

[@josephgamelin9739]

They need to remake this into a living history museum

[@AntiquityEchoes]

That's a beautiful idea.

[@PeterNordBushcraft]

I loved that place when I was a kid

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Unfortunately, we never knew the park in operation, but it seems that everyone who did holds fond memories of the place.

[@hotfootsue]

One rodeo feature was small pig with money wrapped around its' curly tail running wild in arena, kids in the stands came onto dirt floor chasing piggy for the money. Piggy was faster than kids, lost my shoe during the stampede of kids. Great fun for an eleven yr old. There was a dance hall with Can Can dancers. My brother was one, have pic of him being held by Native American Chief in full costume of course, great memories.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Those sound like amazing memories. The place seems well loved and fondly remembered by anyone who knew it. Few places have that effect.

[@bikesandbandos]

This park speaks for the whole north country.

[@williamdelong7873]

Was awesome place to visit if you wanted a taste of the old west

[@edithparra3356]

Amazing. Maybe one day, you might do a video about Arthur G. Dozier school for boys in Marianna, Florida.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Thank you for the suggestion. We are located in the Northeast, but if we end up down there we may well check in on it!

[@JArehart]

Very cool

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Thank you John, we always appreciate your feedback 💪

[@erynd2524]

That’s really sad.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

We agree 💔

[@rick5644]

Where is this exactly located, can you drive in to explore?

[@AntiquityEchoes]

It's not difficult to find if you search around on Google Maps. The property is a nature preserve now. Though you can't drive through it, it's a nice hike.

[@rick5644]

@@AntiquityEchoes Do you know if it's power wheelchair accessible? Thank you!

[@AntiquityEchoes]

@@rick5644 - The trails, though mostly flat, may present issues for powered chairs. It would likely depend on the kinds of wheels your chair has, and if the chair is designed for travel on grass/earth.

[@ReasonablyOptimistic]

I went here as a kid. Twice.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

It must have been amazing.

[@Upstatenyoutdooradventures]

Is this property for sale ???

[@AntiquityEchoes]

Not to our knowledge, its a preserve nowadays.

[@Denturehempcleanser]

Should have never gone out of style. Kids would still love this. If only parents would get thier heads out of thier a**ears and away from the iPhone. Poor kids.

[@AntiquityEchoes]

We believe there will be a renaissance for places like this, as well as family-oriented resorts like the ones that once dotted the Catskills. It's missed and it's arguably needed now more than ever.

[@rubydawn1]

I never got to go but the kids I knew went they said they would have their stage coach robbed by bank robbers

[@AntiquityEchoes]

It seems the Frontier Town bandits were a busy group, holding up dozens of stage coaches a week.

[@DawnOfTheDead991]

Exit 29 of I-87

[@catman58]

sooner or later the Earth reclaims everything

[@AntiquityEchoes]

There is peace in knowing that.