Wild West City, Stanhope

The Wild West could be a thing of the past, but not in the northeast. In 1956, the American Foundation for the Preservation of the Old West bought a large chunk of land in Byram Township, New Jersey and built a replica Old West town naming it Wild West City. There, visitors flash back to the American Frontier with seasonal performances, themed activities, and just about everything else related to the Old West minus the tumbleweeds. Here are a few things you can experience during your visit:

• 22 live-action shows, which occur daily on Main Street 1880, including the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and Jesse James' infamous bank robbery in Northfield, Minnesota
• Train rides aboard the Old 97 narrow gauge train, which snakes along a 3/4-mile track while passing Arapahoe Territory, Vulture Valley, and other landmarks
• Learn about frontier life with a visit to the town's mountainman, schoolmarm, and blacksmith
• The park invites you to pan for gold in a fast-running sluice filled with loose dirt and nuggets that glitter just like real gold
• Souvenir shops and snack bars line the town's dusty main street, including the Golden Nugget Saloon
• Family-friendly activities are in abundance, including miniature golf and a barnyard petting zoo