Donley’s Wild West Town Opens for the Summer Season on May 18th

I'm really not sure how I lived in this area all my life and don't remember ever hearing about this until about two years ago.  We still haven't made it out to check it out personally but hope to this summer.  Have you been? I'd love to hear what you thought!

UNION, Ill. - Donley’s Wild West Town, the charming Old West theme park in Union, Illinois, announced today that their 2013 summer season will begin on May 18. A family-owned business, Larry Donley, his wife, Helene, and their sons, Mike and Randy, started Donley’s Wild West Town in 1974 because of their passion for antiques. As their collections grew, they built the Wild West Town, Old West Saloon and Steakhouse, and Village Hall Banquets as additional attractions in McHenry County. Today, Donley’s welcomes families to explore a variety of rides and shows, including three daily Wild West shows, a vintage carousel from 1951, panning for gold, Runaway Mine Cars roller coaster, pony rides, a petting zoo, and the C.P. Huntington Train. It also features cowboy roping lessons, a slingshot and archery range, a pop gun shooting gallery, kid-powered handcars, venture canoeing, the Kids Korral playground and the Streets of Yesteryear Display.

Donley Auction Services is internationally recognized among collectibles' experts with over 40 years of experience and knowledge in the field of appraising, buying and selling antiques. Donley’s fascinating museum includes a variety of cowboy memorabilia including wooly chaps, gun belts, guns, spurs lariats, and boots. It also features Law & Order death masks from dead outlaws’ faces, gold and silver mining tools, Civil War weapons, medals, a Union soldier’s diary, and Larry Donley’s personal antique phonograph and music box collection. The Charles Edison Foundation judged the collection as one of the finest Edisonia displays in the U.S.! The museum and gift shop is open Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with complimentary admission to the museum for restaurant guests.

The Old West Saloon and Steakhouse provides a family-friendly environment filled with delicious “App-Ti-Yi-Yippy-Yay-Zers!” including Prairie Fire Chicken Wings, Rattlesnake Bites, and a Crock O’Chili, a variety of sandwiches and burgers, “Fallin’ Off the Bone” BBQ Ribs, Filet Mignon and the Cowboy Rib Eye. The “Li’l Cowpokes Menu” includes kid-friendly favorites like Wagon Wheel Pizza, Miner’s Gold Mac ‘N Cheese, Grizzly Gulch Grilled Cheese, and the Get Along Little Doggie hot dog. The Old West Saloon and Steakhouse also offers a Fryday Fish Fry Dinner special on Fridays, Slow Roasted Prime Rib on Saturdays and Oven Roasted Chicken on Sundays. Donley’s also has a private dining room perfect for birthdays, showers, anniversaries, rehearsal dinners, meetings, and luncheons, which seats up to 70 people.

Donley’s Village Hall Banquets is a rustic wedding venue that is ideal for country chic and elegant nuptials. The venue, which can accommodate up to 400 guests – the largest dance floor in McHenry County, provides space for an indoor or outdoor ceremony that can be highly personalized for each bride. From their attention to the bride and groom’s wishes and individualized decorating touches to a sophisticated banquet menu and affordable wedding packages, Donley’s is the place for one-of-a-kind, unique weddings.

Donley's Wild West Town is located in McHenry County at the intersection of Route 20 & S. Union Road, 3 miles south of the Village of Union at 8512 S. Union Rd. The park is daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 18 through August 23 (except May 20) and on Saturdays and Sundays from August 24 through October 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $15. For more information call 815.923.9000 or go to www.wildwesttown.com.