Gillette can be reached at 518-895-8150 to schedule an appointment. We left & renamed it "bizzaro world". Visit Family Vacation Critic on Instagram. 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. 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. Are you associated with this business? I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. However, not long after, Gillette got another chance; all thanks, unknowingly, to another local entertainer, whose name lives on in nearby Glens Falls. live santa only comes out when the weather isn't too hot. 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." After 2 hours our son asked if we could leave & never come back. Create Your Own Bizarre Road Trips! Magic Forest I have no place to store it, he said. Called and wrote many letters to various places asking to end the poor horses use as a diving attraction. 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. $$ - $$$ American Steakhouse Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ Italian Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, $$ - $$$ American Bar Vegetarian Friendly, $ American Diner Vegetarian Friendly, $ American Cafe Vegetarian Friendly, Points of Interest & Landmarks Civic Centres. Since 1963, Magic Forest has entertained young park goers and their families, creating memories for all. It was clean, very clean. Rides are fun and seeing Santa was really great! We missed the magic show but will catch it next time. Uncle Sam is Out & Dinosaurs are 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. There was this crazy little tiny squirrel that was literally the smallest figure I listed and everyone wanted that thing, he says. 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. We did go early in the season. All the classic cautionary tales are here, displayed in miniature within wooden shelters, or lurking in the woods along serpentine trails. I was buying stuff and bringing it back up here and just putting it in my parking lot, wherever I could, Gillette recounted. Ever. 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 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. Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. WebLake George, New York. Lake George Expedition There's a chapel, too. Close. tourist attractions and odd sights in New York, World's Highest and Longest Pedestrian Bridge. Get a piece of your childhood now! The full, 700+ lot posting will stay online until the end of September. 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. Park is small enough to walk and not get too tired out. Just perfect for grandparents with two little ones 5 and 6. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud. 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. Lake George Expedition Gillettes own connection to the Danbury Fair comes from a family background in show business. The dark, woodsy allure of classic fairy tales is part of Magic Forest's charm. WebExperience a journey through time. 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. Jimmys magic show was the highlight of our visit. May 28 - June 26 Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Contents 1 Magic Forest 2 Dino Roar Valley 3 References 4 External links Magic Forest [ edit] 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. Magic Forest 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. Magic Forest (Gone Anyone know if I will be towed for parking there after hours? Read on to find out the details. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. There were no lines. In fact, kids seem oblivious to the creepiness of this place, and so do the adults, for that matter. More, Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New York. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! My guess is that you can, but I'd ask at the entrance. In the beginning, I was getting over 30 emails a day, he says. 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. Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is 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. Not the first time for the boys. 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. Old, sad, dingy, dirty. The admission cost is super reasonable and their snack bar has normal food prices. Former Magic Forest decorations have also made their way to California, Oregon and Texas. The creepy part is the statues. The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. 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. 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Lake George Please try signing in with another option or create a new account with Roadpass. I havent had a bad experience with anything Ive sold.. Transferring the giant statue from Lake George to Danbury, roughly a three hour ride, was reportedly difficult. 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. Information is subject to change. Like most relics of another time, however, these low-tech parksif they still exist at allare becoming harder to find. 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. I was there last week nothing was unsafe it is one of the best children's parks around. Magic Forest The park is expected to be open May through October, with tickets going on sale in March. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. Please alert us if there is any inaccurate information here. Baker first visited the park in 2012 while he was researching Muffler Men (the park had four). I was impressed by the amount of original International Fiberglass figures there, Baker says. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. 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. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. 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. All rights reserved. The day we were there, a summer camp group was there and they had their own food item stored in coolers. Magic Forest Ellsworth plans to reopen the space as Lake George Expedition Park with all-new attractions, including dinosaurs. 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. Take time to enjoy the rides - the merry-go-round, you-drive car track, sail in the boats, and others. The magic show by Jimmy Brown was incredible, full of laughs, both of my girls got to go on stage and participate. Train ride wasn't running which was disappointing. All four of us had a really awesome day. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New York. Magic Forest We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Magic Forest Food is cheap. Is there a picnic area and can you bring a cooler? 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. Lake George Expedition Park - Magic Forest At Dino Roar Valley, find adventure, make discoveries, and be transported to other places through hands-on experiences. Jimmy Brown's magic show was great. 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. Fun Park Magic Forest is one, aided by a combination of prime location and classic clean kid fun. No souvenirs though. We couldn't find an existing Roadtrippers account using that service. 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. People normally club together Water Slide World and Lumberjack Pass Miniature Golf while planning their visit to Magic Forest. WebCompare 721 hotels close to Magic Forest Park with room rates, reviews, and availability. Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. 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. 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. Our website found buyers who truly have a passion for saving these kinds of things.. It depends, Albany Sheriff: Pair arrested for illegal gun possession, Crossgates Mall opening at noon due to weather, Snow begins falling in Capital Region during latest, 03/03/2023: Significant winter storm tonight, Downtown Kansas City bar calls out Jackson Mahomes, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We could see things in the woods by they are roped off. Muffler Men and fiberglass figures are notorious for moving around the country. This is a must see. Its a good mix of things to do. Having trouble using this site? I think that you would probably be towed. He comes to me and says, Now, what more do you want? And so Charlie Woods attitude helped me buy more stuff.. 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. 10am5pm | Sat & Sun Only 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! Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the authors. 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. I was especially concerned about "Lightening" the diving horse.