New owner takes over Donley's Wild West Town in Union

Arcada Theatre owner Ron Onesti has lassoed a new venture – Donley’s Wild West Town in Union.

Onesti is taking over operations of the decades-old theme park, which will fittingly be renamed Onesti’s Wild West Town. Onesti is president and founder of Onesti Entertainment Corp., which operates the Arcada Theatre and Club Arcada in St. Charles. Onesti Entertainment also operates the Evanston Rocks venue.

Onesti Entertainment Corp. has been operating the Arcada Theatre since 2005.

“I am truly honored to be a part of another historic property and grateful to the Donley family,” Onesti said in a news release. “I plan on expanding the hours, adding several live music stages, increasing food and beverage options and giving the entire property a fresh look. I could not be more excited.”

​He also plans to reopen the theme park’s 200-seat restaurant.

“I am expanding upon the cowboys-and-Indians theme, and adding to it more of an Elvis-Johnny Cash-Patsy Cline experience,” Onesti said. “The restaurant will be called ‘Be Bop A Lula’s Rockabilly Café’ and will feature Americana fare and live rockabilly acts.”

The theme park has been entertaining families since 1974. At the end of last season, founders Larry and Helene Donley decided to retire, leaving the park in the hands of their sons, Mike and Randy Donley, who have been with the operation since the beginning. But they also were ready for a change after 45 years in the business.

​“We couldn’t be happier or more excited to be partnering with Ron and the Onesti organization,” Mike Donley said in the release. “His team brings a lot of energy, enthusiasm and new ideas. With their successful experience in the entertainment industry, we see a very, very bright future for Wild West Town.”