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! Are rides being disinfected after each use? Start here.Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip. Uncle Sam is Out & Dinosaurs are WebLake George, New York. No masks were required even for the kids as it's all outside. The full, 700+ lot posting will stay online until the end of September. Magic Forest (Gone Magic Forest Park 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! The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. Magic Forest Credits, Media/Business Inquiries 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. We are hoping to go back again We got there around 2 and stayed until close. One account for all of our road travel apps. 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. ClickSwipe through our gallery for a preview of everything there is to explore when you visit Magic Forest. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. At Dino Roar Valley, find adventure, make discoveries, and be transported to other places through hands-on experiences. Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! Maybe what we actually saw was the ghost of Rex, the parks original equine entertainer and Lightnings fatheror perhaps it was all an elaborate magic trick performed by the resident magician, Jimmy Brown (who also doubledor rather, tripledas the parks lone emcee and balloon animal artist). Two Muffler Men are particularly disturbing. Most hotels are fully refundable. The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. Amazing! We are grandparents of 5 yo and 9 yo boys and went with them and their parents to the park. But then there is a whole dinosaur park with animatronic dinosaurs throughout the forest. Rides were available for all ages and the Dino roar exhibits were entertaining as much as they were informative. Attraction status, hours and prices change without notice; call ahead! Former Magic Forest decorations have also made their way to California, Oregon and Texas. The former safari area will see the most changes. All the classic cautionary tales are here, displayed in miniature within wooden shelters, or lurking in the woods along serpentine trails. No, I would say age 8 max. The worlds largest Uncle Sam statue greets you in the parking lot. Create Your Own Bizarre Road Trips! Magic Forest Enjoy the 20 minute train ride to watch the life-size animal statues with kids. 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.. Returning the statue to its original home was part of the deal. Trip Planning Caution: RoadsideAmerica.com offers maps, directions and attraction details as a convenience, providing all information as is. Lake George Expedition All rights reserved. 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. Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Sometimes, Baker would get ten emails expressing interest in a single item before he could even list it as sold. Because they are giant, it feels like they will never leave, but the truth is they are well-traveled for as old as they are. No computerized rides here! 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. 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 Plenty of parking. Attraction status, hours and prices change without notice; call ahead! Probably nowhere else is the disturbing world of children's' fairy tales brought to life more vividly. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. ' Gilette remembers. 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." Information is subject to change. Staff throughout park are great with the kids and very friendly! For just $12,000, you can literally be the old lady who lived in a (20-foot-tall) shoeold lady and five fiberglass children included. 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. Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". I hope the utilize this theme in the fall. Both are protected with Clear Coat, as are all the statues in the Magic Forest. It is now a running joke In our family that as a pumishment we will return to bizzaro world. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. WebLake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. The Magic Forest was originally opened in 1963 by Arthur Gillette. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Hours Posted by 3 years ago. Take time to enjoy the rides - the merry-go-round, you-drive car track, sail in the boats, and others. Yes. It wasn't the least bit crowded and they would run the rides for just our two granddaughters. Fun Park "His head is the way we got him. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. 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. The park was somewhat enjoyable but I would not return because of the use of the animal in this manner, and it ruined our time at the park. Magic Forest A very well run park. My guess is that you can, but I'd ask at the entrance. We have a couple of similar parks here in NH that are WAY ahead of 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. Animals and astronauts are headed to a campground in Iowa, and Story Land in New Jersey purchased a castle, a Robin Hood figure, and several animals. 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. Dino Roar Valley is so fun its prehistoric! 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. I was there last week nothing was unsafe it is one of the best children's parks around. Prices range from a few hundred dollars into the tens of thousands. A great park. Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. This place is great! $$ Photos See all photos Connect with Magic Forest on Facebook Log In or Create new account It opened in 2019, and incorporates the Magic Forest, which opened in 1963, along with a new attraction entitled Dino Roar Valley. The park collected hundreds of fiberglass figures through the years, sourced from the Danbury Fair, mini-golf courses, and other amusement parks. 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. 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. I was especially concerned about "Lightening" the diving horse. Will go again when were in the area. He was tasked with finding buyers for all of the pieces in the Magic Forests diverse collection. Pass on this one. But some of the once-over 700 sculptures that once called the park home are just now resurfacing. Lake George Expedition Also cant beat the setting, they are carefully dispersed through a beautiful forest. 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. 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. [1] Magic Forest also has a small petting zoo where children can feed the animals. Keep exploring with the Roadtrippers mobile apps. Are you associated with this business? We got to do and see everything, a few things more than once. She doesn't understand our concern, and is probably wondering why grown men traveling without children are in her park in the first place. Yes, it is small and management is aware it needs work. Sign up for our newsletter & stay up to date. Fun Park 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. 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. Visit Family Vacation Critic on Facebook! Trip Planning Caution: RoadsideAmerica.com offers maps, directions and attraction details as a convenience, providing all information as is. My son had nightmares for a few days after that. People normally club together Water Slide World and Lumberjack Pass Miniature Golf while planning their visit to 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! The other is a Happy Halfwit with an Amish beard and hat, holding an ax just opposite the Little Miss Muffet display. 10am5pm | Sat & Sun Only Jimmys magic show was the highlight of our visit. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. However, not long after, Gillette got another chance; all thanks, unknowingly, to another local entertainer, whose name lives on in nearby Glens Falls. 51. When the Fair went out of business, Jack Gillette bought him in April 1982 (along with dozens of other statues) and stood him in the Magic Forest parking lot. Anything you purchase through links on our site may earn us a commission. Best suited for the very young, or anyone with a penchant for quirky roadside attractions, this small amusement park opened in 1963, and retains some of its retro charm. We are located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. Magic Forest Sometimes I wonder if we really saw Lightning, the last remaining diving horse in the country, take his famous (and some may say inhumane) dive twice the day we visited, or if it was all a mirage. Ever. Magic Forest is one, aided by a combination of prime location and classic clean kid fun. He says that all of the figures lived diverseand sometimes manypast lives before they came to the Magic Forest. Enjoy watching the magic show by Jimmy Brown and the diving show by the last diving horse called Lightning. Magic Forest is the park of your childhood dreams! 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. The fella Im buying stuff from says, We gotta leave some stuff for the auction.'. Hours and dates subject to change. Cookies are used for measurement, ads, and optimization. Totally wrong about Magic Forest. WebYour visit to the park will be a walking tour; for our visitors with mobility difficulties, we will provide alternative means. 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. Water available for sale all throughout. Simple fun and a great day. Since 1963, Magic Forest has entertained young park goers and their families, creating memories for all. Get a piece of your childhood now! Magic Forest Id gladly trade a few more brain cells to take that so-called safari ride again and spend a few more precious moments with the mangy menagerie of animals scattered throughout the woods. Loved the nostalgia of this park, the "dated" that everyone seems to be talking about. The admission cost is super reasonable and their snack bar has normal food prices. The park is expected to be open May through October, with tickets going on sale in March. LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) Up until just a couple years ago, a drive up Route 9 toward the village of Lake George would take visitors past, among other things, Paul Bunyan and Uncle Sam. Fairies were missing fingers, buttons used to activate animatronics were broken, and, when I put a quarter into a prize machine, I received nothing in return. Lake George Expedition Park - Magic Forest UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. Magic Forest WebExperience a journey through time. It still happens, but I feel that awareness is growing about the importance of saving and restoring these piecesI like to think that today it is more about relocating Americana rather than disappearing Americana.. There were buttons to push to tell us their stories but the recordings didn't work so they sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher. Undeterred, we assured her that we were willing participants in the charade that the park was still a viable tourist destination. Love that it is geared for younger kids and that all of the vintage rides have a brief history displayed. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! Uncle Sam is Out & Dinosaurs are They first went 3 years ago. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Gillette sold the park in 2019, but much of the remnants have remained on the property, now operating as Lake George Expedition Park. Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New York. Staff is great rides are safe & fun for any child or adult. It's perfect. 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. I havent had a bad experience with anything Ive sold.. Its fiberglass figures had long ago dug in their collective heelsand hoovesas the world evolved around them. More, Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. Was wondering about parking at magic forest theme park (parking is free) and taking the trolley to great escape. More, National Cryptologic Museum, Annapolis Junction, Maryland (Feb 27-Mar 5, 2023). Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions 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. Enjoy the Snowy Weekend in the Lake George Area! Learn more about Roadpass accounts here. POTUS landmarks, oddities. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! The next button will take you to Roadpass to create a free Roadpass account and finish the process. It means nothing to most people; but for people who went to the fair and loved it, its worth its value to them.. 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. The animals were severely underfed. The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. The magic finally ran out last year when longtime owner Jack Gillette sold the park to a local contractor, Ruben Ellsworth. 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! All the classic cautionary tales are here, displayed in miniature within wooden shelters, or lurking in the woods along serpentine trails. But in fact, hes actually returned home. I was buying stuff and bringing it back up here and just putting it in my parking lot, wherever I could, Gillette recounted. Copyright 1996-2023 Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. 92% of travelers recommend this experience. Ellsworth plans to reopen the space as Lake George Expedition Park with all-new attractions, including dinosaurs. 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. Try My Sights, Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. 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. Reddit Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. A bean pole droops, a gingerbread house caves in, a Humpty Dumpty falls one last time. Its also shady as it is indeed in a forest. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. Most of them sit at a starting price of $25. Take time to enjoy the rides - the merry-go-round, you-drive car track, sail in the boats, and others. Magic Forest is one, aided by a combination of prime location and classic clean kid fun. It was clean, very clean. 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 Magic Forest Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. When I visited the Magic Forest in 2015, the woman at the ticket counter tried to dissuade ustwo adults with nary a child in sightfrom entering. Theyve added Dino valley and are working on updates around magic forest. This was our first time. Went there with 3 toddlers and spent almost 4 hours. There are also a petting zoo, magic shows, and stunt shows with the last remaining diving horse, Lightning. I think that you would probably be towed. 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. They include paint-chipped animals, old theme park legends, and quite a few broken fae folk. 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. Model characters from fairy tales with the audio interpretation are a great initiative. You just dont get that opportunity every day, says Baker. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. Website Design by Trampoline Advertising & Design Co. | Web Site Development & Hosting by Nolee-O Web Design, Web Site Development & Hosting by Nolee-O Web Design. Jimmy Brown's magic show was great. 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. Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. Jimmy Brown the magician is fantastic and I love that they have Santa there. Where else can you see Esso tigers and Sinclair Dinosaurs peacefully coexisting with pink flamingos and polar bears? This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. 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 park is open every day, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from late June June through Labor Day. Accessibility is our goal, please contact us with site improvements. 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. It opened in 2019, and incorporates the Magic Forest, which opened in 1963, along with a new attraction entitled Dino Roar Valley. A bit dirty, rides seem OLD and somewhat banged up, and the animals are not taken care of very well (they seem well fed but cages are dirty and small). The other is a Happy Halfwit with an Amish beard and hat, holding an ax just opposite the Little Miss Muffet display. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you when you hit the road! I even went as far as Kansas this summer, and everybody I have met has been nice, friendly and very appreciative. 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. Is there a live Santa the kids can visit with? when we went santa wasn't there and hadn't been for days. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. Not for family but for the individual. So many rides. The Spider Man is a creepy top-hatted arachnid, maybe not so scary in a world of chest-bursting aliens and zombies. By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. 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. Magic Forest 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. The park is very clean and the employees are patient and friendly. Although they eventually paid the ultimate price, maybe the lesson is that we should celebrate the parks existence and persistenceand not ignore the consequences of resolutely resisting change. Lake George This used to be Santa's Workshop and they've kept parts of it. The people who worked there were either teenagers from Europe or seniors. Are you associated with this business? Lake George Expedition Park - Magic Forest The park had its first season under new name and ownership in 2021, and that was what pushed Gilette to finally get it done. Theyve added Dino valley and are working on updates around magic forest. Magic Forest Old, sad, dingy, dirty. 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 The Magic Forest was a theme park that remained untouched by timeand when we visited, almost nothing about it made sense anymore. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. Lake George Expedition Park Magic Forest (Gone This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. I made, I dont know, about 20 or 30 trips, sometimes with a tractor-trailer. Magic Forest In the beginning, I was getting over 30 emails a day, he says. There were no lines. The dark, woodsy allure of classic fairy tales is part of Magic Forest's charm. Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. 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. Actually, that helps to explain a lot about this place. May 28 - June 26 They had visited the Magic Forest for years and always taken their kids photo with that particular bear. RoadsideAmerica.comYour Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions. 3. 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. Hes come to the buyers, too. Rides are fun and seeing Santa was really great! 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. Get a piece of your childhood now! live santa only comes out when the weather isn't too hot. Gillette sold Magic Forest in Lake George in 2019 and retired. 10am5pm | 7 Days a Week The next button will take you to Roadpass to create a free Roadpass account and finish the process. Lake George Expedition But its hard not to become despondent and dig in your heels when it feels as if the world you love is rapidly disappearing.