A Cowboy Town, Whites Creek

Nestled into 116 wooded acres, A Cowboy Town preserves a slice of the Wild West east of the Mississippi. The owner conceived of his idea when he had a sudden memory from childhood of watching a Wild West gunfight in a similar show in Florida; thus, A Cowboy Town was born. It turned out he wasn't alone in his interests, and A Cowboy Town began to draw crowds of children both young and old with its comedy gunfight show, trail rides through the valley, and activities, including canoeing and fishing for cowboy boots on Kickapoo Lake. The town takes visitors back in time as they interact with townspeople who rove the grounds in period dress, alongside live musical performers, who strum guitars and pluck banjos in cowboy fashion for the crowds every Saturday. Guests can saunter into the Rattlesnake Saloon—which can be fully stocked with adult beverages for private parties–for a cold sarsaparilla or to try their hand at poker, or head to the stables to bestride a horse with a gentle demeanor.

A Cowboy Town is dedicated completely to hosting all-ages, family-friendly activities, and the owner considers a repeat visit the highest compliment. The office manager Kitti recalls her favorite customer reaction: "They [said they] were going to bring their whole family out the next weekend, all 25 people. And they did! People always leave our place with smiles on their faces and they tell their friends and come back over and over."