Enchanted Forest (Maryland) facts for kids
| Location | Howard County, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°16′49″N 76°51′24″W / 39.28028°N 76.85667°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | August 15, 1955 |
| Closed | 1995 |
| Theme | Nursery rhymes and fairy tales |
| Operating season | Summer |
| Attendance | 300,000 |
| Area | 52 acres (210,000 m2) |
The Enchanted Forest was a special theme park located in Ellicott City, Maryland. It was found on U.S. Route 40, also known as Baltimore National Pike. This park was famous for its magical nursery rhyme and fairy tale themes. Other parks might share the name, but this one was truly unique.
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The Park's Magical Beginning
The Enchanted Forest first opened its doors on August 15, 1955. This was just one month after Disneyland Park opened. The park was designed to be perfect for families with young children. It was filled with buildings and characters from classic fairy tales.
When it first opened, the park did not have any mechanical rides. Later, fun track rides were added for everyone to enjoy.
- The Alice in Wonderland ride had cool teacup-shaped cars.
- A Cinderella's castle ride featured cute mice as the cars.
- The "Little Toot" boat took kids on a journey to Mount Vesuvius. There, they could go down giant slides.
- The Jungleland Safari used open Land Rover-type vehicles for an exciting trip.
Many children had their birthday parties in the park's picnic areas. Local teenagers often worked there, helping visitors as ticket-takers. A special thing about the Enchanted Forest was that it welcomed everyone. It was integrated from the very first day it opened. This was different from many other places at that time.
How the Park Grew and Changed
When the park first opened, admission cost one dollar for adults. Children could enter for fifty cents. The Enchanted Forest started as a 20 acres (81,000 m2) park. It later grew much larger, expanding to 52 acres (210,000 m2). At its most popular, about 300,000 children visited the park each summer.
The Harrison family owned the park for many years. In 1988, they sold it for $4.5 million to a company called JHP Development. The park then closed for the first time in 1989. JHP Development later turned more than half of the land into a shopping center. This new area, called the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, opened in 1992. It even had a Safeway grocery store.
The park itself reopened for the summer of 1994. At this time, it was mostly used for children's birthday parties.
Saving the Fairy Tale Magic
The Enchanted Forest closed permanently in 1995. For ten years, from 1995 to 2005, the park sat quiet and unused. Many of the fairy tale figures and buildings remained there, but they were not cared for.
People wanted to save the park's special items. In 1999, a group called "Friends of the Enchanted Forest" was formed. Their goal was to reopen the park. Then, in 2003, the "Enchanted Forest Preservation Society" was created. This group worked hard to make sure the park's treasures were not lost forever.
In 2004, the land owner, Kimco Realty Group, agreed to help. They allowed most of the fairy tale structures and figures to be moved. These beloved pieces found a new home at nearby Clark's Elioak Farm. Moving and restoring these items began in 2005. By 2011, many exhibits were fixed and ready for visitors at the farm.
In 2015, Martha Clark, who runs Clark's Elioak Farm, shared more news. The large concrete block Castle from the park would also be moved to Elioak Farm. However, the Cinderella Castle and the Gingerbread House had to be taken down. This was a sad but necessary step to make way for new developments.
Images for kids
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The Sliding Board in 1987.
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Willie the Whale in 1972.
