Hours and dates subject to change. Please alert us if there is any inaccurate information here. 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. We did go early in the season. The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. 10am5pm | Sat & Sun Only 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. Will go again when were in the area. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. Magic Forest also has sheep, pygmy goats and country goats at the farm, whom the kids will love to adore and feed. 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. I made, I dont know, about 20 or 30 trips, sometimes with a tractor-trailer. 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. Ruben Ellsworth, owner of Ellsworth & Son Excavating in Fort Ann, purchased the Magic Forest amusement park from the Gillette family, who has operated the park for nearly 60 years. 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! Definitely recommend for little kids. Most hotels are fully refundable. 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. WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. In fact, kids seem oblivious to the creepiness of this place, and so do the adults, for that matter. We have a couple of similar parks here in NH that are WAY ahead of Magic Forest. The use of the diving horse is not nor should it be an attraction for children or adults. 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. Putting prices on the items and getting them ready to go was a bit bittersweet for Gillette, but overall he says he would rather see the statues and decor go to people who can continue to get some enjoyment and use out of them. They were nice. 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. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. The dark, woodsy allure of classic fairy tales is part of Magic Forest's charm. 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. He says to me, Do you know Charlie Woods? Gillettes own connection to the Danbury Fair comes from a family background in show business. WebCompare 721 hotels close to Magic Forest Park with room rates, reviews, and availability. Just perfect for grandparents with two little ones 5 and 6. 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! 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. Called and wrote many letters to various places asking to end the poor horses use as a diving attraction. I have no place to store it, he said. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. Santa had been on the Atkins diet and looked as healthy as the animals. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. Visit Family Vacation Critic on Instagram. 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. Most hotels are fully refundable. Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. 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! We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Anyone who wants to be one of Gillettes next buyers has a month to do it. Most hotels are fully refundable. 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. Gillette sold the park in 2019, but much of the remnants have remained on the property, now operating as Lake George Expedition Park. Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. We missed the magic show but will catch it next time. Undeterred, we assured her that we were willing participants in the charade that the park was still a viable tourist destination. The magic finally ran out last year when longtime owner Jack Gillette sold the park to a local contractor, Ruben Ellsworth. 8.6 Fabulous 813 reviews Price from 102 per night Check availability Best Western of Lake George Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. It means nothing to most people; but for people who went to the fair and loved it, its worth its value to them.. 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. 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 park is almost completed shaded. this was our first year visiting but well be back for sure next year! Restoration specialists will be working to spruce him up from the wear and tear hes endured over the years. We got to do and see everything, a few things more than once. 7.1/10 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. 51. Take time to enjoy the rides - the merry-go-round, you-drive car track, sail in the boats, and others. In the 1950s, his uncle took that carnival to the Danbury Fair, where it played through the fairs final years. Each ride had info about when and where it was made, when it was bought and info about the hydraulics. There were buttons to push to tell us their stories but the recordings didn't work so they sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher. The other is a Happy Halfwit with an Amish beard and hat, holding an ax just opposite the Little Miss Muffet display. I think that you would probably be towed. They first went 3 years ago. Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. The kids thought the place was greatmy husband and I thought it could be better. Jimmy Brown the magician is fantastic and I love that they have Santa there. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. All the classic cautionary tales are here, displayed in miniature within wooden shelters, or lurking in the woods along serpentine trails. when we went santa wasn't there and hadn't been for days. Not the first time for the boys. It is now a running joke In our family that as a pumishment we will return to bizzaro world. WebExperience a journey through time. Is this worth it for a 2 year old? 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. Simple fun and a great day. Try My Sights, Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. Both are protected with Clear Coat, as are all the statues in the Magic Forest. That means the array of memories up for auction come from a variety of other fairs, carnivals and fun lands. 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? Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. Posted by 3 years ago. [1] Magic Forest also has a small petting zoo where children can feed the animals. Gillette sold Magic Forest in Lake George in 2019 and retired. Sign up for our newsletter & stay up to date. live santa only comes out when the weather isn't too hot. June 27 - Sept. 5 If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. [2], The other part of the park is Dino Roar Valley, which opened in 2019 and featuring animatronic dinosaurs.[3]. It was clean, very clean. 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.. Park is small enough to walk and not get too tired out. Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! All rights reserved. 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. WebYour visit to the park will be a walking tour; for our visitors with mobility difficulties, we will provide alternative means. Most of them sit at a starting price of $25. Dino Roar Valley is so fun its prehistoric! A great park. 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). 3. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! No souvenirs though. The food was not too expensive. More, Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. WebLake George, New York. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. My son had nightmares for a few days after that. Close. Contents 1 Magic Forest 2 Dino Roar Valley 3 References 4 External links Magic Forest [ edit] Copyright 1996-2023 Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. 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. 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. Two Muffler Men are particularly disturbing. 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. 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. There are also a petting zoo, magic shows, and stunt shows with the last remaining diving horse, Lightning. Officials ended up tipping Uncle Sam onto a 40-foot flatbed truck, and had to remove one of his hands to avoid it getting torn off by a bridge along the route. 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 >>. 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. Was wondering about parking at magic forest theme park (parking is free) and taking the trolley to great escape. It opened in 2019, and incorporates the Magic Forest, which opened in 1963, along with a new attraction entitled Dino Roar Valley. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. Copyright 2023 Family Vacation Critic All Rights Reserved. Transferring the giant statue from Lake George to Danbury, roughly a three hour ride, was reportedly difficult. 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. He was tasked with finding buyers for all of the pieces in the Magic Forests diverse collection. No, I would say age 8 max. Plenty of parking. The park is open every day, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from late June June through Labor Day. 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. He comes to me and says, Now, what more do you want? And so Charlie Woods attitude helped me buy more stuff.. 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. Probably nowhere else is the disturbing world of children's' fairy tales brought to life more vividly. Cookies are used for measurement, ads, and optimization. Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is Magic Forest? Lake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. Never ever again will we return. This place is great! The magic show by Jimmy Brown was incredible, full of laughs, both of my girls got to go on stage and participate. Magic Forest is one, aided by a combination of prime location and classic clean kid fun. 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. All stuff geared towards Christmas which also explains the Christmas songs played in the mix of music. This place was perfect for my 4 and 6 year old. 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. Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. WebLake George, New York. WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. He says that all of the figures lived diverseand sometimes manypast lives before they came to the Magic Forest. The former safari area will see the most changes. Theyve added Dino valley and are working on updates around magic forest. Trip Planning Caution: RoadsideAmerica.com offers maps, directions and attraction details as a convenience, providing all information as is. "His head is the way we got him. For Military (Vets, Active, Retired) 2 dollars off the price of admission. I was especially concerned about "Lightening" the diving horse. Probably nowhere else is the disturbing world of children's' fairy tales brought to life more vividly. Hes come to the buyers, too. One, a giant clown, has to be the most remodeled MM in the world. Former Magic Forest decorations have also made their way to California, Oregon and Texas. 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. The full, 700+ lot posting will stay online until the end of September. No masks were required even for the kids as it's all outside. A bean pole droops, a gingerbread house caves in, a Humpty Dumpty falls one last time. The Magic Forest was originally opened in 1963 by Arthur Gillette. The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. 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. We took our almost 3 year old and she loved it. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! This is a must see. $$ Photos See all photos Connect with Magic Forest on Facebook Log In or Create new account Alexandra is the features editor at Roadtrippers Magazine. His father and uncle started a carnival together. There is so much potential to this park. Fun for the kids and nostalgic for us babyboomers! Gillettes over 700 nostalgic lots are all up for the bidding now, and can be seen in-person by appointment. 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. Actually, that helps to explain a lot about this place. Magic Forest is one, aided by a combination of prime location and classic clean kid fun. The day we were there, a summer camp group was there and they had their own food item stored in coolers. Contents 1 Magic Forest 2 Dino Roar Valley 3 References 4 External links Magic Forest [ edit] I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. Credits, Media/Business Inquiries 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. It's perfect. Along the shaded trails, attractions feature fairy tale characters like Hansel and Gretel and Paul Bunyan. 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. Baker is surprisingly sanguine as he watches the collection split up and scatter around the country. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. 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 (Gone) Lake George, New York The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. 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. Our website found buyers who truly have a passion for saving these kinds of things.. We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". 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. Staff is great rides are safe & fun for any child or adult. 92% of travelers recommend this experience. 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 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.