This group was formed in January of 1980 by Rick King and Ronnie Burkhart. We were known as the Black Powder Rangers. At the time we had five members and were re-enacting the earlier 1840’s and 1850’s. In March of 1980 we were asked to perform at Odessa Nursing Home in Odessa, Missouri. The town of Odessa like us so much, they asked us back to perform at a festival, but they wanted us to portray the later “cowboy” era. We had so much fun at their festival, that we changed our format and began to specialize in the later time period. Because our name was so often misspelled, we changed our name to Confusion Creek Rangers and at a later date we renamed our group to Gunsmoke and Petticoats.

      In early 1982 our team met the state Representative from Iowa and we were asked to join N.A.O.W.G.T. (National Association of Old West Gunfighter Teams). The group decided to become members of the association and adopt their high standards of authenticity. We had insurance and provided a copy to each town or event that we performed. Today, Gunsmoke and Petticoats are members of RGA, Reeanctment Guild of America, and are proud to still concentrate on authenticity and keeping our history of the old west alive. We carry insurance through RGA and are glad to show proof of insurance for every performance that is done.

      Gunsmoke and Petticoats has attended many competitions in the past years and have won many awards. We have been Missouri Champions, Kansas Champions, Mid-West Regional Champions and National Champions. We are proud of the specials awards our team has won such as best actor and actress, most authentic dressed male and female, best junior male and female gunfighter, best drama, best comedy and best stunt. We are very proud of the many awards we have won and are looked up to by many of the of groups that we compete against.

      Gunsmoke and Petticoats is a professional group of people with many of our members being in commercials, movies, television specials, and written up in the papers. We pride ourselves in authenticity, safety and entertainment. Please, let us make our yesterday your tomorrow and keep the west alive in the hearts of everyone.