RoadsideAmerica.comYour Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions. Almost all of the quirky attractions of Magic Forest described below -- including the diving horse, the gigantic Uncle Sam, and the Muffler Men -- have been removed. When they heard about the sale they purchased that teddy bear and it meant the world to them, Baker says. We left & renamed it "bizzaro world". Magic Forest Magic Forest Today, many roar obliviously north on the interstate, but enough families exit to keep MF hopping, under the management of Arthur's successor, Jack Gillette, since 1988. For other uses, see, "Dinosaurs coming to Lake George this summer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lake_George_Expedition_Park&oldid=1074053798, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 February 2022, at 04:51. Enjoy watching the magic show by Jimmy Brown and the diving show by the last diving horse called Lightning. Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. I have no place to store it, he said. The Magic Forest was originally opened in 1963 by Arthur Gillette. Then there are the fairy tale worlds blessed with good fortune, as if every child who ever visited used up a secret wish on its behalf. After 2 hours our son asked if we could leave & never come back. ", Hudson River Sightseeing Cruise from Albany, Central Troy Historic District Walking Food Tour, Albany Scavenger Hunt: Empire State Of Mind, 2 Hour Private Forest Immersion Retreat in Woodland Sanctuary, 3 Day Reiki Certification Retreat in Vermont, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB. Almost all of the quirky attractions of Magic Forest described below -- including the diving horse, the gigantic Uncle Sam, and the Muffler Men -- have been removed. The food was not too expensive. Fun Park The Dinosaur park is amazing!! Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is Magic Forest? There was this crazy little tiny squirrel that was literally the smallest figure I listed and everyone wanted that thing, he says. Magic Forest Best Western of Lake George 2452 State Route 9N, Lake George, NY, 12845 $77 per night Mar 1 - Mar 2 Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Lake George. Probably nowhere else is the disturbing world of children's' fairy tales brought to life more vividly. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. Magic Forest Almost all of the quirky attractions of Magic Forest described below -- including the diving horse, the gigantic Uncle Sam, and the Muffler Men -- have been removed. Visitors passing through the garish fairyland entrance building are inundated with choices, as paths curve away into clusters of statues, rides and brightly painted cottages. Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. Loved the nostalgia of this park, the "dated" that everyone seems to be talking about. Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is Magic Forest? Is the park recommend for children 7-10 years old? The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Uncle Sam is Out & Dinosaurs are The World's Largest Uncle Sam looms in the center of the parking lot, and other friendly icons beckon from the heavily wooded knoll where the Magic Forest lives. WebMagic Forest 3.5 461 #10 of 27 things to do in Lake George Amusement & Theme Parks Closed now 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Visit website Call Write a review About A family fun park, in the Adirondacks, that features 25 amusement rides, including the Safari Ride, plus live animal performances, magic shows and the ever-popular "Rex the Diving Horse." Gillettes over 700 nostalgic lots are all up for the bidding now, and can be seen in-person by appointment. The rides were antique pieces that were fascinating to me because it was like an amusement park museum. WebCompare 721 hotels close to Magic Forest Park with room rates, reviews, and availability. Kids enjoyed it a lot. I am very grateful to the Magic Forest for essentially saving all this original fiberglass all these years, and also for calling us rather than an auction house who could care less about anything other than the money, says Baker. Close. Lake George Expedition Park It opened in 2019, and incorporates the Magic Forest, which opened in 1963, along with a new attraction entitled Dino Roar Valley. As of this week, over 700 lots from Magic Forest were posted by Schenectady-based Collar City Auction & Realty Management, all put there by the parks former owner, Jack Gilette. Definitely recommend for little kids. We could see things in the woods by they are roped off. But we bet this up close encounter will come back in someone's nightmares. Uncle Sam is 38 feet tall and formerly stood at the Danbury Fairgrounds in Connecticut. WebCompare 721 hotels close to Magic Forest Park with room rates, reviews, and availability. The train ride was a Diesel engine that kept throwing black smoke in our faces, and at the end of it the animation & recording say that they are going to blow the train up, which really scared our 5 year old son. Its a good mix of things to do. WebLake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. Are you associated with this business? There is a area with several picnic table just outside a small snack bar. Our son loved it and so did we, will definitely be back! Posted by 3 years ago. Modern amusement parks just cant compete with the thrill we got when we realizedperhaps too latethat our body weight was testing the load-bearing limits of one of five rides said to accommodate adults. Anyone know if I will be towed for parking there after hours? Items from local theme park empire hit the auction block Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. Magic Forest (Lake George) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go, Hotels near House of Frankenstein Wax Museum, Hotels near SUNY Adirondack Community College Queensbury, NY, Adrenaline & Extreme Tours in Lake George, Game & Entertainment Centers in Lake George, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Lake George, Maui Nui Luau at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, St Maarten Sailing and Snorkeling to St Barts, Bryce Canyon National Park Self-Driving Audio Tour, Paris Tootbus Discovery Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, Adirondack Cottage, Escape, Relax, and Enjoy, View all hotels near Magic Forest on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Magic Forest on Tripadvisor. We are located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. 1912 U.S. 9, Lake George, NY 12845, USA, United States, Magic Forest Address: 1912 U.S. 9, Lake George, NY 12845, USA, United States, Magic Forest Contact Number: +1-5186682448. Soon we will require you to update your account to a Roadpass account as it will be the only way to log in to Roadtrippers. We took our almost 3 year old and she loved it. Went there with 3 toddlers and spent almost 4 hours. Jack Collins is slated to be the General Manager and COO of the new park; he brings experience working as the General Manager of the Great Escape and has also consulted with Santas Workshop in Wilmington. when we went santa wasn't there and hadn't been for days. The women at the snack bar were putting together a puzzle in between filling orders, and when we found that the gift shop had closed before the park did, they allowed us to come back the next day (for free) to shop for souvenirs. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. As Gillette tells it, Wood the creator of StoryTown USA, the former theme park where The Great Escape now stands was protesting the sale of any items from the sale prior to a proper auction. All stuff geared towards Christmas which also explains the Christmas songs played in the mix of music. $$ Photos See all photos Connect with Magic Forest on Facebook Log In or Create new account Actually, that helps to explain a lot about this place. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. WebLake George, New York. The majority of the items have now sold and most of the well-known, larger items are gonelike the big animals and Muffler Menbut there are still plenty of items online for those that are interested.. Magic Forest Create Your Own Bizarre Road Trips! "Magic Forest" redirects here. Copyright 2023 Family Vacation Critic All Rights Reserved. Many lots share a common origin: the now long-defunct Danbury Fair in Danbury, Connecticut. Just perfect for grandparents with two little ones 5 and 6. Our team of parents and travel experts chooses each product and service we recommend. Magic Forest Magic Forest After Ellsworth decided to take the park in a different direction, Gillette contacted Joel Baker, owner of the Muffler Man restoration company American Giants, to help facilitate the sale of all of those fiberglass figures. Jimmy Brown's magic show was great. Try My Sights, Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. For what he does for them, that poor guy is not taken care of very well in return (matted mane, hooves not properly trimmed, SMALL paddock that he is just put back into after his dive, soken wet), and he doesn't seem to enjoy what he's made to do. Magic Forest Gilette was something of a collector, amassing his estimated over 700 items over decades while running Magic Forest, which first opened in 1963. We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". The creepy part is the statues. I havent had a bad experience with anything Ive sold.. Visit Family Vacation Critic on Instagram. The train ride was quite fun. A bean pole droops, a gingerbread house caves in, a Humpty Dumpty falls one last time. All rights reserved. Lake George Expedition Park - Magic Forest Pass on this one. The Magic Forest felt like it was from a different time not only physically, but spiritually. tourist attractions and odd sights in New York, World's Highest and Longest Pedestrian Bridge. It is now a running joke In our family that as a pumishment we will return to bizzaro world. tourist attractions and odd sights in New York, World's Highest and Longest Pedestrian Bridge. Magic Forest Park All rights reserved. The Spider Man is a creepy top-hatted arachnid, maybe not so scary in a world of chest-bursting aliens and zombies. Magic Forest Magic Forest Park Most of them sit at a starting price of $25. Hes believed to be the largest Uncle Sam statue in the world. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the authors. Magic Forest 7.1/10 Hundreds of fiberglass figures strewn about the heavily-wooded park were faded by decades of sun and exposure to the elements, covered in spider webs and other forest detritus. You can get the I LOVE NY Travel Guide by, 2023 New York Department of Economic Development, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources for Travelers, Spotlight: Jamestown and Chautauqua-Allegheny. For Everything Lake George, It's On LakeGeorge.com, LakeGeorge.com All Rights Reserved 2023, Uncle Sam is Out & Dinosaurs are In at the Magic Forest, Find more amusement parks and attractions in Lake George >>. Magic Forest is the park of your childhood dreams! The next button will take you to Roadpass to create a free Roadpass account and finish the process. Hours and dates subject to change. His father and uncle started a carnival together. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Still gives me creeps every night to look back on it. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Hours We are grandparents of 5 yo and 9 yo boys and went with them and their parents to the park. With magically delicious food and shows so good you wont believe your eyes, one trip to the Magic Forest will have you checking for vacancies in the Old Womans shoe. Transferring the giant statue from Lake George to Danbury, roughly a three hour ride, was reportedly difficult. Santa had been on the Atkins diet and looked as healthy as the animals. Almost all of the quirky attractions of Magic Forest described below -- including the diving horse, the gigantic Uncle Sam, and the Muffler Men -- have been removed. POTUS landmarks, oddities. WebMagic Forest Address: 1912 U.S. 9, Lake George, NY 12845, USA, United States Magic Forest Contact Number: +1-5186682448 Try the best online travel planner to plan your travel itinerary! Magic Forest We couldn't find an existing Roadtrippers account using that service. Contents 1 Magic Forest 2 Dino Roar Valley 3 References 4 External links Magic Forest [ edit] Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Ever. We spot their blistered, sagging entry gates on lonely back roads, or squeezed between the Amusements of the Month in some overdeveloped Mecca. There are plenty of unnerving fairy tale statues along the wooded trails of Magic Forest -- an impressive collection of contorted bodies, asymmetrical faces, weird leers, and bulging eyes. By continuing to use our site you agree to ourprivacy policy. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. Please alert us if there is any inaccurate information here. Or, if I do forget, perhaps my lapse in memory is due to the literal high we got as we were nearly asphyxiated by fumes from the diesel tractor pulling us through the park. Take time to enjoy the rides - the merry-go-round, you-drive car track, sail in the boats, and others. We are located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. I made, I dont know, about 20 or 30 trips, sometimes with a tractor-trailer. Credits, Media/Business Inquiries Like most relics of another time, however, these low-tech parksif they still exist at allare becoming harder to find. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. "His head is the way we got him. Jimmy Brown the magician is fantastic and I love that they have Santa there. Take your kids to the Magic Forest to let them have a perfect time in this retro themed amusement park filled with around 25 fun rides including the kiddie rides that are perfect for both the toddlers and the older kids. Magic Forest (Gone WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. WebMagic Forest - Lake George Expedition Park FUN TO MAKE YOU SOAR Enter a world of nostalgia and wonder Magic Forest is the park of your childhood dreams! Web1912 State Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 Visit Site Adirondacks Region Details Since 1963, Magic Forest has entertained young park goers and their families, creating memories for all. Are you associated with this business? Gillette sold Magic Forest in Lake George in 2019 and retired. Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New York. Magic Forest The rides are very old school, and my kids. We have an awkward moment -- not uncommon for us -- when we ask a passing manager why the grimacing, Amishized Alfred E. Neuman holds an ax. A lion-head drinking fountain (and lion-head trash can), a caveman family, Ma and Pa Kettle, an Esso tiger, a 15-foot Santa, a one-hump camel, a skull, and several other pieces are still up for sale. May 28 - June 26 Most hotels are fully refundable. No, I would say age 8 max. A great park. We have a couple of similar parks here in NH that are WAY ahead of Magic Forest. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. They came from Woodys Fiberglass in Tennessee, Bensons Wild Animal Farm in New Hampshire, a mini-golf course in Ohio, and the Danbury Fair in Connecticut. Since putting those larger fiberglass statues up for sale in 2019, Gillette says hes been impressed over and over by the kindness and care of the interested buyers hes met along the way. Theyve added Dino valley and are working on updates around magic forest. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. Explore the unknown as you traverse the Dino Nest and uncover the world sleeping beneath our feet as you excavate colossal dinosaurs in the Fossil Dig Site. Most fairy tale theme parks eventually suffer the fate of a fabled cursed kingdom. WebMagic Forest (Gone) Lake George, New York The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. Lake George Expedition Park The dark, woodsy allure of classic fairy tales is part of Magic Forest's charm. More, National Cryptologic Museum, Annapolis Junction, Maryland (Feb 27-Mar 5, 2023). The magic show by Jimmy Brown was incredible, full of laughs, both of my girls got to go on stage and participate. [2], The other part of the park is Dino Roar Valley, which opened in 2019 and featuring animatronic dinosaurs.[3]. Theyve added Dino valley and are working on updates around magic forest. Yes. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. When sorting through his collection, Gillette knew that those items, in particular, should be auctioned. The admission cost is super reasonable and their snack bar has normal food prices. The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. But we bet this up close encounter will come back in someone's nightmares. Uncle Sam is 38 feet tall and formerly stood at the Danbury Fairgrounds in Connecticut. Before Chuck E. Cheese, video games, Six Flags, or Disney World, parks like the Magic Forest used to be the place to take your kids. The World's Largest Uncle Sam looms in the center of the parking lot, and other friendly icons beckon from the heavily wooded knoll where the Magic Forest lives. WebExperience a journey through time. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. Baker is surprisingly sanguine as he watches the collection split up and scatter around the country. Reddit He was tasked with finding buyers for all of the pieces in the Magic Forests diverse collection. Unfortunately, for each figure whose origins are known, anothers backstory has been lost over time. Almost all of the quirky attractions of Magic Forest described below -- including the diving horse, the gigantic Uncle Sam, and the Muffler Men -- have been removed. There were buttons to push to tell us their stories but the recordings didn't work so they sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher. It wasn't the least bit crowded and they would run the rides for just our two granddaughters. Contents 1 Magic Forest 2 Dino Roar Valley 3 References 4 External links Magic Forest [ edit] Enjoy the Snowy Weekend in the Lake George Area! Rides are fun and seeing Santa was really great! People normally club together Water Slide World and Lumberjack Pass Miniature Golf while planning their visit to Magic Forest. The park is very clean and the employees are patient and friendly. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. 3. ' Gilette remembers. Is this worth it for a 2 year old? This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. Tall tales, trip guides, and the weird and wonderful. Old, sad, dingy, dirty. I was there last week nothing was unsafe it is one of the best children's parks around. The dark, woodsy allure of classic fairy tales is part of Magic Forest's charm. She dreams of visiting every state in the U.S. and will always stop for a Muffler Man. We have an awkward moment -- not uncommon for us -- when we ask a passing manager why the grimacing, Amishized Alfred E. Neuman holds an ax. One family contacted him about a fiberglass teddy bear. The former Magic Forest amusement park, located at the corner of Route 9 and Bloody Pond Road, has since shed the towering fiberglass giants that once loomed over its parking lot. WebMagic Forest Route 9, Lake George, NY Best For: Infants 0-2 Little Kids 3-6 Big Kids 7-9 Tweens 10-12 Teens 13-17 Best suited for the very young, or anyone with a penchant for quirky roadside attractions, this small amusement park opened in WebMagic Forest - Lake George Expedition Park FUN TO MAKE YOU SOAR Enter a world of nostalgia and wonder Magic Forest is the park of your childhood dreams! Staff throughout park are great with the kids and very friendly! Longtime residents and visitors of Lake George will undoubtedly be sad when they realize the beloved Uncle Sam statue that was such a significant fixture of Magic Forest is gone. WebMagic Forest Route 9, Lake George, NY Best For: Infants 0-2 Little Kids 3-6 Big Kids 7-9 Tweens 10-12 Teens 13-17 Best suited for the very young, or anyone with a penchant for quirky roadside attractions, this small amusement park opened in WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. Since 1963, Magic Forest has entertained young park goers and their families, creating memories for all. When Gillette came back down to Danbury, intending to pick up the last of what he had already paid for, he caught the seller while he was still in a bad mood from that conversation. Not the first time for the boys. Magic Forest I was buying stuff and bringing it back up here and just putting it in my parking lot, wherever I could, Gillette recounted. This was our first time. The animals were severely underfed. [1] Magic Forest also has a small petting zoo where children can feed the animals. The best animatronic dinosaurs Ive ever seen, better than the Bronx zoo and several other parks weve been too. The former Magic Forest amusement park, located at the corner of Route 9 and Bloody Pond Road, has since shed the towering fiberglass giants that once loomed over its parking lot. It opened in 2019, and incorporates the Magic Forest, which opened in 1963, along with a new attraction entitled Dino Roar Valley. Get a piece of your childhood now! A good place to spend half a day for kids. Also guarding the minivans and SUVs is a large Santa Claus, reportedly the most popular statue on the property. Are rides being disinfected after each use? Then there are the fairy tale worlds blessed with good fortune, as if every child who ever visited used up a secret wish on its behalf. Magic Forest Along the shaded trails, attractions feature fairy tale characters like Hansel and Gretel and Paul Bunyan. Magic Forest is one, aided by a combination of prime location and classic clean kid fun. Each ride had info about when and where it was made, when it was bought and info about the hydraulics. The it in questions runs the amusement part gamut, from typical equipment like a heater and a store product stand to any number of stranger things. We missed the magic show but will catch it next time. Follow, like and subscribe to LakeGeorge.com on social media. All the classic cautionary tales are here, displayed in miniature within wooden shelters, or lurking in the woods along serpentine trails. There's a chapel, too. It was an amazing collection of original piecesthe largest I knew to exist.. The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. Restoration specialists will be working to spruce him up from the wear and tear hes endured over the years. Would have loved to have seen the dinosaurs. About 20 dioramas -- accompanied by audio at the push of a button -- bring to life the Three Little Pigs, Jack Sprat, Hansel & Gretel, assorted princesses and woodsmen Magic Forest opened in 1963, the brainchild of Arthur Gillette, who wisely built his fairyland along a major highway (Route 9) and just south of the town of Lake George, a magnet for summertime and weekend crowds from New York City. Mixed among the dioramas are giant statues of American icons, several of them reworked Muffler Men: Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, Smokey Bear, the Statue of Liberty, a big Indian, a couple of space-walking astronauts. Magic Forest Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. Magic Forest also has sheep, pygmy goats and country goats at the farm, whom the kids will love to adore and feed. Lake George Expedition It's perfect. This place is great if you are into any of the following, all others beware: Unsafe broken rides, uneducated senior citizens running rides, creepy overall, sad use and abuse of a horse forced to walk up an inclosure and dive down into a pool multiple times a day, dirty sad animals in cages, safari train ride of ceramic animal heads with choking fumes from extremely slow moving ride, permanent carnival. Attraction status, hours and prices change without notice; call ahead! Returning the statue to its original home was part of the deal. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Dino Roar Valley is so fun its prehistoric! One, a giant clown, has to be the most remodeled MM in the world. But some of the once-over 700 sculptures that once called the park home are just now resurfacing. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. Hundreds of fiberglass figures strewn about the heavily-wooded park were faded by decades of sun and exposure to the elements, covered in spider webs and other forest detritus. No masks were required even for the kids as it's all outside. The day we were there, a summer camp group was there and they had their own food item stored in coolers.
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