Funtown Mountain: Guntown Mountain Reborn

Back in 2011 I rolled into Cave City, KY to soak in some roadside goodness.  After visiting the Mammoth Cave Wax Museum and Wildlife Museum I noticed a interesting billboard.

Guntown Mountain, a true roadside relic, was one of the last of the Wild West Towns that used to be a staple of the American Vacation.  Guntown Mountain is much in the same vein as Ghost Town in the Sky in Maggie Valley, NC.  Must like Ghost Town the only way to the top is in an ancient Chair Lift.

After a nostalgic, yet rickety ride to the top I was dumped off into a charming little replica of a an old western town.

Sadly, most the building were just facades and were not functional.  The undertaker's shop did contain this fellow.

The "Lucky Lady Saloon" was open.....

Featuring this delightful mannequin bartender.....

Fairly soon after I arrived the main event begin: The Gunfight.  Unlike Ghost Town Gunfight, the Guntown fight did not have an M.C., but rather a prerecorded narration.  The fight itself was pretty no frills.

Some hooligans harass and rob a poor sap....

Then "The Stranger" rolls into town.......

Before you can blink the Stranger mows down the villains.........

The show is over and their are dead cowboys everywhere.....

An extremely bare bones gunfight compared to Ghost Town, who incorporate stunt work and comedy into their fights.

Before the shock wares off and the children start crying, the cowboys hop up and pose for pictures with tourists.

Apparently they also did hangings, but I didn't get a chance to witness one.  Actually, that seems kinda messed up.

Guntown did not last much longer after my visit.  Guntown sat shuttered and was at risk of being demolished.  That is until Kentucky businessman and noted local eccentric Will Russell purchased the Mountain reopened it this year under the new moniker "Funtown Mountain".  Russell has re-imagined Funtown as not only a celebration of the American Roadside, but also a celebration of American pop culture.   One thing that is being eliminated  is the gunfights, which Russell felt glorified violence. 

The lower half of the park opened this June and I had a chance to visit a week after it opened.  The Old West Town on top of the Mountain is still under construction and is supposed to be open this fall.  Fortunately, they was plenty of roadside goodness to make my trip worthwhile.  One of the most noteworthy sections of Funtown to be open is its "Haunted Hotel".  The oldest Haunted Attraction in America.

Truly an old school walk through haunted attraction, the Hotel employs classic haunted house elements in order to terrify you.

Funtown also features a black-light putt-putt course, which in turn features a minature version of the Haunted Hotel.

Not to mention a little Lucky Lady Saloon as well.....

Why do all the buildings have eyeballs?

At this point Funtown is centered out of the Souvenir Shack.

Its a souvenir shack like none I have ever seen before.  Its packed with super weird kitchy antiques that are all for sale.

They also have a Wax Colonel Sanders...........

Uncle Sam.............

The Clown from Pee Wee's Big Adventure.....

An animatronic bear.....

The Kraken.....

and some creepy taxidermy......

Funtown also claims to have the World's Oldest Ham....

I hate to break it to them, but the Oldest Ham is in Smithfield, VA...........

They also have one of the coolest Old Timey Photo area which they call "Funtime Selfies"......

To see my entire trip through Funtown check out the video below.




The Carpetbagger

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