The park collected hundreds of fiberglass figures through the years, sourced from the Danbury Fair, mini-golf courses, and other amusement parks. Cookies are used for measurement, ads, and optimization. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Jack Gillette, the longtime owner of Magic Forest, initially purchased Uncle Sam (and other pieces) at auction from the Danbury Fair decades ago when the fair closed its doors in 1981. The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. 8.6 Fabulous 813 reviews Price from 102 per night Check availability Best Western of Lake George 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. Get a piece of your childhood now! Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. He says to me, Do you know Charlie Woods? 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. Not the first time for the boys. Most hotels are fully refundable. Gillette sold the park in 2019, but much of the remnants have remained on the property, now operating as Lake George Expedition Park. Our website found buyers who truly have a passion for saving these kinds of things.. Fun for the kids and nostalgic for us babyboomers! 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.. Rides were available for all ages and the Dino roar exhibits were entertaining as much as they were informative. She doesn't understand our concern, and is probably wondering why grown men traveling without children are in her park in the first place. 71.18% of people who visit Lake George include Magic Forest in their plan, 42.86% of people start their Magic Forest visit around 3 PM - 4 PM, People usually take around 30 Minutes to see Magic Forest, 95% of people prefer to travel by car while visiting Magic Forest. Most of these giants had already stood at a handful of locations before coming here so it is not surprising they are on the move again.. Baker first visited the park in 2012 while he was researching Muffler Men (the park had four). Actually, that helps to explain a lot about this place. Transferring the giant statue from Lake George to Danbury, roughly a three hour ride, was reportedly difficult. 8.6 Fabulous 813 reviews Price from 102 per night Check availability Best Western of Lake George Probably nowhere else is the disturbing world of children's' fairy tales brought to life more vividly. He was tasked with finding buyers for all of the pieces in the Magic Forests diverse collection. Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is Magic Forest? 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. All the classic cautionary tales are here, displayed in miniature within wooden shelters, or lurking in the woods along serpentine trails. this was our first year visiting but well be back for sure next year! 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.
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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. These are rides that we as children went on growing up and rides we brought our children to go on when they were little but at different amusement parks. The train ride was quite fun. Dino Roar Valley is so fun its prehistoric! Ronald McDonald Vacation Home Coming to Lake George, Check Out Weekend Events With Barrel Fest & More in Lake George, Dont Miss Your Last Chance for Winter Carnival & Ice Bar Fun in Lake George, Winter Carnivals, Fireworks & Fun: See Whats Happening in Lake George This Weekend, Get Into a Valentines Day Mood in Lake George This Weekend, Bundle Up for All the Frozen Fun Going On Around Lake George This Weekend.
Magic Forest Kids enjoyed it a lot. 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. Most of the rides are "kiddie rides" and a 10 year old would be bored.
Lake George Expedition Park 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. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. But some of the once-over 700 sculptures that once called the park home are just now resurfacing. Visit Family Vacation Critic on Facebook! He kept my kids entertained the whole show and that is a true magic trick. There's a chapel, too. Not for family but for the individual. Model characters from fairy tales with the audio interpretation are a great initiative. 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. 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 In fact, kids seem oblivious to the creepiness of this place, and so do the adults, for that matter. [1] Magic Forest also has a small petting zoo where children can feed the animals. I was buying stuff and bringing it back up here and just putting it in my parking lot, wherever I could, Gillette recounted. Theyve added Dino valley and are working on updates around magic forest. 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! But then there is a whole dinosaur park with animatronic dinosaurs throughout the forest. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. 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. Our son loved it and so did we, will definitely be back! Was wondering about parking at magic forest theme park (parking is free) and taking the trolley to great escape. They had visited the Magic Forest for years and always taken their kids photo with that particular bear. Are you associated with this business? The stable and manger are not in use. Loved the nostalgia of this park, the "dated" that everyone seems to be talking about. This was very nastalgic for us because the rides here were bought from different parks over the years and brought to this one. 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. 3. By that point, Gillettes father had broken off from the fair to found Carson City, an amusement park in the Catskills themed around the American wild west, and which also has relics in the auction lot. WebLake George (0.7 miles from Magic Forest) Situated off Interstate 87 and set in the heart of the Adirondack Park Preserve, this Holiday Inn Resort Lake George offers indoor and outdoor pools and an on-site restaurant and lounge. Two Muffler Men are particularly disturbing. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions Most hotels are fully refundable. These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Uncle Sam is Out & Dinosaurs are Gilette was something of a collector, amassing his estimated over 700 items over decades while running Magic Forest, which first opened in 1963. We missed the magic show but will catch it next time. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park.
Magic Forest enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. Both are protected with Clear Coat, as are all the statues in the Magic Forest.
Magic Forest The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. However, that didnt keep father and son from getting together at the Danbury Fair after it had closed, for the grounds to become a mall to rescue hundreds of statues and decorations.
Lake George 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.
Lake George 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.
You just dont get that opportunity every day, says Baker. Copyright 1996-2023 Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. Undeterred, we assured her that we were willing participants in the charade that the park was still a viable tourist destination. I think that you would probably be towed. 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 >>. I was there last week nothing was unsafe it is one of the best children's parks around. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. I even went as far as Kansas this summer, and everybody I have met has been nice, friendly and very appreciative. By continuing to use our site you agree to ourprivacy policy. Hes come to the buyers, too. 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. 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. Definitely recommend for little kids. Theyve added Dino valley and are working on updates around magic forest. Is there a live Santa the kids can visit with? We spot their blistered, sagging entry gates on lonely back roads, or squeezed between the Amusements of the Month in some overdeveloped Mecca. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. The day we were there, a summer camp group was there and they had their own food item stored in coolers. However, not long after, Gillette got another chance; all thanks, unknowingly, to another local entertainer, whose name lives on in nearby Glens Falls. We could see things in the woods by they are roped off. 51. 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. She doesn't understand our concern, and is probably wondering why grown men traveling without children are in her park in the first place. Since 1963, Magic Forest has entertained young park goers and their families, creating memories for all. We did go early in the season. We are located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. All four of us had a really awesome day. No, I would say age 8 max. The park is almost completed shaded. Hours and dates subject to change. Tall tales, trip guides, and the weird and wonderful. The dark, woodsy allure of classic fairy tales is part of Magic Forest's charm. Theyve added Dino valley and are working on updates around magic forest. The Spider Man is a creepy top-hatted arachnid, maybe not so scary in a world of chest-bursting aliens and zombies. The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. WebYour visit to the park will be a walking tour; for our visitors with mobility difficulties, we will provide alternative means. Anyone who wants to be one of Gillettes next buyers has a month to do it.
Magic Forest Park But its hard not to become despondent and dig in your heels when it feels as if the world you love is rapidly disappearing. Along the shaded trails, attractions feature fairy tale characters like Hansel and Gretel and Paul Bunyan. So many rides. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. 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. $$ Photos See all photos Connect with Magic Forest on Facebook Log In or Create new account Mixed among the dioramas are giant statues of American icons, several of them reworked Muffler Men: Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, Smokey Bear, the Statue of Liberty, a big Indian, a couple of space-walking astronauts. Today, many roar obliviously north on the interstate, but enough families exit to keep MF hopping, under the management of Arthur's successor, Jack Gillette, since 1988.
Lake George Expedition Park - Magic Forest $$ Photos See all photos Connect with Magic Forest on Facebook Log In or Create new account Please try signing in with another option or create a new account with Roadpass. The only thing that I was disappointed in is the fact that the dinosaur are on a section that you have to walk done a steep section and up again therefore my sister and I couldn't go down.