Wild West World facts for kids
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| Location | Park City, Kansas |
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| Coordinates | 37°49′06″N 97°19′16″W / 37.818209°N 97.321229°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | May 5, 2007 |
| Closed | July 9, 2007 |
Wild West World was a fun Wild West themed park in Park City, Kansas. It opened its doors on May 5, 2007. Sadly, it closed very soon after, on July 9, 2007. The park was built on a large piece of land, about 130 acres, right next to Interstate 135. It was near the Wichita Greyhound Park, which also closed that same year.
The Park's Story
Wild West World was created and run by Thomas and Cheryl Etheredge. They also owned another entertainment place called Prairie Rose Chuck Wagon. This place was in Butler County.
Building the Park
News about the park first came out in the Wichita Eagle newspaper on December 19, 2004. Construction started on August 15, 2005. The park was advertised as the only theme park in the world completely focused on the Wild West. It was also the first big theme park in Kansas.
Some people said it was only "technically" the only all-western park. This is because Frontier City in Oklahoma City is mostly western-themed. But it has one ride that isn't western. The rides at Wild West World were like those you might see at a carnival. They were just decorated to look like they belonged in the Wild West.
Why the Park Closed
On July 9, 2007, the park closed down. This was only two months after it first opened. The owners said they had to close because not enough people visited. They also blamed bad weather. Experts also thought the park's business plan might not have been strong enough. The Etheredges also had to close their other business, the Prairie Rose Chuck Wagon.
The owners hoped to open Wild West World again someday. But the park was put up for sale. By November 6, 2010, all the remaining buildings and landscaping were sold off. The land was then cleared to make way for new projects.
Financial Challenges
The owner, Thomas Etheredge, faced some serious financial problems related to how the park was funded. These issues involved money that people had invested in the park. Many of these investors were members of a church in Wichita. After the park closed, it was found that Mr. Etheredge had faced similar financial issues in the past. These money problems were a big part of why Wild West World had to close its doors so quickly.
