Frontier Village
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Frontier Village was a 39 acre amusement park in San Jose, California that operated from 1961 to September 1980. It was located at the intersection of Monterey Road and Branham Lane.
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[edit] About the Frontier Village demise
In 1973 the part owner and co-creator of Frontier Village wanted to expand the park. Without the necessary funds to expand, he sold Frontier Village to Rio Grande Industries for $1.7 million. The new owners were ready to start expansion but hit a road block with the surrounding neighborhood.
When the park opened in 1961 it was surrounded by undeveloped land, but by 1973 the park was surrounded by urban sprawl. The new neighbors of Frontier Village didn't want any expansion and fought the park development plans. Lawsuits from nearby homeowners coupled with lower than expected Park revenues, skyrocketing San Jose land values, and competition from nearby Marriott's Great America signalled the end for the little park. With the high property values, Rio Grande could make more money selling off the land to developers than it could by running the park. In 1980 the undeveloped land and Frontier Village itself was sold to a land developer, the Bren Company. They in turn held a public auction for all rides, buildings, and lumber that made up Frontier Village. The park closed its gates for the last time on September 28, 1980.
All the buildings were removed and San Jose's Edenvale Garden Park now exists at the former location of the amusement park. Little is recognizable from its days as an amusement park, but items such as concrete boulders from the artificial river remain half-buried.
Some signage and ride vehicles remain in the hands of private collectors while other vehicles were stored at the nearby Happy Hollow Zoo, to be later sold at auction.
[edit] Remembering Frontier Village
Since 2001 former employees and fans have held a reunion each summer at the Edenvale Garden Park to reminisce about the park. The picnic always falls on the last Saturday in June.[1]
A residential development just west of Edenvale Garden Park is named "Frontier Village."
Shaughnessy McGehee of Campbell, California is considered to be one of Frontier Village's "biggest" fans. He is in the process of creating a miniature version of the park in his own backyard. One day he hopes to open his backyard to tourists and visitors. To date, he has built miniature versions of the Silver Dollar Saloon, General's Store, and Schoolhouse, with more to come. Some of Shaughnessy's most notable memorabilia are the Crazy Horse, three of the eight Antique Autos with his most prized being the Yellow Maxwell, the Frontier Village lettering from the front entrance of the park, and the original Silver Dollar Saloon doors. In Shaughnessy's spare time, he spends time "Remembering Frontier Village" and Gunfighter re-enactments.
[edit] Rides and Attractions
Rides:
- Antique Autos
- Apache Whirlwind
- Burro Pack Train
- Duster-Turnpike
- Ferris Wheel
- Frontier Village Railroad - One Train is now said to be in operation at Burks Junction Mall in Cameron Park, CA.
- Indian Jim's Canoes
- Lost Dutchman Mine Ride
- Merry-Go-Round
- Spirit of Kitty Hawk
- Roundup
- Sidewinder
- Stampede
- Tarantula
- Old 99 Train Ride
- Stagecoach
Attractions:
- California Street (Dapper Dan's, Last Chance Casino, Shoe & Spike)
- El Sito Mysterio
- Front Street (Birthday Party Corral, Games, Hunter's Paradise Shooting Gallery, Ice Cream Gazebo, Skeeball)
- Indian Island (Archery, Fort Far West, Indian Island Stage)
- Main Street (Arcade, Cantina Murieta, Gunfights, Indian Goods, Marshal's Office, Picture Palace, Silver Dollar Saloon, Sweet Shop, Trading Post)
- Nevada Street
- Petting Zoo Island
- Reserved Company Picnics
- Rainbow Falls Trout Fishing
- Sagebrush Theatre
- School House Museum
[edit] References
- ^ "Fans celebrate heyday of former S.J. theme park" by Connie Skipitares, Mercury News, June 25, 2006
[edit] External links
- Remembering Frontier Village
- Frontier Village at Defunct Amusement Parks
- The present day Edenvale Garden Park is at coordinates 37°15′43″N 121°49′10″W / 37.262055°N 121.819376°WCoordinates: 37°15′43″N 121°49′10″W / 37.262055°N 121.819376°W
