2. Frontier Town


Theme parks are some of the most popular tourist attractions around the world, and upstate New York has a rich history with recreational sites. It was home to the country’s first theme park, The Great Escape (formerly Storytown U.S.A.) in the village of Lake George.

Travel about 30 minutes north from the village and you will arrive in Schroon Lake, the location of the once popular theme park, Frontier Town.

In 1952, Staten Island’s Arthur Benson opened Frontier Town as a Wild West themed-park with both a Native-American and pioneer village. The park remained open until the mid-80’s, when a combination of problems caused a temporary shutdown. It later reopened and stayed operational until 1998, when it shut down permanently due to the diminishing interest in westerns.

The park has been abandoned ever since, leaving behind several “frontier” buildings, now overgrown by greenery.