Wild West City to Pay Tribute to Mike Stabile, Jr. Aug. 4 

BYRAM TWP. (July 23, 2019) – Wild West City will pay tribute to one of its own, Mike Stabile, Jr., on Sunday Aug. 4. 

Stabile, whose family has owned Wild West City in Byram Township for over 60 years, passed away this past Thanksgiving Day.  

Stabile, whose birthday was Aug. 4, will be honored by friends and family at the western-theme park. The park will be open to the public that day for its usual schedule of activities.    

An accomplished trick roper and master bullwhip cracker, Mike performed daily at 12:15 p.m. on Wild West City’s Main Street for over 50 years up until 2017.  He was best known for his Oklahoma Skips, at one point jumping through his rope 114  times nonstop.  

A special performance of trick ropers and bullwhip artists  will occur on Main Street  at 12:15 on Aug. 4.  At 2:30 a formal ceremony will commence on Main Street with special guest speakers, including emcee Uncle Floyd, the iconic comedian who once worked at the park as the piano player.  

“Mike Stabile was the most honorable guy you would ever meet,” said Uncle Floyd. “I don’t know if I ever met a more hard-working man. He lived – and died – for Wild West City.” 

“My brother in so many ways exemplified the essence of the American cowboy and the essence of Wild West City, whether he was interfacing with the general public or doing office work or maintenance on equipment or on the street doing Oklahoma skips or climbing a ladder to fix a speaker,” said Mary Benson, Mike’s sister. “The cowboy exemplifies honesty, courage, compassion, patriotism and determination.  That was Mike.” 

“He was the perfect boss for young teenagers and a dear friend to many of his fellow employees, the Wild West City Rangers and volunteers,” added Pony Bob Erven, a longtime cowboy at the park.   

Beyond his work at the park, the easy-going Stabile was a man of faith and believed in giving back to the community wherever possible.   He gave to local charities and allowed the park to be used for fundraisers and local events such as the annual Lakeland Emergency Squad Easter egg hunt;  5k races; the Lenape Valley Kiwanis Pizza Challenge and the BARKS garage sales .  Mike often performed his rope and whip show gratis for local functions including Byram Day, Stanhope Day, Netcong Day or at local scout functions such as Blue and Gold dinners.   

In honor of Stabile, all patrons attending the park that day will get a free ticket to ride the train. 

Wild West City is one of the last western theme parks in the north eastern region of the United States. It combines education and fun allowing cowboys and cowgirls to experience cowboy traditions that have been a part of American culture for generations. If he wsere still around today, Stabile would ask you to come experience the Wild West and let your inner cowboy or cowgirl come alive as you step back in time to the American Frontier! 

For more information about Wild West City, visit www.wildwestcity.com.