We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". Ellsworth plans to reopen the space as Lake George Expedition Park with all-new attractions, including dinosaurs. They had visited the Magic Forest for years and always taken their kids photo with that particular bear. Pass on this one. 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. Again the kids enjoyed itand that is the most important part. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. Ever. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. More, Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. Take time to enjoy the rides - the merry-go-round, you-drive car track, sail in the boats, and others. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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.. Is there a picnic area and can you bring a cooler? It is now a running joke In our family that as a pumishment we will return to bizzaro world. The creepy part is the statues. Enjoy the 20 minute train ride to watch the life-size animal statues with kids. There's a chapel, too. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! 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. Rides were available for all ages and the Dino roar exhibits were entertaining as much as they were informative. 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." 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! The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. All rights reserved. Not the first time for the boys. 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. Credits, Media/Business Inquiries He comes to me and says, Now, what more do you want? And so Charlie Woods attitude helped me buy more stuff.. 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. Gillette sold Magic Forest in Lake George in 2019 and retired. Actually, that helps to explain a lot about this place. 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. Tall tales, trip guides, and the weird and wonderful. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. Was wondering about parking at magic forest theme park (parking is free) and taking the trolley to great escape. 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! Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is Magic Forest? Start here.Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip. So many rides. 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. Attraction status, hours and prices change without notice; call ahead! It's perfect. My husband told me he was creeped out & felt like the statues were following is with their eyes. WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. We are located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. 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. In fact, kids seem oblivious to the creepiness of this place, and so do the adults, for that matter. Get a piece of your childhood now! In addition to Danbury Fair and Carson City, other items come from places like Lake Georges own Gaslight Village; Charles R. Woods Story Town; as well as amusement parks with names like Animal Land, Hoffmans Play Land and Land of Make Believe. You may have heard about a new, dinosaur-themed park coming to Lake George, but do you know whats happened to the iconic Uncle Sam statue? Anyone who wants to be one of Gillettes next buyers has a month to do it. ", 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. For as long as I live, I wont forget how it felt to teeter on the brink of death, slowly ascending on a rickety Ferris wheel that appeared to have been built from the mismatched pieces of a garage sale Erector set. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. 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. 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 I was impressed by the amount of original International Fiberglass figures there, Baker says. 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. 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. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions There were no lines. Fun for the kids and nostalgic for us babyboomers! Get a piece of your childhood now! The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. You just dont get that opportunity every day, says Baker. We left & renamed it "bizzaro world". Hes come to the buyers, too. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. There are also a petting zoo, magic shows, and stunt shows with the last remaining diving horse, Lightning. 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. 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. 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. One, a giant clown, has to be the most remodeled MM in the world. 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! This was very nastalgic for us because the rides here were bought from different parks over the years and brought to this one. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. The Gillettes bought so many items from the Danbury grounds, in fact, that at one point they were cut off. The people who worked there were either teenagers from Europe or seniors. Like most relics of another time, however, these low-tech parksif they still exist at allare becoming harder to find. 7.1/10 Prices range from a few hundred dollars into the tens of thousands. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. Close. When they heard about the sale they purchased that teddy bear and it meant the world to them, Baker says. Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you when you hit the road! 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. when we went santa wasn't there and hadn't been for days. 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. Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is Magic Forest? This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. No computerized rides here! The rides were antique pieces that were fascinating to me because it was like an amusement park museum. A good place to spend half a day for kids. 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. 3. We did go early in the season. I made, I dont know, about 20 or 30 trips, sometimes with a tractor-trailer. Its a great park to bring the kids without the stress of a typical amusement park (parents, youll understand what I mean). Its fiberglass figures had long ago dug in their collective heelsand hoovesas the world evolved around them. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. Its different, he said. Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. Gillettes over 700 nostalgic lots are all up for the bidding now, and can be seen in-person by appointment. We took our almost 3 year old and she loved it. Simple fun and a great day. 7.1/10 RoadsideAmerica.comYour Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions. 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. 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. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Climb into a dinosaur nest, dig for hidden fossils, and stand next to what is possibly the world's largest dinosaur ever discovered - the Titanosaurus. Yes. Probably nowhere else is the disturbing world of children's' fairy tales brought to life more vividly. The magic show by Jimmy Brown was incredible, full of laughs, both of my girls got to go on stage and participate. The park had its first season under new name and ownership in 2021, and that was what pushed Gilette to finally get it done. 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. Hes believed to be the largest Uncle Sam statue in the world. We spot their blistered, sagging entry gates on lonely back roads, or squeezed between the Amusements of the Month in some overdeveloped Mecca. Probably nowhere else is the disturbing world of children's' fairy tales brought to life more vividly. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The Magic Forest was originally opened in 1963 by Arthur Gillette. Information is subject to change. The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. Try My Sights, Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Jimmy Brown's magic show was great. The dark, woodsy allure of classic fairy tales is part of Magic Forest's charm. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud. Each ride had info about when and where it was made, when it was bought and info about the hydraulics. Follow, like and subscribe to LakeGeorge.com on social media. Take time to enjoy the rides - the merry-go-round, you-drive car track, sail in the boats, and others. Santa is actually there in an air conditioned log house. I was especially concerned about "Lightening" the diving horse. Posted by 3 years ago. Magic Forest is the park of your childhood dreams! Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. All the classic cautionary tales are here, displayed in miniature within wooden shelters, or lurking in the woods along serpentine trails. 8.6 Fabulous 813 reviews Price from 102 per night Check availability Best Western of Lake George This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. 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! Fear not, Magic Forest lovers the new Lake George Expedition Park will be adding onto the Magic Forest park along Route 9 between Lake George and Queensbury. The full, 700+ lot posting will stay online until the end of September. That was a bit disturbing to me. This used to be Santa's Workshop and they've kept parts of it. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions WebLake George, New York. Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. I have no place to store it, he said. The Spider Man is a creepy top-hatted arachnid, maybe not so scary in a world of chest-bursting aliens and zombies. All stuff geared towards Christmas which also explains the Christmas songs played in the mix of music. more, 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. Most of the rides are "kiddie rides" and a 10 year old would be bored. 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. A great park. 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. Posted by 3 years ago. Still gives me creeps every night to look back on it. I have no place to store it, he said. Is there a live Santa the kids can visit with? The new park will transport viewers to prehistoric times with animatronic dinosaurs, a Dino-Roar Valley, and more. 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. 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. The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. Returning the statue to its original home was part of the deal. Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. The other is a Happy Halfwit with an Amish beard and hat, holding an ax just opposite the Little Miss Muffet display. The rides are very old school, and my kids. This is a must see. Please alert us if there is any inaccurate information here. Dino Roar Valley is so fun its prehistoric! Staff is great rides are safe & fun for any child or adult. I have no place to store it, he said. Most hotels are fully refundable. Santa had been on the Atkins diet and looked as healthy as the animals. He was tasked with finding buyers for all of the pieces in the Magic Forests diverse collection. Its a good mix of things to do. Water available for sale all throughout. Amazing! And I said, Charles Wood, and he says, okay.'. Enjoy the Snowy Weekend in the Lake George Area! 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. Plenty of parking. They first went 3 years ago. Located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. By continuing to use our site you agree to ourprivacy policy. "Magic Forest" redirects here. Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is 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. All four of us had a really awesome day. The other is a Happy Halfwit with an Amish beard and hat, holding an ax just opposite the Little Miss Muffet display. Not for family but for the individual. All rights reserved. Baker is surprisingly sanguine as he watches the collection split up and scatter around the country. Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. I hope the utilize this theme in the fall. There were buttons to push to tell us their stories but the recordings didn't work so they sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher. One, a giant clown, has to be the most remodeled MM in the world. Alexandra is the features editor at Roadtrippers Magazine. We strive to insure accuracy on Lakegeorge.com however accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Loved the nostalgia of this park, the "dated" that everyone seems to be talking about. Love the nostalgia of Magic Forest and really like the new Dino Roar Valley addition. 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. We spot their blistered, sagging entry gates on lonely back roads, or squeezed between the Amusements of the Month in some overdeveloped Mecca. 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. 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. 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. Sometimes, Baker would get ten emails expressing interest in a single item before he could even list it as sold. 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.