Berlin, Maryland - Frontier Town

Frontier Town is alive and well! As a summer child of north Ocean City (our cottage was across the highway from the lighthouse), I visited Frontier Town all through the sixties and early seventies. I took my own children through the 80's but when they grew up I had no one to take!

Now my grandson is almost 5 and we decided it was time to go! Oh, the memories flooded back as I pulled into the parking area. Little has changed, but that's not a bad thing in a place like this. The one thing I missed was the old Frontier Town Gazette, where you could get your name printed in the headline. Now you can buy a wanted poster, or Old Time Photo, but it's not quite the same!

I grew up with a huge crush on John "Red Bird" Moore who was the larger than life man who so skillfully entertained us in the Indian Village. When he died tragically in 1989, many of us were truly saddened. It is heartwarming that his son and grandsons carry on his legacy there and they do a fine job of it.

The shootouts, robberies, rodeo, can can shows, train and stage coach ride/robberies haven't changed. You can still pan for gold, see baby "rattlers" and feed the goats. There are lots of photo opportunities in this old west town.

In the early years I believe there was a real piano player for the can can show. Later there was a "player piano." Now the two pianos sit in sad condition and the music is "canned". But it was still a lot of fun! So many children have no concept of "cowboys and indians." My grandson was all about pirates, SpongeBob, and fire trucks. By the time we left, he was buying western toys and clothes and would have slept in his cowboy gear that night if allowed. Still a wonderful place for everyone!

Tip: Don't go on a really hot day unless you are planning on visiting the water park to cool down! Also, the roads are soft dirt, so dress accordingly! [Lynn, 08/31/2007]

I went back to Frontier Town last summer after ten years. I went there when I was a kid and I took my kids there to let them see what I saw. It is all the same, train robbers, gun fights, cancan shows.

I remember a guy they called the Old Marshal. He was an older man, most of the actors were teenagers, and he was so nice to me when I was a kid. I had hoped he would still be there, but they said he retired in 1993. Wherever you are Old Marshal, you are fondly remembered. [Bill Hastings, 07/04/2004]

Yes, Frontier Town is alive and kickin'. Been going there since I was a young'un in the '50s, and it's still the same. Shootout in the OK Corral, pan for gold, stagecoach and steam train rides (with holdups), tribal dancing in the Indian Village, dancehall girls and comedy in the "Silver Nugget Saloon", bank holdup, cowboys, the Sheriff, horses, cows, buffalo, etc. Now they also have free paddle boat rides through the woods. I love the wooden box with the baby rattlers in it -- still there after all this time! Seems like you've walked onto a Hollywood set while they're filming. Admission covers all rides and shows, all day long. I still love it, and so do my kids! Plan to spend the day. The shows are the best! [Nancy Millionie, 07/04/2004]

I'm certain it goes back further than the 70s -- at least to the early 60s and perhaps even to the late 50s. They had a "Boot Hill" section with a collection of headstones with usually humorous epitaphs. The one I remember was "Here lies Singing Sal -- a real determined performer. It took nine shots to shut her up." It still makes me smile to think of it. :-) [Rich Hurley, 07/22/2000]

Yes, Frontier Town is still open, near Ocean City, MD. You have to pan for your own gold now, and the robbers still try to steal it on both the stage coach and train rides. [Sandy Krause, 07/17/1997]