BALTIMORE, Md., June 23, 2009. The 2009 summer season marks a milestone for both Adler Display (adlerdisplay.com) and Frontier Town (frontiertown.com) — fifty years of wholesome family entertainment in Ocean City, Maryland. For both Frontier Town and Adler Display, the anniversary represents longevity rare among small theme parks in the U.S.

Rich Maryland History

Frontier Town was the brain child of Bill Patton and Bill Pacey, Maryland business owners and entrepreneurs who envisioned Ocean City as a popular family destination, well before it became one. To bring their dream to life, they hired well-known display artist Howard Adler and his firm, Adler Display, from Baltimore Maryland, to design and create the park and its themed displays.

In addition to dozens of larger-than-life animals and characters, the work included the creation of the park centerpiece, a cowboy riding high on his trusty stallion, placed at the main entrance. Although the park has been built up over the years, the horse and rider display remains at center of the park as a nostalgic reminder of the park's rich history.

Howard Adler's son, Ron Adler, current owner of Adler Display, has fond memories of the park. "I remember when my dad used to take us there. It was a lot of fun and the people there have always been great. Today it's just like I remember, but it seemed so much bigger when I was little," Adler laughed. He adds, "Every time I visit, I am happy to see that much of my dad's work is still being enjoyed."

The Wild, Wild West Withstands the Tests of Time

Thanks to loyal customers, committed upkeep and savvy management, the park is now one of the only western-themed parks in the nation that remains operational.

In the late 1950's and early 1960's, television shows like Bonanza and Gunsmoke took the country by storm, making the "Wild, Wild West" all the rage. The craze spawned many western-themed parks around the country, few of which have survived. Mega theme parks and consumers' never-ending quest for "bigger, better, faster" rides and entertainment caused most of them to close soon after the western craze ended.

What keeps Frontier Town going is continuous upkeep and adaptation by its owners, Gene Parker and Mitchell Parker, cousins who purchased the park in the 1970's. Since working there as teenagers, the Parkers' have continued traditions that make for fond childhood memories.  

"Back in the 60's it was every boy's dream to be a cowboy in the Wild West. I was living this dream playing cowboys and Indians as part of my first summer job here as a kid back in 1971," said Mitchell Parker. "It's the people that come to visit that keep me here. I believe we're on our third generation of people here — people who came here as kids, then brought their kids, and are now bringing their grandkids."

The Parkers' have added many features over the years, including the popular Fort Whaley Campground, the Land & Sea Visitors Center, a water park, cowboy miniature golf, a pony-driven carousel, arcades and gift shops. Additionally, the price of park admission has remained low, making it easy for families to enjoy a full day of summer fun without breaking the bank.

About Adler Display
Adler Display (adlerdisplay.com) is a nationally recognized innovative leader in visual communications through trade show displays, custom display environments, presentation graphics and signage. Headquartered in Baltimore since 1939, Maryland, Adler Display provides custom display environment displays and trade show displays nationally.