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29 comments:
Cool, I was not aware of this place! I sometimes fine old photos of similar "Frontier Towns", and it's frustrating because I can't figure out where they were.
Patrick: Also growing up in San Diego I too recall visiting the park for Little League picnics and BBQs for my dad's company. The "Frontier Town" at that time was known as BIG OAK RANCH. I recall there was even a reproduction mining operation built onto the side of a nearby hill. The train I do not remember being there -but the same train was used down the road at Marshall Scotty's Playland Amusement Park -I wonder if it was the same one?? I have a set of color slides of the Frontier Town/Big Oak Ranch from about 1966 from my grandparents showing stagecoaches loaded with guests and a shoot-out etc. I also remember the town being next door to a nudist colony!! Sometime in the 80's there was a BIG auction of horsedraen wagons and other Western realted items. I think the owners son had murdered someone and during the trials the family "lost the ranch". I always wondered if it was still standing....even in some ghost town form.
Very cool - I did not know about this park!
I do remember going to The Big Oak Ranch for many summer picnics with my father and the company he worked for. What great memories of The old west, gun fights, horse back riding and more. My father has passed away, I wish I had some photos.
I also grew up in El Cajon and went to Frontier town for different events. My dad played music in a country band. His band would frequently be hired to play for events there. Our family would attend as well. I remember riding the stagecoach but not a train. I remember the train at Marshall Scotty's. Also, several kids from The Swallow's Club, nudist colony, attended school with me at Granite Hills High.
I too visited the park in the 70's. The guy who owned the ranch was sent to prison in 1984 for murder -
"For several years he presided over a Wild West theme park called Rock Kreutzer's Big Oak Ranch and Frontier Town, complete with mock shootouts, make-believe cowpokes and the Red Garter saloon. Merle Haggard and Buck Owens gave concerts there."
My mother and her husband owned and operated the Big Oak Ranch for one year in 1972/73. I was 12 years old.
I lived there for half a year in junior high school and we swam on the swim team called "the sun island sharks" at the nudist colony next door. My sister and I dressed up and participated in the "Gun Fights" in the frontier town and worked in the Grub Shack serving soft serve ice cream - I remember it as being a really fun summer.
I also got my first horse that summer and used to rip around those canyons and through the creek beds like I was a real cowgirl!
I was last there in 2011, and most of the grounds had been taken over by new housing development, but the original main house/bar was still standing, although it was partially burned and was a candidate for demolition. I'd love to know more about the Ranch for the many years in between.
I saw Sylvia in concert & that same day met Glen Ford & Dennis Weaver.
My Dad's band was like the House band so to speak..him and the owner Rock were very good friends..I can remember going out there almost every wkend during the summers. Patty by any chance was your Dad's name Bob?
The owner murdered his son-in-law cuz he was beating his wife which was the owners daughter.
Nope that's me
Approx. In 1982, I used to teach Country dance there on the weekends with another lady, Penny. I knew Rock. Terry Jansen from KCBQ (then later he was with KSON) used to get on stage with Rock to announce events coming up and the bands. The two of them would wear these matching pants that had fake saddle pants attached! The house band at that time was California Country. Once in a while, Richie Gary and Sundown would come play out there too.I loved them! Awesome music, singing and just plan great people. I saw quite a few big named groups out there,like Alabama,as well as 10 year old Tiffany, who could sing country like you would not believe, but ultimately became a pop star. I remember how Rock used to get fines from the fire dept because during big name country bands, he would have well over the limit of people on the property then was allowed. Still, it is some of my most fondest memories. I still think of that place today and wonder how it would be if Rock hadn't done what he did. Wow, I miss that place...
Bob seger and tanya tucker also performed their. My ubcle used to be in the band and my other uncle used to do the shoot out shows. My mom used to wotk their too. I rem ed mber the pool with hank the lifegaurd and the sign if you got caught running. The old western pics and making cotton candy.
I loved Frontier Town. I hosted the La Mesa board of realtors picnic in 1972 or three I love the saloon where are they play the piano
I did not know this was in El Cajon. My office was in Spring Valley. Casa de Oro. We drove out the road past the Cottonwood Golf Course. Till we got to Frontier Town.
My Aunt worked in Ferris Western Wear Store in Frontier Town. I went to work with her every day. Soon I was chosen "Junior Deputy Marshal". My picture was in the town's newspaper there. This was about 1963/ 1964. I have many fond memories of that town. Too many to list. Ralph Miller.
My dad performed there in the 60s. Many gunfights, I can't count how many times dad was shot or shot someone every weekend. In 1964 or 65 my dad was Easter bunny, white longjons with big puffy tail, black cowboy hat with bunny ears, gunbelt and boots. I remember his friend Red with the bull whips....
I remember being one of the gun fighters for several years, also help hosting several gunfight shows, my name was "REO RED "
as a teen I worked there from 78-81. my uncle Cal was one of the gunfighters there for years, & even Sheriff for awhile. he lived next door in the Swallows nudist colony for a couple years. I remember him and Susie got married at the ranch. cool western theme. many, many big name bands there. Alabama was the biggest draw we ever had. Rock got fined by the county fire marshal for being over capacity. we worked long hours that day and drank a lot of beer that night. I was the long haired kid with the rebel soldier's hat. Rock was a good guy to work for. we didn't get paid much money, but we got three free meals, and man did we get a lot of beer! sooo many memories of that place!
I was a gunfighter in the 60s as Mel Travis along with Red Brady Curly Travis Garry Napp Ted Hurnden Doug Hays I am Melvin Tollison
Worked as gunfighter and shot off the hotel every weekend worked with Red Brady Curly Travis Garry Napp Ted Hernden Doug Hays Mel Trsvis. Mel Tollison
Mom had the western
Dad pack train ride
Great place to grow up
Gary "The Gambler" Napp was my stepdad. He was awesome.
I was married to Richie Gary from 1982-1993 we had great times at the Big Osk Ranch! Happy to read some people remember him. Richie died in 2026 of pancreatic cancer.
Hello our school took the kids on Friday trips there ,I do remember that a nudist camp was next door, it looked a trailer park ,we peeked thru the fence, we didn't see anything, my Dad and a country western band played there as me and my 3 siblings played and explored🤗
It closed in 1980, I loved it in the 60’s
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