Six Gun Territory Revisited

 Six Gun Territory Revisited

Some of my Florida friends and family remember Six Gun Territory in Ocala. The popular tourist attraction featured a western town complete with typical wild west storefronts and gunfights in the street. This was before Disney seemingly took over the theme park venture in the Sunshine State.

Sheriff at Six Gun

As a teen, I had the opportunity to visit Six Gun Territory many times. When friends or family came to town, I would go with them to enjoy the wild west experience. 

I remember the day I was there with two younger cousins. We stood in line to get the autograph of Tommy Norden who played “Bud Ricks” on the popular show, Flipper. Tommy…or Bud, as I knew him on television, was a year older than me. We were both in our teens. He signed a photo of him with Flipper for each of us. 

Then…he asked me if I wanted to get a cola with him. There were only a couple of people left in line. I know I grinned. Though most of the teens I knew had a crush on Luke Halpin, who played Bud’s older brother, I must admit Bud…uh, Tommy, was pretty good looking and very sweet. 

The temptation to say yes to his offer was strong, but my responsibility to my cousins was stronger. I held onto that picture for a long time.

In 1984, Six Gun Territory closed its doors after over twenty years in operation.

Eventually, the Kirby family bought the props, train, and whatever they could from what was left of the Ocala venue. They are working to renew the experience and honor the memory of the popular park. 

But they do more than that. Kirby Family Farms recreates the wild west on the property one weekend a year with the proceeds used for programs for at-risk and special needs children. All of the actors are volunteers. I love that.

This time, I wasn’t on the lookout for a cute boy. I already have Mike. 

There's more...

When we read the description of who would be there, I came across the name of Mary Badham. Mary Badham was cast as Scout, the daughter of Atticus Finch, in the movie To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch was played by Gregory Peck. 

With...Mary Badham

The book by Harper Lee remains a classic. Mary Badham, as Scout, was nominated for an Academy Award. She was, at the time, the youngest nominee ever. She didn’t win. Patty Duke won with her portrayal of Helen Keller. Still…

We packed a lot in while we were there. We walked around, ate lunch, and took the train ride. The experience was different from the original park, but it was good. The children watching the shows, talking to the cowboys, and waving from the train were all smiles. Those kiddos never knew the original Six Gun Territory. They will have their own memories of a day in the old west.

As for me? I was pleased to meet Mary Badham, to hear her stories, and to enjoy the warm November sunshine. 

P.S. Mary Badham confirmed that she and Gregory Peck remained close friends until his death in 2003. He still called her "Scout." 

Log House Pic
taken from the Train