Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

Posts tagged ‘Mike Montgomery’

Dogwood Pass Celebrates Christmas in Old West Style

Enjoy a touch of the Old West as you enter Dogwood Pass during the Christmas season.

Howdy, partner! Catch the feeling of an Old West Christmas at Dogwood Pass in the hills of Southern Ohio. Many roads head in that direction. All are scenic.

Enjoy the spirit of Christmas as you walk down the street in this Old West town.

Their Christmas season begins the first Friday after Thanksgiving. They are open in December from Thursday thru Sunday until Christmas. At this time, their Western town transforms into a winter wonderland filled with colorful lights, the Christmas spirit, and performances with holiday themes.

Candy Cane Lane leads to interesting Old West places of business.

Take a walk through Dogwood Pass and step inside all of their buildings, which are decorated in the spirit of that era. Here you’ll find a saloon, jail, church, general store, bank, freight office, gun shop, livery stable, and more. Along the way, you’ll find many original pieces from long ago. The only things modern are the twinkling Christmas lights.

The saloon was the first building constructed at Dogwood Pass.

Happy trails to you while visiting their Roy Rogers Memory’s Museum with classic memorabilia. Here you’ll find original movie posters, Roy and Dale’s Western outfits, and their guns. They continue to search for Roy Rogers’ memorabilia to add to their collection. Then, stop at the saloon for a drink…root beer is what they serve.

Watch a bank robbery take place during one of their Wild West Shows.

On weekends at 3 pm, their Wild West Shows are full of action, gun-slinging, lively cowboys, and horses. Watch lawmen and outlaws fight it out in the streets of Dogwood Pass. Often there is a bit of comedy thrown in and you might even see a cowboy riding his horse backward. Calamity Jane often makes an appearance as she argues with the cowboys to add a little humor.

The Grinch tries to steal their Christmas spirit.

Santa and the Grinch appear every open day after the Wild West Shows to create more Christmas cheer. The Grinch tries to steal the spirit of Christmas from Dogwood Pass but that’s impossible.

Santa enjoys arriving in his new buggy.

Santa arrives in his new buggy, which delights both children and adults. The singing interactive snowmen are a big hit and everyone likes to touch them and see their reaction. Children might enjoy a horseback ride through the town.

John T. Wayne, grandson of the famous Western actor John Wayne, will make an appearance on the weekend of December 15-17. He will be there to talk about and autograph his books. He has written his autobiography as well as eight books set in the west with the latest book being “Peace in the Valley.”

Sharlene and Mike “Frog” Montgomery live the Old West life on a daily basis.

This Western town in Beaver, Ohio began as an idea of Mike “Frog” Montgomery. Frog always had a passion for history and the life of a cowboy. He actually grew up on the farm where Dogwood Pass is located and married his wife, Sharlene, on this spot about thirty years ago.

The saloon, their first building, is still an important part of Dogwood Pass today.

One thing Frog always wanted was a saloon to hang out in after he went horseback riding or hunting. In 2009, he built that saloon in his own back yard…just for a hobby! He said his hobby went wild…Wild, Wild West, that is!

The dressmaker was an important person in the days of the Old West.

The family now has the help of about 70 volunteers who all dress in authentic Western costumes. Actually, Frog dresses that way all the time so people are used to seeing him in town with guns in his holsters. Volunteers make it special as they come to have fun. Everyone there is so friendly, you’ll want to come back again.

You know it’s an authentic Western atmosphere when you learn that three Western movies have been filmed there. “Western World” tells the story of a sheriff faced with more corruption than he thought possible. “Brimstone Saint” involves a preacher who became a gunslinger to stop witchcraft in his small worn. The most recent movie, “Showdown in Yesteryear,” thrusts a wannabe cowboy back in time 160 years through a mysterious door.

Snowmen, some of them interactive, give a special touch to a snowy day at Dogwood Pass.

For 2023, Dogwood Pass at 726 Adams Rd., Beaver, Ohio opens on Friday, November 24, and continues weekly from Thursday to Sunday until December 23. Admission on Thursday is $10, with children under 6 free. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, admission is $15 with children under 6 free. Hours vary on different days so check out their schedule on Facebook for updates.

Mike enjoys talking to visitors and telling them the story of Dogwood Pass.

Mike and Sharlene live just outside the Dogwood Pass fence so welcome people throughout the year even though most events take place on Friday and Saturday. If you don’t have time to head out West, visit the biggest Old West Town east of the Mississippi. Mike is a country boy and loves to talk to visitors. You’ll definitely feel welcome at Dogwood Pass!

Bring your family, bring your kin, and come on down to Christmas at Dogwood Pass where the West meets the North Pole for a rootin’, tootin’, good time!

Dogwood Pass is located in southern Ohio at 726 Adams Rd., Beaver, Ohio. It’s directly south of Columbus, Ohio in the direction of Portsmouth, and not far from the Ohio River, Roy Rogers’ boyhood stomping ground.

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Back Roads, Christmas, Family Fun, Ohio, Uncategorized

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Dogwood Pass – The Old West Still Lives on in Ohio

Dogwood Pass SignHowdy, partner!

If you want the feeling of the Old West right close to home, head on down to Dogwood Pass in the hills of Southern Ohio. Many roads head that direction. All are scenic.

Dogwood Pass Frog and Sharlene 2 (2)

Twenty-five years ago, Sharlene and Frog were married under a tree on the land that is today Dogwood Pass.

This Western town developed rather recently in Beaver, Ohio as an idea of Mike “Frog” Montgomery. Now, Frog has always had a passion for the history and life of a cowboy. He grew up on the farm that today holds Dogwood Pass. Why, he and Sharlene even got married on this spot twenty-five years ago.

Dogwood Pass Barmaids Nikki and Zoe

Nikki and Zoe served as barmaids in Dogwood Saloon, where the strongest drink was ‘root beer’.

One thing Frog always wanted was his own saloon to hang out in after horseback riding or hunting. In 2009, he decided to build a saloon in his back yard. Just for a hobby! Even Mike admits that his hobby went wild…Wild, Wild West, that is.

Dogwood Pass Bank Robbery

Sit back on wooden benches to watch “The Bank Robbery at Dogwood Pass”.

Not only is there a growing village, but a couple times a day you can see a live Wild West Show, “Bank Robbery at Dogwood Pass”. There’s a whole lotta shootin’ and chasin’ goin’ on, including a jail escape.

Dogwood Pass Chldren

Children took part in a special show at Dogwood Pass.

A special children’s show lets children decide if they’d rather be an outlaw or a deputy. Most want to be outlaws! Everyone takes an active part in the show.

Every year the Montgomerys hold a cystic fibrosis event in honor of a dear friend who suffered with that illness. The Brad Schneider Memorial, very important to the Montgomerys, is a day when all proceeds go to someone currently fighting Cystic Fibrosis.

Dogwood Pass Roy Rogers

Frog is pleased to have a growing Roy Rogers Memory Museum.

Roy Rogers Memory Museum displays photos and movie posters along with some of Roy and Dale’s clothes and guns. Frog continues to search for Roy Rogers’ memorabilia to showcase at this western museum.

Dogwood Pass Owner Frog

“Frog” Montgomery leans on the saloon bar as he describes his dream.

That first building, the saloon, holds a nice gaming parlor and a beautiful bar.Their stage can accommodate bands or Djs. The strongest drink you can purchase there is “root beer”.

Dogwood Pass Sheriff

That bank robbery had the sheriff so confused he rode his horse backwards.

You’ll find Dr. Cochran’s office ready to help the injured right next door to the offices of Sheriff John Dillon. This sheriff can even ride his horse while sitting backwards in the saddle.

Dogwood Pass Entrance

Costumed volunteers greet visitors as they enter the gate.

This is a family venture, now aided by about 75 volunteers that help run Dogwood Pass. One thing Frog is adamant about – all voluteers must dress in authentic western costumes. Actually, Frog dresses that way all the time, so people are quite used to seeing him in town with guns in his holsters.

Volunteers find it so much fun they travel miles to get there on the weekends. They drive from Cincinnati, Columbus, Springfield, and even indiana.

Dogwood Pass Horseback Ride

Horseback rides are available for children throughout the day.

Two movies have been filmed here. “Western World” tells the story of a sherrif faced with more corruption and deceit than he thought possible. A second movie still in the process of being finished, “Brimstone Saint”, involves a preacher who became a gunslinger to stop witchcraft in his small town.

Every weekend they are open on Friday and Saturday, usually from 11 -6. Check out their special events on their Facebook page or on their webpage at www.dogwoodpass.com .

Dogwood Bathhouse

A cowboy would visit the bathhouse for a shave, haircut, and bath.

In October, they have a Haunted Trail, then in December, a Christmas tour. Since Mike and his wife live right outside the fence, he never turns anyone away that wants to visit his town.

Weekend visitors range from 300 – 1000, and tour buses frequently make stops there. That’s why Mike is planning to build an amphitheater to have even more extensive Wild West Shows.

Dogwood Mercantile

The mercantile held all the necessities for a cowboy. It was the perfect place to sit and watch a bank robbery.

If you don’t have the time to head out west, take a drive some weekend soon and visit the biggest Old West town west of the Mississippi. Mike’s a great country boy at heart and adds a personal touch by talking with everyone. You’ll feel welcome at Dogwood Pass.

Dogwood Pass is located in southern Ohio south of Chillicothe. The actual address for your GPS would be 722 Adams Road, Beaver, OH. It’s a back road trip anyway you look at it, but what would you expect going to the Old West.

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Back Roads, History, Museums, Ohio, Uncategorized

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