Welcome to the Wild West! Cowboy-obsessed grandfather spends 25 years turning his garden into the ultimate 'Dude Ranch' - complete with a saloon, jailhouse and even an undertakers

A cowboy-obsessed grandfather spent 25 years turning his garden into the ultimate 'Dude Ranch'.   

Stephen Smart, 65, has long been fascinated with the films starring the likes of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne - which inspired him to construct his very own old-style town in his back garden.  

The Dude Ranch includes a saloon, jailhouse, bank, haberdashery and even an undertakers at the rear of his semi-detached home in Kent.

Mr Smart - who's also known simply as 'Dude' - began modelling his property, which now resembles a Hollywood film set, on the American frontier period around 25 years ago. 

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Stephen Smart, 65, constructed his very own old-style town in his back garden 

The Dude Ranch includes a saloon, jailhouse, bank, haberdashery and even an undertakers at the rear of his semi-detached home in Kent

Mr Smart began modelling his property, which now resembles a Hollywood film set, on the American frontier period around 25 years ago

He is also known as 'Dude' and is pictured sat by a 'food store' he constructed in his back garden

The retired lorry driver said: 'I just had a fascination for the Wild West.

'It started with country music, then looking up the time period and then I started going to a few themed parties.

'I wanted somewhere to go basically, so I built the town. It's not a normal garden.

'It started with little buildings and then the saloon and then it just took off from there.'

Despite claiming he's no carpenter, the father-of-four Mr Smart has handcrafted all the convincing Wild West buildings in his garden. 

The front of his home is similarly decked out with a graveyard, old wagon wheels, swinging saloon doors and a sign welcoming visitors to the Dude Ranch more suited to 19th-century Kansas than 21st-century Kent.

Another of his hobbies is wooden sign making, any profits from which he puts towards making improvements to his town.  

Mr Smart said: 'I'm adding to it all the time, making things, there is always something to do.

Mr Smart's garden is packed full of cowboy memorabilia and other quirky items 

Mr Smart began by making 'little buildings' and the saloon, but his ranch soon grew

Aside from building the ranch, his other hobby is wooden sign making, any profits from which he puts towards making improvements to his town

Despite claiming he's no carpenter, the father-of-four Mr Smart has handcrafted all the convincing Wild West buildings in his garden

Pictured: Gravestones made by Mr Smart in his Wild West town garden

Mr Smart pictured in 'Dudes Bank Assay Office' with some money notes on the counter

'From the front, I think it looks good and people say it looks good.

'People come and knock on the door and ask if they can take photos and I'll say to them, 'If you want you can come and look at the garden as well'.

'So they do and they're just fascinated. They just can't believe that they're going into a garden which is built like this.'

Luckily for Mr Smart, wife Denise is very understanding of her husband's hobby and the couple even had their wedding reception in the Dude Ranch garden.

And though his current neighbours don't mind his obsessive hobby, Mr Smart says previous neighbours haven't always been so supportive.

'My wife is great,' Mr Smart said. 'I met her when I was already into all of this so she just gets that it is my hobby.

Luckily for Mr Smart, wife Denise is very understanding of her husband's hobby and the couple even had their wedding reception in the Dude Ranch garden

Mr Smart posing outside of the 'General Store' in his Wild West town garden in Kent

A front view of Mr Smart's creation, a sign reading 'The Dude Ranch Western Town' is on proud display

Mr Smart has even kitted his garden out with a saloon

Though his current neighbours don't mind his obsessive hobby, Mr Smart says previous neighbours haven't always been so supportive

A view of a kitchen area where jars and contains can be seen displayed on shelves and various pots and mugs are hung up

'Nowadays I do get on with my neighbours but previously, before they moved out, I did have a neighbour who always reported me.

'But now everyone in the area knows me. My kids think I'm stupid and it's not everyone's cup of tea but I love it here.'

The back garden boasts a livery, a general store, a marshal's office, an old shack, barbers, a jailhouse, a bank, a haberdashery, an undertakers and the centrepiece saloon - which provides the perfect setting for parties.

Mr Smart said: 'We've had parties and everything in the saloon, lots of them, including my daughter's 16th and my wife's 50th.

'It's lovely you know and it's just somewhere to go rather than going out. I do it just for the love of it; it's a hobby, like somebody going to play golf.

The front of his home is decked out with a graveyard, old wagon wheels, swinging saloon doors and a sign welcoming visitors to the Dude Ranch more suited to 19th-century Kansas than 21st-century Kent

The back garden boasts a livery, a general store, a marshal's office, an old shack, barbers, a jailhouse, a bank, a haberdashery, an undertakers and the centrepiece saloon - which provides the perfect setting for parties

Mr Smart sat in his Wild West garden in cowboy inspired attire 

A look inside one of the many buildings in Mr Smart's Wild West garden

Another peek inside a building in Mr Smart's garden - almost every inch of the room is decorated 

A stove and cosy armchair inside one of Mr Smart's creations

'They have to buy new clubs. Well, I have to buy a new roof.

'A lot of people ask why. Some people think I'm an idiot, they think I'm mad to have done it but when they see it, it changes their mind.

'Obviously we don't get the Wild West weather here so I'm always repairing things and keeping on top of it.

'I just collect things and a lot of people give me gifts, it's fantastic.

'Now a lot of people know who I am and what I've got and all that, I come home after I've been out and there's something on my doorstep.'

Having collected hundreds of items of rare Wild West memorabilia including belt buckles, statues, and cooking utensils and spending hundreds on expensive cowboy boots and other clothing, Mr Smart says he's lost track of how much money he's spent.

He said: 'To be honest, I wouldn't like to put a price on it. I've spent thousands of hours on it.

Having collected hundreds of items of rare Wild West memorabilia including belt buckles, statues, and cooking utensils and spending hundreds on expensive cowboy boots and other clothing, Mr Smart says he's lost track of how much money he's spent

Tobacco packets can be seen on display in Mr Smart's garden

Mr Smart pictured sat in his Wild West inspired garden 

Tools on display outside of one of the many structures

Mr Smart stood in his garden, behind him a 'Mollie & Brookes Dress Makers' can be seen

The Western super-fan sat by a red fire bucket  next to the welcome sign

'If your hobby's golf, you don't count how many golf balls you've used over the years.

'I'm quite into the fashion of the time as well and I actually get my boots from America. The cheapest pair I have was £200 and my dearest pair are about £450.

'I've stopped buying so much now because I've got a lot of gear.

'I've got a cavalry uniform, a gamblers outfit, an undertakers outfit, the barmen outfit, I've got every outfit for every building so when people come out I can be a different character.

'It's great. I love it.'

Although construction has slowed in recent years due to his arthritis, Mr Smart says he's still 'plodding on' with his hobby.

But having never yet been to America, he thinks he might now be too old to do so.

Although construction has slowed in recent years due to his arthritis, Mr Smart says he's still 'plodding on' with his hobby

Various jars and tins on display behind cabinets in what appears to be a food store 

A wooden sign welcoming visitors to the Dude Ranch in painted writing 

More tinned food on display in Mr Smart's ranch 

Mr Smart has never been to America but he thinks he might now be too old to do so

A view of 'Dude's Kitchen' - fully kitted out with jars, mugs, pots and pans

Mr Smart said: 'I was saving to go to America, but then my friend in Australia was diagnosed with Stage four cancer and I went to see him instead.

'I think I'm too old to go now. The Wild West isn't being carried on anymore.

'There used to be a big community around it but it involved older people who are now dying and the younger generations aren't interested.

'It's a shame, but they're into the digital world now.

'I've got my own paradise in my back garden and even though my home is on a main road, down the bottom of my garden is like a different world.'

Have YOU given your garden a quirky transformation? Email [email protected]