Buckskin Joe, Western theme park in Fremont County, Colorado, US
Buckskin Joe was a Western theme park in Fremont County featuring roughly thirty authentic buildings from the Colorado frontier era. The park offered gunfight shows, themed entertainment, and a full-service saloon with restaurant for visitors.
The park was established in 1957 when a filmmaker collected and reassembled old buildings from central Colorado locations to create the site. Operations ended in 2010 when a businessman purchased the property and its associated scenic railway.
More than 21 films were shot at Buckskin Joe, among them Cat Ballou (1965) with Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin, True Grit (1969) with John Wayne, and Silverado (1985). Conagher (1991) was the last film of actor Ken Curtis, and Cactus Creek was completed just before the 2010 sale.
The park lay 1 mile south of U.S. Route 50 on the road to the Royal Gorge Bridge, about 8 miles west of Cañon City. Visitors entered on foot to tour the 30 frontier buildings, with a horse-drawn trolley ride available inside. The site closed permanently on September 12, 2010.
A donkey held the official position of park mayor with unrestricted access throughout the grounds and its own designated building. This unusual mascot became a beloved part of the visitor experience during the park's operating years.
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