Frontier Village - Demise

Demise

In 1973 the part owner and co-creator of Frontier Village wanted to expand the park. Without the necessary funds to expand, he sold Frontier Village to Rio Grande Industries for $1.7 million. The new owners were ready to start expansion but hit a road block with the surrounding neighborhood.

When the park opened in 1961, it was surrounded by undeveloped land, but by 1973 the park was surrounded by urban sprawl. The new neighbors of Frontier Village didn't want any expansion and fought the park development plans. Lawsuits from nearby homeowners coupled with lower than expected Park revenues, skyrocketing San Jose land values, and competition from nearby Marriott's Great America signaled the end for the little park. With the high property values, Rio Grande could make more money selling off the land to developers than it could by running the park. In 1980 the undeveloped land and Frontier Village itself was sold to a land developer, the Bren Company. They in turn held a public auction for all rides, buildings, and lumber that made up Frontier Village. On its final days, it held a special event titled "The Last Roundup". The park closed its gates for the last time on September 28, 1980.

All the buildings were removed and San Jose's Edenvale Garden Park now exists at the former location of the amusement park. Little is recognizable from its days as an amusement park, but items such as concrete boulders from the artificial river remain half-buried.

Some signage and ride vehicles remain in the hands of private collectors while other vehicles were stored at the nearby Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, to be later sold at auction.