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TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2012
Young ones have fun at Young Guns
r e — Young Guns Wild West Fun Park promy ises 1,600 square feet of fun for the little folks. s JC McDowell and his wife, Hilary, with s the assistance of other family members at times, bring their attraction to fairs in the l Rocky Mountain West during the summer In the winter, they live on a sailr months. boat on the Mexican Sea of Cortez.
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PARK COUNTY FAIR TIMES
On his website, JC McDowell said he thinks the Young Guns Wild West Fun Park fills a niche. Traveling with his family to fairs with his former doughnut concession stand, “we noticed… that while all the fairs had a carnival as part of the attraction, there were always height restrictions.” With small kids excluded from some of the fun, “it made sense to build an attraction for kids 10 and younger with games specifically geared toward their height and age.” The Wild West theme draws on the popularity of rodeos and 4-H livestock events at county fairs, he said on his website. It’s been a career change for McDowell, who graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Architecture and started a small handmade furniture
company before turning to a construction/remodeling company. The economic downturn hampered that business and the McDowells started looking for alternatives, he said, which led to their doughnut concession stand and then to Young Guns Wild West Fun Park. “It’s for all ages,” said Park County Fair director Jennifer Lohrenz. “You don’t have to be 2 to enjoy playing in the dirt.” Lohrenz said JC McDowell brought his doughnut concession to the Park County Fair a couple of years ago, so fairgoers may recognize him from that venture. But he and his family, which now includes small children, have switched gears. “They recognized a hole,” Lohrenz said, that “those families with children too small to get on the rides” could use some other fun diversions at the fair. The Park County Fair board members saw the need, too, Lohrenz said. “It was the first act the board booked at convention,” she said. “The board recognized the need for it and the desire for it.” The Young Guns Wild West Fun Park is part of the free entertainment on the grounds during the fair.
The Young Guns Wild West Fun Park is designed for kids up to about 10 years old. The attraction will operate at the fairgrounds throughout fair week. Courtesy photo
Good Luck to all 4H & FFA Park County Fair Participants
Have Fun at the Fair!
L.L.C.
527-6272 or M-F: 9-5:30 800-590-9975 Sat: 9-4 84 Road ABN Cody northerngardenswy.com