Donley's Wild West Town - Union Illinois - Western-Themed Town, Museum, and Family Activity Park

Donley's Wild West Town is a family-oriented entertainment venue, museum, and activity park located in Union, Illinois that was built to embody the spirit and adventure of the West and cater to visitors of all ages from the very young to the very old. Along with the Illinois Railway Museum, the McHenry County Historical Museum and the nearby KOA Campground, Donley's Wild West Town is one of the top family entertainment destinations in the area for the unique historic experience it offers its visitors.

Donley's is home to a number of different Western-themed attractions that are highly popular with patrons. These include a charming narrow gauge train to carry visitors around the town and show them the sights. Among the historic, Western buildings visitors will see during their time at Donley's are a jail, a saloon, a blacksmith's shop, a print shop, and the Sweet Phyllis Gold Mine. A petting zoo is included and is especially popular with the younger visitors. Donley's Wild West Town also features an exciting shoot `em up Wild West stunt show put on by their trained team of professional stunt men.

In addition to the other attractions, Donley's is also home to the Wild West Museum which houses many genuine items from the era, as well as authentic artifacts. The Cowboy Memorabilia section features genuine cowboy apparel and accessories such as gun belts, guns, boots, lariats, wooly chaps, and spurs. The Mining section showcases real equipment and tools once used to mine gold, silver, and other valuable ore. The Law and Order section chronicles the ins and outs of the battle between law breakers and law enforcement and includes items such as handcuffs, badges, and authentic death masks cast from the faces of the dead outlaws. Last but not least, the Civil War section displays such items as weapons, medals, and even a Union soldier's Civil War diary.

Donley's Wild West Town also frequently hosts special exhibits of authentic memorabilia collections. These have included Larry Donley's very own personal collection of antique phonographs and music boxes. This collection is so comprehensive and unique that it was even judged by the Charles Edison Foundation to be one of the very best displays of Edisonia in the entire country and visitors to the town are urged not to miss out on seeing it for themselves. In addition to displaying Western memorabilia, Donley's is also always looking to acquire more piece to show and frequently purchase such items from collectors as cash registers, horse drawn vehicles, slot machines, war relics, furniture, jewelry, guns, and other items that may be deemed significant or interesting.

Another highlight for many visitors who frequent Donley's is the Old West Steakhouse. The beautiful dining room features even more authentic artifacts displayed on the walls for the enjoyment and enrichment of the diners and the chef is known for serving delicious, home style meals that include such classics as baby back ribs, steaks, and barbecue sandwiches. Daily specials are always available and special orders are more than welcome, as the staff is more than accommodating.