The Abandoned & Fraudulent History of Wild West World Theme Park: BBQ, Bankruptcy & The FBI

Join on a new Expedition Extinct as we look at the history of the shortest operating theme park. The abandoned history of Wild West World's is a story of BBQ, Bankruptcy, Fugatives and the FBI that is as wild as the theme the park is based on.
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Credit - Please check out the full videos below!
Intro and outro music by Lazy Laser - / @lazylasermusic
Menachem Piekarski - • 2008 video rattler wil...
Fetti Vision - • ABANDONED WILD WEST WO...
Urbex & Coasters - • When you ramble on too...
ofallseasons1 - • Prarie Rose Chuck Wago...
stompxj - • Prairie Rose Opera House
Z B - • Crazy Mouse POV- Wild ...
Edric Wallace - • Wild West World Theme ...
Ricky Lee - • WILD WEST WORLD
01:31 Dining Like The West
04:25 A New Frontier
09:01 Cowboys Don't Get Blackmailed
13:06 What Happened In The Past is Past
18:57 We're Going Straight to The Wild Wild West
20:04 Cowboys Don't Give Up
23:26 Cowboys Sometimes Give Up
29:44 Once Upon A Time In The West
32:19 It's High Noon
36:41 Wild West World

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

What Extinct Theme Park do you miss?

[@Bald_Fart]

Skibidi Toilet land

[@Tenore1921]

Terra Encantada in Rio de Janeiro. It had the best coaster in all of Brazil (Monte Makaya, the first Intamin 8 inversion coaster), and an overall wonderful magical vibe that I can’t quite explain. When it first opened, it was the largest and most modern theme park in all of Latin America; it even had the first IMax cinema in all of Brazil! Unfortunately an accident in one of its rides in 2010 forced it to close. Nowadays, Rio doesn’t have a single decent amusement park in the entire state. It’s quite sad really

[@Feelthefelt]

Americana.

[@Amusementnational]

Camelot. I miss that park so much 😢

[@reddragon8488]

I haven't been to any of them, but some parks that I would have liked to visit would be MGM grand adventures in Las Vegas, zygofolis in Nice and Kamakura cinema world in Kamakura.

[@tfromcleveland3741]

8:33 That date shocked me. This screamed 70’s to me, even the pictures 😂

[@GoetiaTV]

I did a double-take a few times because I couldn’t believe this was in the 00s

[@Emplordxiii]

@@GoetiaTV common handheld cameras, both photo and video, at the time were still pretty bad quality. Hence, why it looks older than it was.

[@renegadetenor]

Personally I liked the idea, but have to admit that it was very 50s/60s in concept..

[@phantomkrieger2744]

Same, wouldn’t be out of place in the 70s, but for the early 2000s this whole thing was incredibly dated and that mascot made me cringe internally.

[@DystopianOverture]

I thought this was in the 70s aswell 🤨😂

[@Lightning-rodenthusiast]

expedition theme park posting within the span of 11 days is so rare

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

It’s true 🤣

[@JustinCoasters]

He posted, Rested for 7 days, then Rose again, Duh

[@labor_mel]

my whole homepage has been like this too lol! the spring equinox is providing a bountiful harvest

[@demonlver13]

But so amazing

[@kellark]

He gets so distracted by Jackie he just cant get work done.

[@eightiesman]

Some more context to this as I lived in this area. The infamous "Greensburg" F-5 Tornado happened days after the park opened. Also the arrest of the BTK killer happened 2 years before this park opened in the same town, Park City, Kansas. And the Chinese acrobats who were hired to perform at Wild West World were stranded without pay and any way to get back home when the park closed.

[@raygunsforronnie847]

WWW and Thomas Etheredge's involvement with the Park City Bluegrass Festival played a role in the financial troubles the Festival had. Etheredge gave the Festival use of the Johnny Western Theater for free, but "free" didn't include anything but the 4 walls and roof. Technicians, equipment, catering for performers had to be in-house, lots of add on expenses. They paid their bill and didn't have enough to continue forward. Or so I was told a few years later.

[@GiraffeLoverJen]

I'm from Wichita. My brother worked at the Subway sub shop in Park City. I had never heard about the Chinese acrobats being stranded.

[@Replicaate]

The phrase "the Karate Kid's dad sued" is not one I expected to hear...well, anywhere.

[@richardmoo9066]

turns out he was a private investor....AND his parents BOUGHT the theme park for 1.5 mil....

[@MatecaCorp]

I’m so glad you covered this park! The story is absolutely wild! I get the feeling that someone willing to truly own up to his mistakes would not be on the run from the law for multiple years lol

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Crazy!

[@masterjoda999]

A greasy shyster, on the other hand, definitely would.

[@MibiCookieEater]

Nice pun nyeheheheheh

[@drblais5193]

conservative white men never own their crimes

[@MrMatteeG1]

I was attending Wichita State University during this era and remember this fiasco well! I still don't know anyone who actually went to the park (we could all see it was a bust from the start), but I remember the big cowboy sign on the highway! It was fun to see this come up on your page! Thanks for all of the hard work and research you put into it. It's a fascinating story!

[@truequeen2875]

Went there, my mom bought all us kids, PLUS all her grandkids, season passes. Went ONE time and it was completely dead. I was afraid to ride some rides and half the rides weren't even operating.

[@AddableStone13]

That sign sat there for years. All that remains now is the hotel.

[@toupac3195]

Yeah it was depressing. Had our hopes up. We desperately need family entertainment here.

[@BeckyGard]

My sister went she said it was horrible

[@TheHallFamilyAdventures]

Now the hotel is owned by the casino

[@so-calseany1176]

FBI and fugitives tied to an abandoned theme park?!? Happy Easter to us, indeed!!!!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Aha it’s a crazy story

[@MrSkerpentine]

This is the reason Jesus gets up every year ‼️ 🗣🗣🗣

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

Thank you SO MUCH for covering this one! As a Kansas native, I was hoping (and asking) that you'd cover 'Wild West World' eventually! I can't tell you how many times we drove past that abandoned property, and my dad would lament/rant about how he would never be able to take us, and how much it screwed up the local economy. This park became LEGEND for several years for just how big a fiasco it was! XD =\

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

@@ExpeditionThemePark I always do! I'm a subscriber. Can't wait for the next one! =)

[@offrails]

There was a time when wild west theme parks were all the rage - Ghost Town in the Sky, Six Gun Territory, etc., but many of those parks have long since closed - often due to the decline in interest in the Wild West genre and tougher competition. Had the place opened in the 60s, the story might have ended differently.

[@Neville60001]

That park _should've_ had a s sci-fi/fantasy theme, then it would've made money.

[@YankeeRebel1348]

​@Neville60001 that's very boring and unoriginal. Wild west is a much better theme.

[@Neville60001]

@@YankeeRebel1348, with what we now know about history, the Wild West doesn't work anymore, which is why this theme park failed.

[@kirtemoon529]

You need to know your editing is so good that I actually fr thought that they just straight up wrote “Bankruptcy” on a building

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

That makes the time i spent making that worth it hahaha

[@Wnick1996]

Wild West World truly had a faith worthy of the name. It became a real ghost town, just as many towns did back then

[@emilymalinowski5027]

😮

[@teamsteed1]

Woah! :O

[@SaberFox]

YES!! It's about time someone did a true deep dive on WWW! My friends and I recently attempted to contact them, yet sadly they never accepted a interview. I'm a local in this area and I thank you for doing a deep dive on WWW!

[@OutdoorsWithShawn]

Look into Lake City Amusement Park in Guntersville, Alabama. It's probably the 2nd shortest lived park at 2 months and 10 days.

[@ShayneMcGuire_music]

The Will Smith Wild Wild West reference in the into is top tier

[@DCombz]

This was God (us, the player) creating that wild west theme park in ever roller coaster game ever and then abandoning it when we beat the scenario.

[@islayidiots713]

😂😂😂😂😂 I thought I recognised one of my parks from RCT !

[@tracetobin690]

It's so rare to see any content on WWW, but it's content I've been missing! I was lucky enough to visit as a kid, and had forgotten that it was connected to the Chuckwagon Supper (which was also so cool as a kid)! Thanks for covering!! Joyland was another Wichita amusement park you mentioned that I'd love to see covered one day!

[@kelseycrider329]

I was supposed to go to WWW 2 weeks after they locked up and left. I never did get to go.

[@AcornElectron]

Got to appreciate the Easter Sunday upload!

[@Lukinshed]

Yay!! I suggested this one awhile back. My whole family had season passes to this park!!

[@marquisehebbler9471]

How many times did y’all actually go?

[@Lukinshed]

@@marquisehebbler9471We went 4 times. It was raining 3 of them, the weather really was awful that year. I remember having a good time, we went with grandparents and some family from out of town in addition to opening weekend and one other random day. The unfinished condor ride was such a tease but we had hope they would open a wooden coaster around the lake (they showed a sample design somewhere in the park). Absolutely shocked when it closed only halfway through the season, I wager we got more use out of our passes than nearly anyone else haha.

[@AddableStone13]

I still have somewhere in a box a grand opening/season ticket flyer that came in the mail around March of 2007.

[@joeschmoe5009]

Dang, didnt think us wichita area people would get an episode here. Awesome! If you want another interesting park, Joyland was in wichita for decades, and parts of it still remain around town

[@BrownEyePinch]

Seems boring

[@PirateNovelist]

Always excited when I see a new upload! I learn so much from this channel and it makes my day when I see a new video!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy

[@theycallmeobsessed]

OMGGG I remember this so vividly, my fam still has our season pass cards 🤣 we only went twice , over the years we’d drive by constantly on the interstate and see more and more of the park disappear

[@timerbunneh]

This was wild af (pun not intended) and kept me hooked. Can't say I've seen the FBI get involved in one of these before!

[@yugioht42]

That restaurant sounded a lot like the old ponderosa restaurant that was in Orlando which was run by Eddie Huang’s family. They ran western music every night and added an occasional mechanical bull once in a while. Oddly the family was Taiwanese and didn’t know jack about the Wild West. The old ponderosa sat on International drive but I think Ming court bought the land out in the 90s and created the near authentic Chinese dim sum restaurant in Orlando which now is the CVS near the convention center after clearing the land. Eddie currently works in New York and California as a restaurateur and the occasional defense lawyer as he is a lawyer as he did pass the bar. He just gets into trouble occasionally with noise complaints or the occasional public intoxication which he whittles down to the minimum fine. But he’s a powerful businessman who knows the restaurant world and the criminal world as he studied the court system.

[@laura6691]

The log flume shown at the beginning was actually located at Western Playland in El Paso. The park was later moved to New Mexico. I grew up going to that theme park in my hometown and the picture of that log flume brought back so many memories 😭

[@thisisjustanchannel]

I don't mind if it doesn't happen but for your next expedition, could have a follow up part to your Thorpe park video on the start of the park?

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I’m working on it currently so it won’t be too long

[@thisisjustanchannel]

Yay!!

[@jessamyers8761]

what a treat for my Easter basket

[@princesskristan]

I never heard of this park before! This is gonna be intresting

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hope you enjoy

[@Halo1Buff]

It didn't stay open long enough for anyone to really hear about it. Never even got the chance to go and live in the area.

[@willenewadkins]

Great vlog! Love the history and all of your research. That indeed was a truly frightening ride.

[@Makoto03]

Great video. I wasn't aware of this Wild West World theme park before.

[@SnowBunneh]

Same

[@lightingnut]

There was an old amusement park in Kansas City Mo that would be interesting to hear about. It was called Fairy Land. It was open from 1923-77.

[@davidglad]

Ah, yes. Unregistered securities and the broad antifraud provisions in the statutes will unleash the wrath and full fury of the government.

[@jinxmclastname9212]

Love your videos man when a new one comes out I always have to stop what i'm doing and watch it, then proceed to binge about 10 more episodes

[@muppetsretrofan8873]

This park has one of the craziest histories ever, right next to the Mr. Blobby theme parks. I feel bad for the people of Kansas, now they don't have ANY theme parks [unless you count Worlds of Fun which is actually on the Missouri side and is being neglected by Cedar Fair]. I always love learning about theme parks, especially abandonded ones. I do hope one day you can cover defunct restaurants and restaurants that have changed a lot over the years. As a 2000s person, I'm still sad I'll never get a chance to eat at Burger Chef, because their food looked super tasty, and they were also the originators of the Fun Meal [Mcdonald's stole the Happy Meal from Burger Chef].

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

You may get your hope sooner rather than later 😄

[@billchief397]

Neglected? They just built zambezi...is there another wof park somewhere else?

[@rico4741]

As always great work!

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very entertaining and fun to watch. Thanks for posting this.

[@trinamiller100]

I remember Wild West World when I was living in Wichita, KS. I went there with my elementary school friend during the end of my 5th grade when I was 11. But it’s short lived.

[@nerdygal1234]

I'm so delighted you did a video on this! I was never able to visit the park, but my partner spent a good amount of time there while it was open. I still drive past the land fairly regularly, and that sign stood for such a long time. Thank you!!!

[@Ruffi0]

Perfect just got a break!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Enjoy!

[@Diddgery]

i grew up in wichita and i remember the hype surrounding wild west world when it was first announced... i never got to actually go because it closed so fast.

[@MaxStax1]

I live in Kansas and have never even heard of this place.

[@UAPandFriends]

Gotta say mate, your research into each and every place is superb! Very pleased to subscribe!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Much appreciated!

[@ZontarDow]

Every part of this was insane

[@chewydewok]

I feel sorry for the church and it's members. It's sad to see people lose money over an investment they might not have made.

[@markgawne5919]

Love this channel and the content. I appreciate it takes a lot of time and research, but I’d love to see more content as they’re so interesting 😃

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I try but it’s just me researching, editing and writing them!

[@magnusvontesla]

Great content, as always.

[@krymsonuchiha14]

Omg... as someone who grew up going to Frontiertown in Ocean City, MD I needed to watch this!

[@steelcurtain187]

This was a really interesting one I wasn’t familiar with. Greta job! 👏

[@juliagoodwin9510]

The dates for this park threw me for a loop, not gonna lie.

[@snoekone]

Thank you. I love your videos.

[@jonathanlowe2196]

I have never known about this park, a very interesting video you have put together.

[@paulroberts3643]

How am i just realising who you are! Been watching this channel and super enthused for ages lol. Just watched this video then a old thorpe park one where u showed pictures..i feel so dumb lol. Keep up the great work i love both the channels but love this one more.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you haha it’s true!

[@eerielakeerie]

woah wild adventures mention! i’ve ridden that sidewinder a dozen times omg

[@MrRoeler]

Bravo.. well made.. again

[@AshleyCatamus]

Really enjoyed this one!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thanks so much

[@Kaptastr0phe]

As someone who had season passes to year 1, I find it hilarious anywhere else outside of Kansas heard about this.

[@marine7859]

This left me in a constant state of repeating "what? what???" and just staring on in horror. It's a wild... wild ride from start to finish, thank you.

[@twistedimagev2]

another great video Sam!!! Now, if only there was a new Expedition Enthused podcast to listen to... Its been since January!!!! :)

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thanks so much! We have been meaning to record one but just have not had time. I hope we can soon. We are heading out on a trip but hopefully when we get back

[@twistedimagev2]

@@ExpeditionThemePark I know you guys have been quite busy lately. Been a long time viewer of you and Jackie both. That recent cruise looked like a lot of fun! Will be looking forward to the next podcast, whenever it comes. Hope you guys have a great fun and safe trip! We'll be watching

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

I remember having a conversation with my grandma about how she visited this park

[@sethbelt8386]

I don’t see you’ve ever done Joyland in Wichita - that one was great and has a lot of history and rumors about the mob and crazy roller coaster accidents. There’s even crazy stories about missing pieces from the park that were found years later.

[@BeckyGard]

I am from wichita ks. I CANNOT believe you did a story on this. My sister bought season pass to this park. Went once said it was HORRIBLE most of the rides didn't work, there was no shade. Theme parks are my fav. I'm still mad she went without me. And to clear something up the park was located on park city kansas. Thanks for the story.

[@charlottestreet3301]

Was there a reason why a lot of the rides weren't working. Also what the point of opening a fair or an amusement park with not many rides working.

[@carminecdinoproductions]

I’d love to see a new National Geographic zoological theme park called “National Geographic Adventures: Wild World”!

[@FatherAxeKeeper]

If the dinner show was such a hit I wonder why they wanted to have it part of a separate company? Considering the show sorta inspired the park idea as well.

[@tracekornegay3790]

Good business. Why have all your eggs in one basket.

[@TCBElvisAPresley]

I just discovered your channel and this is my second video. I feel a binge-watch coming on. Lol I love stories of redemption and so was was disappointed to realize that the man never changed -- I don't think he ever stopped being a con man. 😒 I just had an idea. I wonder if a theme park based on the Westworld movies snd TV shows would fly? (The original novel btw, is by Michael Crighton, he of Jurassic Park fame.) On the one hand, android cowboys sounds pretty coo!! We're on the verge of technology to actually _have_ real androids at such a park. In the meantime, for the first few years, we can still have humans "dressed up" as androids, while we wait on the real ones. On the other hand, the Westworld novel, and the various movies and TV series, were dark, dystopian affairs, where the android cowboys turned evil and started mowing down visitors. That might make marketing for a real park a challenge! Lol

[@Mikivli]

definitely remember going here as a child. If you need more info lmk! I remember something’s within it. I suggest doing a video on the theme park before it here in Wichita. JOY LAND!

[@kaylawhipple7570]

This was a heck of a journey to watch. I heard two months and saw nearly 40 minutes and knew it was gonna be a real crazy ride.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Right?!

[@kaylawhipple7570]

How do you come across these places?

[@joshuagutierrez270]

6:36 so nice to hear my local park Western Playland get a mention in here!

[@AshuraH]

Two months?! Yiiiiiiiiiikes. This is gonna be a fun video!

[@beamstalk6475]

never understood how this was going to work, Oklahoma City has its own western style theme park that has been here for years on I-35 as well, so there was never a reason for anyone from OKC to go there

[@BussyBoyBonanza]

Good ol Frontier City. I remember going as a kid. The DiamondBack was always my favorite ride. I loved that it could always be the first and last ride of the day since it was literally in the gift shop

[@Smiler123HAHAHA]

Amazing

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thanks

[@chrisyoungblood1421]

Sam, another fine video!!! Very interesting. You are quite talented at what you do! Please give our best to Jackie as well. Stay golden sir!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you! Will do!

[@t0xicwarpig468]

As a kid my family had a summer pass to this place. I remember it was fun.

[@sirhcsuiris]

The opera house was working. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[@sachikatsutano]

always a great day when ETP posts! Your editing and narration is just the right pace for my adhd self, and I love the humor and content you create! Hearing about these unique and wild stories and rides are always brilliant!! Thank you so much for your videos!

[@Flies2FLL]

Great video!

[@michaelrivera8665]

It was cool to hear Wild Adventures mentioned. I have not been on that ride yet, maybe some day.

[@slopesgameroom]

Dsmn good video, had no idea this existed

[@Becauseimme]

Love the Dru Hill reference. 👍

[@randomscribblings7192]

Nice to see one in my neck of the woods! The sign shop I work for submitted bids on the sign work for the park.

[@Whiskin87]

Interesting story!

[@corixcat]

My mom took us there once for my sister's birthday because she bought a season pass. There was hardly anything to do besides eat. Especially if you were a teenager. Little to no shade, empty AF, no rides besides the kiddie rides were open and no entertainment whatsoever when we were there.

[@theorignalgrayson]

Thank you so much for making a video about the park that i spent most of my 5th grade summer in wichita going to

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@cab1stborn]

People don’t go to theme parks for BBQ, that’s what rodeos are for. I just know that BBQ tasted like it came out of a cereal box.

[@DiscipleofHim]

Interesting to watch.

[@yogimorris]

Great Story 😊

[@JordiLA]

Awesome video! At least my debts are only mine 😅.

[@shrimpster101]

Hey dude as a resident of Wiltshire too. I'd love to see a run down on paultons park

[@daveotuwa5596]

Wild West World has somewhere to see cattle's gaiting along the "street" in files which is outside Fort Worth. I could take it for granted that the cattle are transferred from TX. YEEHAW!🤠

[@mattskustomkreations]

I was listening only and had to do a rewind when you said “The Karate Kid’s dad sued” 😂

[@benhimmself]

This the first Wild West park in the world? I remember going to American Adventure in Derby in the 90s I maybe wrong but seam to remember that being a Wild West park? Great video new sub

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you! I have a video on American Adventure!

[@indigo22284]

Y’know, this one really made me think: those church folk friends have a right to get mad at the con man for lying because their investments turned out to be squandered. But also, here’s something I’ve never seen talked about: those same church folk friends wouldn’t have any problem at all with con man for lying if the whole thing had worked out in their favor and they got a return on their investments. Everyone is fine and happy when they get their money. Lesson learned: lying is not only OK, but Good, actually??

[@dweyandt01]

Or only invest what you feel comfortable losing…

[@kelseycrider329]

That pastor has his own schemes...

[@tete75]

Can you do a video covering the defunct Pollardville Ghost Town & Restaurant that was in Stockton, CA??

[@darthmillennial2671]

I remember the barrage of local commercials for this park, my family never went lol. We went to old cowtown instead to see how the real Wild West was.

[@EmeraldCityVideo]

I was feeling bad when they said it was his wife's family business and they couldn't make it work. Then you got to "he's a white collar criminal and this farm was something they bought after he got out of prison," and I didn't feel bad for him anymore.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Aha my plan worked

[@craftykatmomma]

I've ridden Sidewinder at Wild Adventures!! It's crazy it came from this park!

[@insaneiaq]

Many of the buildings were moved to the West Wichita intersection of Kellogg and Tyler road where they stand to this day as a small shopping center. Until recently, many still featured their original color schemes and even some small signage mounted on the exterior that were tiny "remains" of WWW. I often joke I am grabbing a sandwich at Wild West World when I go to the Subway located in one of the buildings.

[@TJ_Games326]

@ExpeditionThemePark now that nemesis reborn is open can you do an updated video on the history of that?

[@techwolflupindo]

"Weather" was an understatement. What happen is there was rain every weekend, something that has never happen in the past. No one could have predicted that.

[@allixandra]

Your voice is amazing.