It’s great to see a groundswell of support building for Old Cowtown Museum — and gratifying that many of the offers of help are coming from outside the city. Cowboy singer Michael Martin Murphey of “Wildfire” fame has offered to perform a special Christmas benefit concert for Cowtown — a terrific idea.
But why stop there? Having an entertainer of Murphey’s stature as a regular at Cowtown would be a big draw. Another booster, True West magazine, is telling its 192,000 readers to send donations to the museum, which it calls a “national treasure.”
Wichita is on the national map as a major Western history hub. In fact, Murphey rightly says that Cowtown “could be and should be the ‘Williamsburg of the American West.’”
Now it’s up to locals to start seeing Cowtown’s huge potential. As our editorial today notes, Wichita can’t let Cowtown ride into the sunset.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- DorisKing on Huckabee felt costs of campaign
- Jed on Let immigrants run
- Regular on Open thread 11/23
- Regular on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- Freebird1971 on Open thread 11/23
- Freebird1971 on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
136 Comments
One thing I have alwasys liked about Cowtown is the museum’s emphasis that the wild west was set in the broader historical frame of the Victorian era.
The place is worth our donations. I will have to send them my meager contribution.
This is just a repost I did on an Open Thread.
I want to make a comment about Old Cowtown. John D’Angelo, who I personally know and used to be my former boss, is spearheading the reorganization of the muesum.
While he did a good job getting the Indian Center back up in the black (thanks to a surprised donor), so I think he lucked out, but I’m not for sure what his true creditals are in helping programs or muesums turn-around. He is a good guy and is a great Director of City Arts, but he is advocating the possibility of closing the facility of Cowtown. He did this to the Wichita Boathouse, and we all know that the Wichita Boathouse has a fat chance of re-opening. It’s going to get torn down.
So I’m afraid if they close Cowtown, it won’t be temporary as they said, it’s for good!I want to make a comment about Old Cowtown. John D’Angelo, who I personally know and used to be my former boss, is spearheading the reorganization of the muesum.
While he did a good job getting the Indian Center back up in the black (thanks to a surprised donor), so I think he lucked out, but I’m not for sure what his true creditals are in helping programs or muesums turn-around. He is a good guy and is a great Director of City Arts, but he is advocating the possibility of closing the facility of Cowtown. He did this to the Wichita Boathouse, and we all know that the Wichita Boathouse has a fat chance of re-opening. It’s going to get torn down.
So I’m afraid if they close Cowtown, it won’t be temporary as they said, it’s for good!
Maybe the Koch’s should step up to the plate and help preserve part of our history and tradition.
A couple of years ago I had the good fortune to be part of a movie making adventure right here in good ol’ Doodah. THe Last REal Cowboy. It never made it to fruition, for several reasons, one of which I blame on the short sightedness of the past director.
The director/producer, Michael David Maguire, made a proposal to the Cow Town Museum that Many thought was a win/win proposition. THe proposal was refused and he moved his base of operations to Brookville. If the movie had of been made it would have been made in the area around and in Brookville.
One of the reasons that ridiculous excuse for a tourist trap in Dodge City was such a sucess for so many years was because of the sucess Matt Dillon and Gunsmoke. One of the reasons that it is struggling today is because Gunsmoke is no longer on the air prime time each week.
Michael David Maquire wanted to make a feature length movie about the post railroad West. Here in Wichita Kansas. He wanted it to be family orientated and historically accurate. He then wanted to go on with a series after the movie.
Can you imagine the national interest that a project like this would generate for the Old COw Town Museum?
The director would not work with him in a way that would even allow them to have guns (movie prop guns) in the museum grounds!
The project is not dead, just on sort of hold status. So Cow Town has remained pure, unfortunately we may have to stand outside the fence and watch it decay.
Many people have donated things to the museum that are curently deteriorating because of mismanagement and lack of money. Somehow I don’t think shutting the doors is any kind of solution, short or long term.
Hank
Took my kid to a Wranglers game the other night. I wanted to share that experience with him one last time.
Why do I mention that here? Here is why.
I stood in line for more than 20 minutes and missed the first inning to get a hot dog, nachos, and soda to share with my son. 10 bucks.
Ever notice how when people go anywhere, the first thing they wanna do is pay exorbitant prices for food? A cheeseburger at LD stadium is $4.25 and they sell!
Cowtown’s admission price is too high. Lower the price of admission and sell food.
If the movie would have been made I would have had the pat of old Doc Granite. Doc Granite was the country doctor and the mayor of Brookville in the movie.
If you want to see a preview go to:
http://www.thelastrealcowboy.com/
There are two previews, in the second one, Spit McGregor – His new life, you can see me playing the mayor in one scene handing the hero his guns and in the next scene swearing him in as the new marshall.
I’m a has-been that never was!
Hank
Hank – I was in a film done in Cowtown – Sarah Plain and Tall. It’s too bad your buddy didn’t get good treatment there – it would make a lot of sense to exploit that.
I’d like to see some sort of comparative study of various places – Cowtown, the Zoo, Museum World Treasures, etc. Why do some seem to make it and some don’t?
The Zoo is one of my favorites. My mother would always go there when she visited from Atlanta – SHE WAS JEALOUS! Our Zoo is world-class.
I love taking the grandkids there. Only problem is I have to take good ID for them – zoo officials tried to accuse me of stealing their primates!
Hey JR,
I don’t rally know what the price of Cowtown’s admissin is. Joyce and I buy a annual family pass. SOme years we don’t go, some years we go a lot. It’s a good place to take family when they are in town visiting.
Years ago, they had a resturante ane a melodrama there. Great place to take visiting family and friends for an ineresting afternoon followed by a reasonalble meal and entertainment. It’s been a while, but I think that all went away because of the Museum’s short sightedness when it came to money.
Sometimes a feature is worth more in the long run than what you can get out of it through monthly rent.
Hank.
Hey Ben!
Saw the movie! Who did you play?
I believe that the Zoo is so sucessful because they really come up with many, many ways for the public to get involved. Both with activities and sponsorships.
If Cowtown had a director that was people friendly with vision it could be a sucess.
Hank
I remember the resturaunt – it was pretty good. We used to have Democratic Party luncheons there. It was a good location for such meetings – plenty of room, parking, etc. Being mid-week made it a win-win for both us and the facility.
I’d like to see the resturaunt open at least on weekends. Especially if they could have reasonably priced ;family-style’ food.
Also, you all know what a lovable person I am! I’ve tried to work with the old director of Cowtown a couple of times and I was treated like a deadbeat!
Can you imagine someone not wanting to work with me!
Hank
Hank – I was just a walk-through in town.
I also had a role in a Police Woman episode. We killed a Chemistry Professor. I wanted to make it realistic by using real bullets – and about a dozen takes!
We created a “TV Blooper”. We had a Phyllis Diller fold-out pinup (from Field&Stream) on a door in the lab which we turned upside down between takes. So, when the action comes one way it is rightside-up; going the other way upside-down.
At all of Wichita’s attractions, a family year pass is a good value. We had one for Exploration Place.
There just is not that much to do at Cowtown and once you have seen it you have seen it.
I have before suggested interactive dinner theatre or other special events relative to the period. lol They should do a hanging.
I heard the restuant went away because they were raising the lease.
It drew quite a few events to the area. I think that when the museum started to get strapped a little for money they started charging more instead of offering more.
Hank
Hey JR,
“There just is not that much to do at Cowtown and once you have seen it you have seen it.”
They did have soe seasonal things that would give you an excuse to go more than once.
The director got fired the Monday after the weekent they had the longhorn cattle drive. That is an event that you really need to see! They drive about a hundred longhorns through the town twice a day on Saturday and Sunday.
I think low attendance this year was the last straw for the board of directors.
Hank
I remember telling Mark Reed at the zoo that they should have a betting pool on which primate would be forst to escape from the exhibit. My guess was an adolescent male chimp; it turned out to be an adolescent female orangutan. He cringed …
The local TV show format is largely dead. But consider a local serial Western with local politicos, newscasters, and celebrities as players. A bawdy but family friendly format could be used. If the thing was “off” enough, it could get syndicated.
For starters it needs a new name. Cowtown…it is really a bad name…. has absolutely no appeal.Just tell your children or spouse that you are going to spend a few hours at cowtown, and see how much passion it stirs.
I know that Hank. Mom me and my son went to a Christmas thing at cowtown. This too though was badly done. It was just kinda “Cowtown at night”.They do have interesting holiday things like the 4th of July anvil shoots. I should go see that sometime. They should have free admission for that and sell food.
I’m 36, have a wife and two kids that love to go to cowtown as often as possible. I remember all of the things that cowtown used to have. One of my most favorite events was during the river festival in the 70’s. The used to have an Ice Cream Social event that was one of the best. I remember me and my 2 brothers getting Ice Cream Cones and you could have as many scopes of ice cream they could put on the cone. I think the most I ever saw was 7 Scopes.
My biggest concern is that I have now heard of two profitable ventures that have been turned down by someone at cowtown. The first event was a Boy Scout Troop (Approx. 300 Scouts) that wanted to put on an event for 1 to 2 days. We are now trying to get that event worked out and it looks like it will work out. The 2nd one was the event that Michael Martin Murphey wanted to put on. Both of these events could easily bring money into cowtown.
If a single boy scout troop would be interested in going to cowtown for 1 to 2 days with a campout then it seems that the other scout troops would be interested as well. Currently I have only seen the Girl Scout troops at cowtown.
Cowtown has huge potential they just need better leadership up top.
I would also like to say Hats Off to those who are currently working there they are doing a heck of a job with nothing. They have plans but need our support in order to make them come to reality and for cowtown to become profitable.
Cris
The major problem is that Cowtown has no leadership from its board. When they let go Jan McKay in my opinion she was the scapegoat. I have worked with her and never had a problem. Under her watch the stagecoach, old time photos, and cattle drives were added just to name a few.
Another problem is that Cowtown receives a piddly sum of money from the city and county. While the zoo gets $4 million. With at least half of that Cowtown would be a major attraction. Also the zoo would not be what it is without that money.
My solution is to:1. Bring back a restaurant and add a music hall that local bands could use.2. Hire competant people to run the museum (Director, Marketing Person, one more curator, an interpretation director and a historian) but with this comes a price. Competent people will cost money.3. Work with WSU, Friends, and Newman to get history majors to help at the museum.4. Get the buildings in better shape.5. Put the collections in one building. Cowtown currently has a building across the parking lot by the visitors center that was given to them by the city.
Sorry for the long post but that is what I think Cowtown should do.
In all fairness to Jan she may have been a scapegoat….I don’t know how much leeway the board gave her in the running of the museum. Also, I’m sure she has been under a lot of stress the last few years.
However, when I tried to deal with her thee wasn’t much dealing with her.
Hank
The Girl Scouts have participated at Cowtown for at least 45 years. I remember being a guide in the Munger House and the Train Depot when I was a Girl Scout. One of my daughters spent GS “summer camp” at Cowtown. The girls wore costumes of the era–most hand made by moms, with no zippers on the clothes, only hooks and eyes and buttons. They even cooked their own meals over a fire.
With the GS, I’ve attended “Christmas Through the Windows of Cowtown” with frozen feet.
But people aren’t as interested in history as they once were. I used to enjoy going to Silver Dollar City each fall, but I’ve heard that most of the craftsmen there have been replaced by more rides. That’s what seems to draw people these days. Perhaps Cowtown needs a roller coaster. ;)
It’s probably best to re-locate it to Wild West World and turn the area of Old Cowtown into a condo complex.
Why not spend the millions that it would take to move the buildings to Park City (insert laughtrack here) and give that money to Cowtown. Of course that would be against Wichitans line of thinking. Save our non historic buildings (i.e. Botkins Flats, Boathouse, Rays Sales Building, etc.) and let our real historic buildings run down(Orpheum Theatre, Kansas Aviation Museum, Munger House, etc.) God this town needs a wake up call bad. Save Cowtown and thus save Wichita’s history.
Oh sure Joe move it up to Brother Terrys neighborhood next to the amusement park that is destined to fail.
People don’t go to have fun at a place that is the haven of haters!
Last I heard, donations were pouring in to Cowtown and I agree also with SHocker.
Information and observations from tonight’s board meeting:1. D’Angelo just repeated what he said in the paper. No real new news. He is so stuck on closing it for at least 18 months.2. A lot of people in the crowd were not happy with any of D’Angelo’s “options”3. The crowd took up money for Cowtown and dropped it in front of the board. Right in front of Sciortino. That was the highlight of the meeting.4. The board extended Jan McKay’s leave until September 21. I wish they would just fire her or keep her.5. The speakers about 30 of them all had good ideas on keeping Cowtown open. If only D’Angelo and the board listen to them is the big question.6. If I hear one more corny country analogy I am going to kill myself. Sciortino had at least 2 of themSorry about the long postShocker06
Sorry I forgot something,They did not decide on anything at the meeting. Since D’Angelo did not present anything to help them and with all the public comments. The board had no choice but to postpone their decision until they can look at all the information. They finally did something right.Shocker06
What a disaster. As a child, way back in the 1960s, I used to go to Cowtown. It was a special treat. I learned an appreciation for Wichita and western history that never left me.
Cowtown is an extraordinary place. I still go there today anytime I am traveling through Wichita.
The real problem here is that when you live somewhere you take things for granted.
Wichitans need to take a real good look ………. and save a part of their heritage.
Densel MyersYukon, Oklahoma
Cowtown when it had the melodrama and restaurant was the best time my family had in Wichita! What a sad state of affairs to even think of closing it. Wichita has some of the richest history and Cowtown is the center of it. I say close everything else in town and keep this marvelous treasure open…at all costs! *Sending my contribution NOW!*
I take all my visitors there and they always have a grand time. Maybe we could get the local theater groups very involved and keep the theatrics going and the live period people walking through in character like the town has never changed! Shame on Wichita if we lose this wonderful treasure!
I’m disappointed that the city didn’t think about this before plans regarding the Downtown Arena. I felt the Downtown Arena was unnessary since business isn’t too shabby at the Ice Skating Rink and The Exploration Place. Futhermore, plans on ways to improve funding should have been thought through for Old Cowtown (plus other businesses having a funding crisis) before the arena was implemented. Cowtown is Wichita’s signature in history, and it should take presidence over the arena. Moreover, I would have been elated to have spent the extra sales tax on helping out Old Cowtown. On the news, they mentioned that the Downtown Arena tax was over projected. Couldn’t this extra projection go toward Old Cowtown?
Cowtown,1) no reason to return after first visit.2) no reason to return after first visit.You are probably getting my drift about now. The same goes for Exploration place, the Wichita Boathouse, and Gander Mountain.A Cowtown that is preserved in a manner that excludes modern attractions will not succeed. Modern attractions being: restuarants, bar & grill, ice cream shop, cowboy themed game room, maybe even a cowbot themed bowling alley. On a normal Saturday morning what is the draw to get me to come back? I would go there if a great BBQ joint were on site, or a great burger grill.Instead, it is a dusty, old, monotonous, stuffy, place. I have been there once a few years ago and it was terrible boring.I think it should just shut down and disband the board. New minds with fresh ideas will come along. I don’t think sucking dollars out of the public is wise if the same board is in place.Tom
One more thought, take a picture, shoot a video, and tear the thing down. If something does not draw as an attraction – maybe it just isn’t an attraction. What brings the kids to Cowtown? Shootouts! Not dusty old buildings.
Tom,I love it when people who have not been to Cowtown recently give ideas. If you read my first post I say put in a restaurant. Also Cowtown has added events in the past year that should entertain. But Cowtown is not in business to entertain people it is in business to be a museum. Do people go to the Art Museum to be entertained. No they go there to see precious collections and artifacts.
Also let me repeat the zoo gets $4 million from the county. With out that money the zoo would not be a world class zoo. It would be just like it was at Riverside Park a little and non exciting zoo.
My major problem I have is how it is now going to take at least 18 months to get Cowtown back on track. Why close and only open to groups and tours when you have 3,000 volunteers that can and will help with repairs. I mow lawns parttime I can help with mowing and cleaning the place up. It does not take a paid professional to clean up and fix the grounds.
Also to everybody this weekend they are having the The Grand National Championship of the American Frontier Re-enactors Guild at Cowtown. If you want to see shootouts go this weekend. There will be plenty of gunfights for everyone.
Shocker06,I didn’t feel like reading your initial comments, nor do I feel you have a clue about what distinct differences there are between art and buildings. Art is facinating. It is produced by people who have extremely enriched talents. Buildings are built by carpenters. If someone painted a picture of a carpenter building a building then I might go see it.The same painting can fascinate me each time I visit the same art museum.A wood building is a wood building. You may like to visit dusty old wood buildings but the majority of local citizens differ. Who needs dust, heat,dirt streets, and wood buildings to serve as living history. I can drive 40 miles any direction and find the same stuff and don’t have to put up with the boredom one feels after paying money for nothing. I have changed my idea. Forget the restuarants and fun, let the thing rot away while old settler whine away about their living history. Take a chunk of it, throw it in an air conditioned museum, and I will go see it.Enjoy your mowing. I think you should volunteer your time to serve the real needs of some of our less fortunate citizens rather than riding/pushing a lawn mower around an old community that never had lawn mowers. Are lawn mowers part of the living history? Turn it in to a movie set, cut a cheap deal with Hollywood, and use it for something other than a boring reminder of our boring history. Delano! Now there’s a place worth preserving.Tom
Tom,I guess if I volunteer at something I love and interests me I should ignore that and donate my time to the less fortunate. Why don’t you tell that to the 3,000 of other volunteers who donate their time to Cowtown.
Cowtown represents Wichita’s history. It educates kids on what life was like in the pioneer days. But I guess you would rather have them learn it in textbooks and at a theme park.
You say I don’t have a clue about art. Maybe I don’t because I don’t like art that much but I appreciate what the Art Museum brings and does for Wichita.
Cowtown has visitors from Australia, England, Canada, and from other U.S. states. I have talked with them while I volunteer at Cowtown and they all think it is neat that Wichita has a living history museum like Cowtown.
In regards to the mowing comment it is done when visitors are not around. The museum does have grass in it so it does need to be mowed and trimmed.
Delano’s history is what Cowtown is trying to preserve.
Uh Tom?
You seem to want YOUR preferences funded and not others.
I seriously doubt there are many art museums running entirely in the black!
I have been to Exploration Place with my son 17 times. We still haven’t seen it all.
Cowtown is a community asset. New ideas? Sure I’ve posted a few before myself.But closing it is unthinkable.
I like the idea of siphoning the excess funds for the arena to fund Cowtown. That debacle should have SOME positive legacy. I’d also be in favor of a luxury or prpoerty tax on some or our more well heeled citizens. This community has given them alot. ‘Bout time they gave some back.
Bar & Grill, bowling alley, OctoberFest, somewhere to escape the heat and dust. I can’t imagine not seeing everything in Exploration place after 1 visit let alone 17 visits.3,000 people volunteering to enhance the future to me is better than preserving old buildings and dirt streets.I know, why don’t you 3,000 folks volunteer at the SRS and go out and save some children from abuse! Really, it’s old buildings and dirt streets, what’s there to preserve? It’s a tumbleweed, let it blow away.
I hope to see Ozzy play the new arena.
Ozzfest is gonna be at the new arena!?
When?
Someone edited or moved my original post under Dulcinea ’s name and put my name under someone’s post I DID NOT AGREE WITH (sorry Tom) . I am the one who WANTS TO PRESERVE IT and keep it a part of our heritage. Here is my original post that someone made changes to.
I’m disappointed that the city didn’t think about this before plans regarding the Downtown Arena. I felt the Downtown Arena was unnessary since business isn’t too shabby at the Ice Skating Rink and The Exploration Place. Futhermore, plans on ways to improve funding should have been thought through for Old Cowtown (plus other businesses having a funding crisis) before the arena was implemented. Cowtown is Wichita’s signature in history, and it should take presidence over the arena. Moreover, I would have been elated to have spent the extra sales tax on helping out Old Cowtown. On the news, they mentioned that the Downtown Arena tax was over projected. Couldn’t this extra projection go toward Old Cowtown?
Never mind. I guess our names our posted under our opionions.
Cowtown is one of a kind. There is no museum in the country that can match what cowtown has to offer. Cowtown has more Existing Structures from In and Around Wichita than any museum can lay claim to in the Era they represent.If we turn tail and run every time an issue pops up then Wichita will have nothing left but Empty buildings.
There are Countries that wish they had what cowtown has to offer. Most countries don’t preserve there past and wish they had.
The Ice Rink was suffering for a period of time and now is very profitable even before Rink Management came on. However, they are doing it on the backs of the Ice Skaters, Hockey Families, and Volunteers (You know those of us who know how to actually Mow A Law in the 1870’s and Today).
Cowtown can be revived and become a very profitable Museum. The key is setting it up to run similar to the Zoo, Establish an Endowment, and give the chance for people, groups, and private companies the ability to Adopt Buildings and/or areas. However, this all takes time and support.
By the way, Art is not Just Paintings. Art is in the eye of the Beholder. It can be as simple as a Building, Landscape (Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rushmore), Tower (Eifel Tower), Car, etc… If you think Art is only Paint on a canvas then you don’t know what Art is.
Open your eyes. You may not care about Cowtown today or tomorrow. But it won’t be too long and you will be in the same boat we are and are looking for someone to support what you like, and it may or not be there because of the actions you perform today will affect you tomorrow.
Keep it open, at least for now. However, reduce hours. Hopefully the visitor total will remain the same but have a bit less overhead.
Reopen the restauraunt.
Perhaps open the saloon at night – with real drinks.
Poker tournaments.
Get meetings etc at the restaurant.
Just some thoughts …
Shocker 96, 01
Friends of the dusty plains. Our airport is expensive to fly to. Our claim as “the air capital of the world” is hideous. Our city is full of restuarants….let me repeat this again – we Wichitans LOVE to eat out at RESTUARANTS! You can’t get a bite of beef within a 1/2mile of Cowpattyville.I would go there. I would be happy to take friends, visitors, and families there but not to gawk and awe but to EAT and then STROLL. I will not go to Cowdustcity until there is a viable restuarant to visit, and not some poorboy soup served by a bunch of volunteers. What is it about you hardliners that muddies your vision? Society has changed – paying money to get dirty and thirsty isn’t an attraction. It’s a pain in the ass on the wallet side.Exploration place sucks because the building is bland. Uhh, concrete that curves. Whoop te do! Where are some vibrant colors, something that makes it attractive. What about the 4 mile walkway to enter the place…who the heck thought of that. There is no way we’ll know…the guy cashed his million dollar check and went back to Poland.Keep Cowtown. Fire the board. Put me on the board! I will slap a cow patty upside the head of any hardline fundamentalist Islamic Cow lover. Wichitans will go where the food is….not where the dirt is. If I want to see a real cowboy I’ll watch a John Wayne movie. I get pukeified just thinking of how lame Cowtown is. I would go back if I really liked the food, not the same old dingy porch. Holy Smokes – the person who suggested poker tournements was right on the money. Cowtown weren’t constructed by preachers. They were built by money grubbing, booze swilling, hooker happy, men who wanted to move cattle, get drunk, and play poker. Wyatt Earp wasn’t a preacher – he was a lawman. Why? because Wichita raised hell back in the day. Today we gather to pray for goofy stuff hoping things will change through the power of positive thinking. Has anyone watched the HBO series ‘Deadwood’?Where’s my saddle? I’m heading northwest to Wilson Creek, meeting Bill Custer there to talk about some good buffalo burgers I had in Abilene.
Tom,For the last time I and many others on here suggested a restaurant at Cowtown. Of course you don’t look back at posts so you probaly did not know that.
Cowtown is a museum it has artifacts. So it still needs to be a museum. I think it needs to have true to history gunfights and compare them to the “hollywood” style of gunfights. If you do not have cowboys you are really not representing the real west.
Tom,Since you claim you will go to an attraction just to eat and look around. What restaurant does the Zoo have?
Tom,What restaurant does the Art Museum have that you love so much. Last I knew you couldn’t take food into the Art Museum, but yet you choose to go there.
Your comments do not make much sense…
I would hate to see this museum close. Did you know that 12,000 school children visit Cowtown each year? My love of Kansas history was nurtured at Cowtown in the 1970’s.
Please remember that a museum’s primary function is to educate, not entertain. Save Cowtown for your children and grandchildren!
I’ve been reading all the comments about the so called competition between Wild West World and Old Cowtown, and my question is, how do you compare a theme park and a living history museum? Why is there a competition between two things that have little more in common than the words wild west? People don’t expect to ride on a rollercoaster with a big painted plywood cowboy on top when they visit Cowtown anymore than they would expect to see a Victorian wedding or a cattle drive when they visit Wild West World. Where is the competition?
The competition is for dollars. Wild West is where the kids want to go – repeatedly. Cowtown is where the kids want to go – once. As for Victorian weddings…I’ll be happy to give up a front row seat at the wedding to stand in line to ride the Ferris wheel.
Kind People,There is a restuarant in the Wichita Art Museum. I’ll refrain from sharing the name so you can look it up yourself.
For the last time – Cowtown sucks without a restuarant. It just doesn’t need one – it MUST have one or it will cease. A good old fashioned tornado would solve the Cowtown problem. Then we would see how committed 3,000 volunteers are to walk 5-10 miles in all directions picking up chunks of wood, oops, I mean artifacts.
It seems to me there’s enough room around here for those who are interested in amusement park rides and for those of us who are interested in honoring and preserving our history. Cowtown is one form of entertainment and Wild West World is another. Sorry you don’t seem to think Old Cowtown Museum is worth visiting more than once. I’d rather see a gunfight or bank robbery at Cowtown than ride on the ferris wheel. That’s my cup ‘o tea. Let me enjoy it and you can enjoy yours.
Towns People,The Zoo is an exhibit of live animals. Throughout the exhibit there are refreshment stands, shaded rest areas, and all the walk paths are paved. You can feed a goat…but you can’t feed a hitching post. Kids want to feed to goats. Two seconds of viewing a hitching post and there is never a need to see it again. Why? Because the movies use the hitching post by tying a horse to it. The cowboy picks a fight with a stranger in the bar. The cowboy gets his but kicked and he stumbles out and rides away on his horse. Standing in Cowtown looking at a hitch post does not entertain. I think I’ll run for mayor so I can further clear this up. There are so many more important contributions to art and culture in our community than saving Old Dusty Outhouseville.
So Tom, what are the other art and cultural findings in Wichita:1) Premiere Palace Theatre shows arthouse and independent films.2) Wichita Symphany3) Wichita Community Theatre4) Wichite Centre for the Arts.5) Wichita Art Museum6) Rolling Stones!7) Chamber Music at the Barn8) The Zoo9) Train museum10!!!! Gander Mountain.
One more thing I forgot to address, my children volunteer at Cowtown with me, of their own free will, and some of their friends have also volunteered with us from time to time. I’ve been out there for more than four years and even if my children don’t feel like contributing on any given weekend, they’ll still beg to go along with me. So you’re incorrect when you state that kids only want to go there once.
Debbie – please enjoy Cowtown but if it is not solvent – it needs to go bye bye, adios, etc.Just the name itself if boring. Cowtown? Hmmm? A cow in a town? Cows who live in a town? I am picturing cows slinging mucas while crammed inside a stable watching a repeating video of Major Astro swilling vodka and swatting flies.How about Cowboy Town? Or Cowbell City, or Hereford Hotel, or Ma Cow’s Brothel, or Waste of Time, come on back, ya’hear!
Your children are brainwashed! Quick! Someone call Calamity Jane; she’ll straighten this mess out!Debbie, I am an a-hole sometimes.
Here’a question for all the positive minded folk?Asside from my banter and personal feelings – please try to answer this question as if it came from a respected citizen?
Why does Wichita and many of it’s independent entities plan major functions, i.e. Riverfest, Bluegrass, Shoot-outs, festivals, in the heat of the summer? Heat – good for the old – avoided by the smart.
You said it, not me.
Answer my question, little woman. (Cowboy talk)
Debbie – I challenge you to challenge me to come out and volunteer for 3 or 4 hours some day!
This blog is the only place I feel safe sharing my feelings about Cowtown. It reduces the chance that a posse will be sent after me.
So why don’t you come out this weekend and enjoy the festivities. I’m assuming you can behave yourself, can’t you?
What’s happening? Will my 2yr old daughter get something out of it? How do I know the guns have fake bullets? Will I get bitten by insects? Are there working toilets? What if my daughter gets thirsty or hungry?Come on Debbie, tell me the truth about Cowtongue. Is it really entertaining or will I have to fake it for my daughter?
Debbie,Tom won’t come out because you remember Cowtown according to him is only a visit once attraction. I love how he has not visited Cowtown in several years and still offers his contradictory opinions on what should be done. Yet several posters have said the same thing about bringing in a restaurant and he ignores them.
Shocker00,Debbie and I were starting to develop a rapport and now you’ve come along slinging rattlesnake stew.She invited me out to Cowville and I was inquiring about what to expect. I am considering it.Debbie – Shocker00 has got it out for me. Can I hide in your stable overnight until the Shocker passes through. I don’t mean no harm. I just want to see my daughter and maybe buy a couple of 50# bags of flour.
C’mon Tom, mosey on out to Old Cowtown this weekend (saloon girl talk) I’ll be more than happy to tie you up to one of the hitching posts you spoke so fondly of, then your little girl and I can drink a sasparilla and watch the gunfighters competiting in the National Gunfighting Competition.
Little Debbie,you don’t want to wrangle with a city slicker like me. I know how to tame a woman now. I’ve been as far as Springfield, MO. and I can handle you cow-folks. There shouldn’t be no women on the streets, and there won’t be if Tom BullHorn rides into town.
Tom-You crack me up! Debbie called me about your posts and I truly hope your just messing with her. If you really do have a rwo year old daughter bring her out this weekend. She would love it. My daughter is two and she has a great time, at least once a month… I swear! We will be dancing in the saloon, and little girls love all of the colors. My daughter has been known to try to get up on stage to join the fun. There are two sets of on grounds indoor plumbing, and we actually do sell food in the Cafe. There really is fake bullets in the guns. Plus a wagon or a stagecoach for you to take your precious one in. Maybe the pony will be out to take her for a ride. So try to come out, I will only be there on Saturday so if you want protection for Debbie and her long rope you better come then.To everyone else-Micheal Martin Murphy’s concert came with a pricetag! It was going to cost the museum to put on the concert by the time they met his needs. The restaurant was great and greatly missed. They chould bring it back, but the reason it closed was because the owner became terminally ill. Just thought you should all know.
Debbie,…just like a friendly Georgia Onion like Vidalia to come in and try to paint the town red.My daughter loves to dance….but her Daddy hates to sweat, except when exercising or hurding doggies through Wilson Creek westward on the Butterfield Trail.If the weather is nice like it is today we’ll put on our duds and come on out from the air conditioning.Speaking of living history, I just ate a Nu-way sandwich with their homemade onion…that combination will hurd the doggies down the trail, if you know what I mean.
Tom,Please stop with the gross humor.T. Tifarht
Tom,You are one human life that I will not protect.Sam Browncrack
Tom,How disgusting of you. You should have your mouth washed with soap.Nancy Landon Gasebomb
Tom,You are dirty just like my lake.D. Cheney
Tom,If I knew where Wichita was I would send in the troops to smoke you out.Gee. W. Bush
Tom,If I knew where Wichita was I would send in the troops to smoke you out.Gee. W. Bush
Tom,I killed Jesse James and I had sordid relations with Carey Nation.John Karr
Tom,I used to dance at the Delano Saloon and smoke sparrow feathers on the banks of the muddy Arkansas river. In those days we called it E-coli creek.Condomleeza Vice
Tom,Stop talking to yourself. You need to become a productive member of the community. How about volunteering at Cowtown? You need to leave your humor at home, around Cowtown we are puritans.Tom Bumb
Tom,Clearly your computer privileges will be yanked as soon as Dirty Sally gets down from the mountain. Old No.7 ain’t what he used to be and Sally won’t be in a friendly way. I am going to bed down now, now wash your toes and go to bed. We gotta be up early to sheer the cats.Tom Bumb
Debbie,I think I’ll leave the 2yr old at home and take you up on the rope and hitching post offer.If someone doesn’t talk to me I’ll just continue to talk to myself….and that ain’t good.Tom
Debbie,I think I’ll leave the 2yr old at home and take you up on the rope and hitching post offer.If someone doesn’t talk to me I’ll just continue to talk to myself….and that ain’t good.Tom
What the heck? I keep repeating myself. I fear I am leaving a bad impression. Well, I am off to the watering well. Everyday at 1:45 Miss Nellie fills 10 buckets and, well, I like to stand in the shade and watch her bend into that there well.Tom
Tom-Crazyland called and your room is now ready.Thank you for your cooperation
What Cowtown needs to do is stop being a museum get a life. The management has treated our history as it’s own little feifdom and cut the people of Wichita out of the process. It needs to find ways to get as many people involved in it’s exhibits and operations as possible; then those people will have a stake in Cowtown and it’s survival.
So true except for the museum part
Doc, ain’t you sposa’ say:I’ll be yer huckleberry?
I have no idea about Doc Holiday… I just made up a name to keep crazy Tom from knowing who I am! PROZAC!
Prozac my ass.THORAZINE!!
Doc,\Yer my dangleberryTom
Tracy…tell me more about your ass.
I’ll pop a knot on your head so big it’ll need a social security number!!
Wow, Calamity Tracy…you shouldn’t reference your ass if you don’t want others to ask about it.I’ll refrain from mentionin that my IQ is 172.
This sure beats anything I ever stepped in!
By the way, I prefer a glass of water to wash prozac down the throat. Your ass method is something new. It must be odd for you to have to pull your finger out once or twice a day to make room for that darn pill.
BOY, I’ll be on you like a rat on a cheeto!
Bring it on girl! I’ll flip you over and add a sausage to your pancake.
Why, I’ll beat you like lumpy pancake batter.
Meet me in the street in front of Cowbell Hall. Be sure you got your private affairs in order and kiss your family. Ole Tom Bumb don’t mess around when dueling with a woman.
So where’s Curley?
How big a ol boy are ya’ anyhow?
I’m bringin my barrel of whup ass,am I gonna need a flaslight and a tent?
I’ll spray a shot of butter between your lumpy cakes so fast it’ll make your hashbrown tingle and your eyes roll back. Then I’ll hogtie you and drag you behind a goat.
Why hell, I bet you ain’t no bigger than a popcorn fart.
How big a boy?6′2″ – 295# of Corn fed Kansas boy.
Honey,My stick of butter has buttered cakes bigger than yours (I regret to say).Whyy, if a 6″ butter stick ain’t good enough for you I think it says more about you than it does me.I’ll Bumbrush you while your hanging over the well.
My goat ain’t small now. Gettin’ dragged ain’t no joyride. My goat has been known to eat up a hashbrown or two.
Aw, you ain’t no bigger than a bar of soap.Shit I’ll be on you like dried gum under a church pew.
You’re a little more refined than I thought- knowing about soap and all.I don’t like dried gum, well, except for Juicy Fruit….hmm hmm juicy.You ain’t no tougher than polecat in a pot of stew.
whyyy, I bet you get as loud as a mouse pissin’ on cotton.
Respect your elders boy,I’ll be on you like a wet fart on satin panties!!
BTW, I’m tougher than a two dollar steak.
Cowtown could really use an authentic Boston style chowDAH house and seafood restaurant.
V.L.R.B!!
Haven’t you heard?You must be a stranger in town.Ask the regulars, they’ll tell ya’.
Hell, I eat farted lightning bolts for snacks.Shit, my breath is enough to take out your puny ass!
With that kind of diet, you must use a lot of asbestos lip gloss!
I carry a six-shooter that’ll blow your wrinkled knocker knobs off from 200 yards out.
I have pillow cases made from the same fabric you mentioned earlier.Goodnight Poo bear, sleep tight.
Ian,Actually that’s a bit of our history that’s been pretty much forgotten. Trains used to bring clams, oysters, lobsters and other seafood in tanks, and restaurants bought them and served them in Wichita, and a host of small towns around here waited for the weekly “Oyster Train.” Maybe a seafood house there would be educational as well as delicious.
Wow Tom, you went kinda crazy while I was at work today. Anyways, my invitation stands. I’ll be out at Cowtown both Saturday and Sunday, with lots of rope and a hitching post reserved just for YOU. Hope to see ya there.
For the love of God Tom, GANDER MOUNTAIN?!?!?!
Tommy go crazy. Tommy all better now.
Tommy boy, you get back here.I’m gonna be on you like ugly on a baboon’s ass, boy.
“Tracy, I love you”
Movie title from the 80’s…can you name the lead actress?
This is the schedule for the weekend:
>Harmonica Hombres y Una Mujer both days – drug store – 1:30 to 3:30>Irish Jam Session Sunday from 1 to 4, Chuckwagon Cafe with renditions of Irish and American folk music>Book signing in Visitor Center Saturday only [on going] by Bob Boze Bell w/his books and Dr. Jay Price author of the new release >The Cherokee Strip Land Rush: How the West was Run.>Shaved Ice north of Scale House – on going>Mrs. Parker’s Millinery and Mercantile – Millinery demonstrations, original hats and bonnets on display, reproduction hats and bonnets for purchase at Fechheimers – on going>Drover Mercantile – our good friends from Ellsworth, the Kansas COWBOY, brings his period clothing and accoutrements to Cowtown, a must stop for the complete 1870s look, McGinn Center>Conway Chuckwagon Cookers [across from livery & stockyards demonstration only -no free samples for guests]>Re-enactors camps near Drovers’ camp across from 1st Presbyter.>Kid activity in Orientation: Make and Take WANTED POSTER!>2:30 Sat. & 2:15 Sunday east of General Store: Stick Horse Rodeo>on going both days: Buffalo Silhouette Target Practice with Bow & Arrows – east of General Store>Stagecoach rides pickup at the Bank>Kansas Mounted Shooting Association competition – on going in north farm field>Dixie Lee Saloon Girls performing at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 each day
Saturday9:00 Opening CeremonyMuseum opens9:30 through 11:30 Gunfight or living history competition every half hour (will alternate)Noon Arrival of Bob Boze Bell by stagecoach12:15 Fast Draw competition1:00 through 4:30 Gunfight or living history competition every half hour (will alternate)5:00 Fast Draw finals (if necessary)Museum closes
Sundaynoon Museum opens5:00 Showdown5:30 Awards ceremony
Tom, have you left me for another woman?
Tom you incompetent fuck.You crashed the blog.Why, I otta knock your lungs loose.
What’s wrong boy?Ain’t ya ever had your ass whooped by an old man like me?You like hairy assed, bald headed grandpas like me?Why I’ll smack your gay ass so hard, your kids will wake up stupid.
Debbie I’m back. I wouldn’t entertain leaving you for another woman. Tracy’s got me thinking about old men though.WOW -I think I will go to Cowtown! I am very impressed by the event schedule. I am very interested in the music and shaved ice. Heck, this here Cowtown might be worth saving.See how a boy can be converted so easily. It’s called irrefutable facts – I can’t argue with music.By the way – I bought the New Bob Dylan CD “Modern Times”, it came out yesterday. It is brilliant. I bet Bob would like Cowtown. If he likes it, I like it.All I ask is that I don’t get thirsty and don’t get dust get blown all over me. Can this small request be met?Debbie – I am going to look you up. I don’t look like a stalker but I am 6′2″ – 295#. I’ll be the one with a grimace sucking on shaved ice. My 2yr old daughter will be pulling me in her red wagon.Are cameras allowed?Will the dancing girls show some leg or is everything covered?Can I pull my daughter in her wagon or will some volunteer tell me to take it outside. Why, I’ll knock the dizzy right of that there woman.OH – How much to get in the gate?Tracy – you big girl.Debbie – you lovely girl.
RegardsT
Hello again Tom. Let me see if I can answer all your questions…you won’t get thirsty as long as you have money in your pocket. You can purchase a variety of soft drinks, water, or, if I’m not mistaken, you could even buy a beer in the saloon. (if we still have a liquor license…don’t hold me to that one.) Unless you lay down and wallow in the dirt, the only thing that will get dusty are your shoes. Camera’s are allowed, we love to have our pictures taken!! You can pull your daughter all over the museum grounds in her wagon, though you might find it easier to park it outside the buildings if you choose to take a peek inside or catch a show in the saloon or T-Hall. You’ll see plenty of leg in the saloon…well, legs covered in black tights and long lacey drawers. Does that count? Admission is $7.50 for you and since your daughter is younger than four, she gets in for free. I’ll be the saloon girl carrying several feet of rope…maybe I’ll leave that at home since you seemed to have warmed up to us a little bit. I’ll be wearing mostly purple and red feathers in my hair and a six shooter in my garter. See ya this weekend.
D. DeRouleta.k.a.Sinnamon Sadie
Sinalot Sadie,I’ll look you up. Cold water and a bar stool sounds good to me. I applaud your fun spirit.To–
Another good idea for Cowtown.
Creatively engineer gunfights.
Make the technology hidden, but allow attendees to engage in a stand off in the street with other visitors. Sort of a laser tag kinda thing.
Give me any right winger at “20 paces turn and fire” and I’m there!
Tom,If you are interested I will be working at the Livery and you can help your Daughter with a Pony Ride.
We expect to be pretty busy, but I will make sure she gets a good pony ride if she is interested.
Also, one piece of advice I tell friends of mine about Cowtown. If you looking to learn about Cowtown and Wichtias History with out alot of people then go on Non-Event Weekends or during the Week. If you are looking for more excitment then you will probably find that the event weekends are more exciting especially around Halloween and Christmas.
Anyone who is interested,There are plans in the works for Blacksmith and Wheelwright (sp?) classes starting soon. Contact Bill or Greg at the Blacksmith Shop if you are interested. Also, if you have a cub scout pack they Museum is starting a Cub Scout program, several of the Activities we do on site are Eligible Merit Badge activties. There are talks about other classes starting as well, but not sure what they will be.
Note: I’m not a fundamentalist, just very passionate about the things my family and I care for. This is the second go around for my family. The 1st one was the Ice Rink. Both of my kids are Very Competitive Ice Skaters. Hopefully the Zoo won’t be number three.
thanks Cris.
Cris,If your family begins a zoo journey they’ll most likely become Las Vegaos performers – Ice Skating Cowboys dressed as Flamingos!