Our editorial today raises a question that many people have been asking: Why don’t the Prairie Rose Wranglers start performing at Old Cowtown Museum? The Wranglers need a venue, because the Prairie Rose ranch is being auctioned off as part of Wild West World bankruptcy. And Old Cowtown needs visitors and, frankly, would provide a more interesting and convenient setting than the ranch near Benton. Seems like a great fit.
Cowtown officials haven’t seemed particularly enthusiastic, noting that their visitor center isn’t big enough, and worrying that raising money for another building might siphon away funds needed for Cowtown operations. But what about contracting with a private operator to finance, build and operate the facility, which wouldn’t need to be fancy? As successful as the Prairie Rose was, I would think there would be several takers.
What do you bloggers think?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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29 Comments
Good idea. A self-supporting entity at Cowtown could also bring people into Cowtown itself.
But, but Old Cowtown Museum just built a brand new, multi-million dollar meeting building with gift shop and kitchen. Its located just to Cowtown’s east edge and on the north bank of the Arkansas River.
Although only a couple years old, it appears to be vacant most of the time. Strange.
Why not use this limestone and wood building with a parking lot in place? Or does somebody know something about it that would preclude this use?
Perhaps the old Prairie Rose Staff could get together along with an investor to operator a working and viable restaurant in the Cowtown restaurant/meeting area.
It would be a boon to the restaurant, gift shop, Cowtown and the Wichita general area.
I bet with some smart singing Stars it would even attract some TV commercial and movie guys.
I can envision all the local car dealers utilizing Cowtown as background with the Prairie Rose singers singing.
Cowtown with entertainment is a good call but Cowtown has a major stumbling block to over come.Cowtown tries to preserve the exact settings of the period as a living history museum.
If Cowtown was a little like a Silver Dollar City it could maintain and prosper.
The people that have direct influence over Cowtown will have to make the decision to break away from out-dated concepts and be willing to think outside of the box or continue their downward decent to obliteration.
Two spots - both just outside the museum proper:
The new building - set up restaurant, shows, etc.
The old restaurant just west of the old main gate. I used to go to a number of luncheon meetings there.
Neither of these have to stay ‘pure’ to the times.
Then add drinks at the bar ‘after hours’
Ben, seems reasonable to me.
VT - a legal question: I see ads for Texas Hold-em. Isn’t that gambling?
If it is legal could they do that in the saloon?
Ben, this gets very complex. Texas Hold-em is indeed gambling, but if the ‘Prizes’ are constructed in the right way, it is not gambling as prohibited by the statutes. Researched this once for a client, and recall that much.
Thanks VT. I think the idea of card tournaments at the Saloon might be interesting. And, of course, alcohol which is always a big mark-up money-maker.
Entertainment of almost any kind is needed and attended in Wichita. Sell a plate of barbque and some live entertainment and Cowtown becomes a major place. Great idea.
Very true think. I would add that many of us have money in our pockets but very little time. That is one reason restaurants do so well in Wichita. IMO a decent restaurant at attractions (they are adding one at my Zoo for example) will both be a money-maker AND will help the venue itself make money.
Maybe Etheridge could raise a group of investors and get the ball rolling. I hear he’s a great entrepaneur.
With a down town casino nearby, the losers would have some place to visit for little $.
I think Etheridge will be looking for a FEMA trailer after all his undoings are finished.
I don’t mind. I’m not into that kind of music or show, but what the hell. Why not!
I am a big fan of both the Prairie Rose and the Prairie Rose wranglers and yes there is a wonder outcome for both Cow town and the wranglers in this. If you have never been to the Prairie Rose, it try to give the visitor the “feel” of the old west. The buildings have the look of the 1800 century west, the rides are of the period and the outfits are of a more innocent time. Though they reflect a bit more from the fifties and early sixties movie serials and T.V. westerns. The main theme is still that of the life of the west and they hold close to it. It prove a working theme. I have been to the Rose a number of times and they drew visitors from all over the world!
The music is that of Country/ Western, not the kind you hear on 101.3 KFDI or Kiss’n. A purer more true Country. Simple no electric Guitar or fancy effects, just the mainstay of the music that you might hear in the West that was heard on the Prairie. The songs of life, the cattle drive and Saturday night in the town.The Wrangler by for are the best at this and hold the attention with their music and witty humor. It amazed me too that these guys are the hardest working musicians I have ever seen! Not just coming on stage singing a few songs and then disappearing. I can not imagine the likes of a big name country performer serving food and passing out plates to the crowd before and afterwards. My hat is off to the wrangler!
Now, all that considered and the desire to keep Cow town a historical true place. The combination of the two would blend well. They are not far apart in their goals, in case you were not aware the Wranglers have performed twice at Carnegie hall in NYC! Added the likes of Johnny Western who also performed at the Rose and there is a draw! Cow town could keep to the authentic appearance of the time and favor, the Wranglers could have once again a home base to do what no one else seems to do as well. If I could not save the Rose, then this is what I would want to happen. I had no intention of visiting Wild West world, but the news that the Rose was going down with that sinking ship upset me greatly. Just because those of us that live here wish to run screaming from the stereo type there is of Kansas. There is segment of the world that is drawn to it. So far every idea I have heard of to draw people to Wichita and improve the entertainment here is so much frill and not hat!
We have cries of the Coliseum is not big enough yet it seldom is full, so build a bigger building!
West world goes under within weeks of opening, so now there is a plan to open another theme park!NEW has proven that is it not better if there has been little thought put into it.
Sometimes it make more sense to stay with the proven and just fine tune it to make it better.
The Auto manufacture and car dealers would love if every time a spark plug gets fowled. You would buy a new car, but how much sense is in that? I hope that smarter people would take the lead from the current crowd of foolishness! Board of directors of Cow town and the wranglers should set down and work this out.Maybe both treasure of this great city and State could be saved!
I’d even pay to see Crowson and his wife sing down in Cowtown. That song they did awhile back was very good. I think Crowson could talk Bucky into singing back up on a few occasions.
Heck, invite the actors of the Crown Theater to put on some good old Wild West struttin’ performances. Cowtown could come back into style.
ok, explain to me again why everything connected to wichita has to have a good ol’ cowboy theme?
pssstt… it’s 2007 already.
at least it’s not gonna be called jesusland.
try market research, not a warm and fuzzy wouldn’t that be a cute place to go gut feeling.
most people may want the old west feel once a year or less. who wants to go there 3 times a month. hey, lets go eat at cowtown kids. i’m guessing, no.put a mcdonalds there and it will be busy everyday.sad but true.
ok, explain to me again why everything connected to wichita has to have a good ol’ cowboy theme?Posted by: not a cowboy since 1963 | August 03, 2007 at 03:39 AM
Everything is not named CowTown.
You do understand that we are talking about Cowtown.
You know, that place preserved to look like the Cowtown of old Wichita, where Cowboys and merchants mingled.
Cow and Town, a metaphor for one of the main business ventures in Wichita of the 19th century.
Cowtown?
You really are enamoured calling your town that? Yuck.
It sure isn’t going to make me change my vacation plans.
Maybe that’s why so many jets fly OVER Kansas on their way to real vacation destinations.
Unless of course, your appeal is to fellow Kansans. Say maybe the folks over in Gopher Hollow, Dust Bunny Trail, or maybe Buffaloe Pie. Day trippers vice something you’d call real vacationers.
PS: Make sure you advertise lot’s of antique stores. That always brings in the crowds with kids. Antique store’s are nicely related to antique towns.
Keep on flying East Coast Babe.
On your way to a thugging Rapper convention are you so you can use the “N” word and have your buds call you “ho”, offer you some nose candy at the fashionable night club?
I guess I better not hold you up then. Bye! Oh and order the Kosher meal on your flight, it’s delicious.
N-word, “ho”, and Kosher meals, indeed.
Now we know: The troll is a misogynistic, race-baiting, anti-Semetic jackass.
Something tells me Toto that I AM in Kansas now. Listen to the language and name-calling. My goodness!
I just posted my little ole opinion that Cowtown creates more of a laugh (and revulsion) from the very people you want to ATTRACT. And this is how you treat potential tourists? I’ll just let my jet set friends know about you.
Enjoy your Whoppee Ti Yi Yo, git along little doggie, all by yourselves then.
East coaster,
We don’t all treat visitors this way. Just a few malcontents who have nothing better to do than to sit on a blog for 16 hours a day insulting people.
On behalf of the _polite_ people of Kansas, please accept our apologies for the misbehavior of the troll-poster known as ‘Republican’
Oh and PS: Build yourselves a very merry CASINO, that will sure to pack em in.
NOT!!!!!!!!!
Vegas baby, or Aruba, or Atlantic City. But we sure aren’t going to flying to Cowtown with our quarters.
Again, you will git the retired old farts from Pig Hollow, but not out-of-state traffic. You will have to be content with ripping off your own Kansas senior* citizens.
*I say senior because all your young people are moving MY way!!
Babe - as an east coaster myself I must say that you are rude even by New York standards. I love many things on the coasts - Central Park, Times Square, 42nd St in NYC; the Commons and Fenway in Boston; Underground Atlanta.
I also find intriguing places to visit in many other places - old Quebic City for example that gives me a window to the region’s history.
Cowtown is such a window to Wichita’s history. As such it IS an interesting place. It is NOT, however, all that Wichita has to offer.
Just like Camden is not all that New Jersey has.
Ben I didn’t start off being rude. Or at least I didn’t mean to be.
I just found, “Cowtown” to sound, well not attractive to me. I travel frequently (and enjoy the ice wines of Quebec too) and am always looking for our next destination. Since my husband took his early retirement, we have been traveling. Your Witchita is probably a nice town, but I’m not coming to see cows on my time.
“Cowtown?
You really are enamoured calling your town that? Yuck.”
Cowtown is not Wichita; we do not call Wichita Cowtown. Cowtown is a living history museum.
Do I call Los Angeles Watts? Do I call New York Hell’s Kitchen? Do I call Atlanta Cabbagetown? NO.