Howdy, partner!
Cowboys, country music, gold and gunfights. Where can you hope to find all of them in the same place, especially in Illinois?
Donley's Wild West Town, just off Route 20 in Union in McHenry County, is family-owned, -operated and -oriented, and has been that way for 32 years, ever since Larry Donley (who still works at the Wild West Town every day) opened a museum to house his antique collection.
But as a museum, the crowds just weren't there, so they added the Wild West Show, which today is the 25-acre park's biggest attraction.
It's a half-hour routine of romance, bar fights and gunfire, with people falling off roofs, things blowing up and humor running the gamut from subtle sophistication to "doo-doo" jokes.
The show has changed a bit since its conception.
"We had a skit called 'The Gold Digger.' We'd try to change it, but people would come and say 'Oh, we liked the old one -- what happened to it?'æ" says Randy Donley, Larry's son. "Now we have a production company that puts on the show. They change it every year."
And it's going to change even more this October, when the Wild West Town undergoes its annual Halloween transformation -- haunted train rides and all.
The train, originally owned by the Brookfield Zoo, meanders through the park and is just one of the attractions (other than the show) the Donleys have to offer. Visitors can throw a tomahawk, shoot a toy bow and arrow, pan for gold (well, pyrite or "fool's gold," anyway), or watch a real blacksmith at work. You can be thrown in jail, take a pony ride, visit a petting zoo, and when you're ready for a break, take a rest in the expansive picnic green or visit any of the several gift shops, candy stores or restaurants, including Donley's Old West Steakhouse.
The Steakhouse, which offers steaks, burgers, sandwiches, Mexican food and a full bar selection, is just as much fun as the rest of the park. The Sheriff Bart's Hoosegow Burger is huge, tastes great and makes a full meal for under $10.
The original museum is fascinating in its own right. It has a still-life doctor's office, barber shop and pawn shop, and an extensive collection of antique Matchbox cars, firearms and phonographs. But what sets this museum apart is its old-style movie theater playing classic cowboy films.
The most important part of visiting Donley's Wild West Town is to go in with an open mind, planning to have fun. The constant howdys from the staff, the small children running everywhere and the "Wild West" atmosphere can be overwhelming at times, but if you're willing to laugh right along with the cowboys, Donley's Wild West Town is a rootin', tootin' good time.
Donley's Wild West Town
8512 S. Union Road, Union
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Labor Day, then 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends through October.
Cost: $14
Contact: (815) 923-9000, wildwesttown.com