Six Gun City

The “Wild West” is an era that is quickly fading from the memories of many people, especially the young people, especially with the gun become the “bad guy” in many areas of society. In the old West, the gun was a way of life. Everything from hunting for food to pure survival in an era when the “law” was not so readily available. There are still a few places, like Deadwood, South Dakota and Keystone, South Dakota where the old West is celebrated and remembered. Hopefully these places with continue to thrive, but there are many other such places, like Six Gun City, New Hampshire that have been closed down now, and the history they once celebrated, even if it was in a theme park atmosphere, has now been silenced.

Six Gun City in Jefferson, New Hampshire, was a Frontier Western-style amusement park that delighted young cowboys and cowgirls for nearly 60 years. Once filled with gunfights, saloons, an Indian Camp, and more, the park is now a memory of the past. Opened in 1957 by James and Eleanor Brady, the park was built on their 400-acre farm. The family had moved to Jefferson in 1941, running a dairy farm until 1955. Then, they decided to start a new venture. They started small, building the park little by little. It began with a dairy bar run by Eleanor, who loved cooking, along with an Indian Camp, cowboy skits, staged gunfights, a stagecoach, pony rides, and a gift shop selling hats, boots, bandannas, belts, and toy guns. Visitors were also entertained by the many Western artifacts on display. As the years went by, they kept adding on, until the park featured a Western Main Street, a petting zoo, trails in the woods, carnival-style rides…such as water rafts, a small roller coaster, bumper boats, and other outdoor activities. The family also had a passion for preserving historic carriages, wagons, and sleighs, including some historic ones from the White Mountains. Many of these were displayed at the park, along with old farm implements and other Western artifacts.

Over the years, the park employed thousands of people. It was a huge part of the economy of the area. In 1988, they added waterslides, and water rides, becoming the first dry park to add such attractions, and with that the employees to run all that. In 2006, the family purchased the adjacent Jefferson Campground, and the park grew again. Then, on November 25, 2007, James P Brady Sr died at the age of 90. Six Gun City celebrated its 50th anniversary the same year. In 2008, James and Eleanor were honored by being inducted into the New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fame for their remarkable contributions to tourism in northern New Hampshire. By 2009, over 18 buildings had been renovated, a picnic area was added, and attractions like the “Giddy-Up-Corral” merry-go-round and a boot hill were introduced. In 2014, the amusement park transformed into the Fort Jefferson Fun Park and Campground, featuring water slides, laser tag, and cabins. Things were changing already, with the “Old West” past being replaced with the modern-day laser games. While the cowboy skits came to an end, new additions like go-karts and a runaway train roller coaster were added.

Eleanor Ruth Brady passed away at the age of 99 on August 18, 2018. That same year, the Fort Jefferson Fun Park closed its doors. The times were changing, the original owners were no longer there, and the dream was dying. Today, many of the Six Gun buildings remain along the highway. The Jefferson Campground continues to welcome visitors just down the road, but the horses, wagons, stagecoaches, and cowboys have moved on to new pastures, and the true spirit of the “Old West” has left the area.