Pioneer Frontier was originally planned to be a colonial frontier area, in the R. Duell renovation plan from the early 1970s. Due to the economic issues of the mid-70s, that themed area wasn’t built. Pioneer Frontier rose out of that as the park continued to expand in the mid-80s. The significant change was that it would be themed after the old west, instead of the colonial frontier theming originally planed.
Pioneer Frontier was built over two years: 1984 and 1985. Conestoga and Timber Rattler were added in 1984, and the area was known as “Old West.” In 1985, a food court was added inside the Dry Gulch Railroad, and walkways were built connecting to the new food court. Two kiddie rides were relocated to the food court – the kiddie Whip was rethemed Wells Cargo and the Antique Kiddie Carrousel was rethemed Livery Stables. In 1985, the area was renamed from “Old West” to Pioneer Frontier, and still exists in the park today. Pioneer Frontier encompasses a large area of the park from the north side of Spring Creek in the “Trailblazer Hollow” nicknamed area to The Boardwalk near Tidal Force and Intercoastal Waterway.
Major rides were added to Pioneer Frontier in the years since including Frontier Chute-Out and Canyon River Rapids (later removed in 2008 and 2009), Sidewinder, Storm Runner and Fahrenheit.
For more information on Pioneer Frontier, check out these articles: