Storyland (Ontario) facts for kids
Main entrance
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| Location | Renfrew, Ontario, Canada |
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| Coordinates | 45°33′33″N 76°40′12″W / 45.559166°N 76.670022°W |
| Opened | 1966 |
| Closed | 2011 |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 7 |
Storyland was a fun children's theme park located in Ontario, Canada. It was found near the town of Renfrew, not too far from Ottawa. This park was special because it brought classic fairy tales to life!
Imagine walking through a park filled with scenes from your favorite storybooks. Storyland had this, plus a mini-golf course, a small water park, and even live shows with characters. You could also enjoy small rides and different playgrounds. The park staff often dressed up as fairy tale characters, making the experience even more magical!
Storyland was located near a spot called the Champlain Lookout. This lookout offers amazing views and is where explorer Samuel de Champlain once visited. The park opened in 1966 and was a popular place for families for many years. Sadly, it closed its doors after the 2011 season. In 2013, the land was sold and has since become a unique camping spot called glamping campground, known as Elements Luxury Tented Camp and Nature Spa.
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How Storyland Began
Storyland was created by Durk and Bonnie Heyda, who came from the Netherlands. They owned a large piece of land, about 175 acres (0.7 km²). Since they didn't have children of their own, they decided to build story scenes on their property. These scenes were meant to entertain hikers heading to the Champlain Lookout, which was at the back of their land.
In 1966, Storyland officially opened! It started with a windmill, a few story scenes, and a playground. The park kept growing, adding new scenes regularly until 1973. At that time, Durk Heyda had a heart attack, and a family friend named John Berkhout took over.
John Berkhout continued to expand the park throughout the 1980s. He added the mini-golf course, paddle boats, and many more story scenes. Some of these new scenes even had moving parts, bringing the fairy tales to life even more! In 2007, Berkhout decided to retire. In 2008, he sold the park to Todd Mattila-Hartman, an Ottawa businessman, and his company, Great North Parks.
After Storyland closed in 2011, many of its items were sold at an auction. If you visit Carleton Place on Ontario Highway 7, you might even spot the famous Storyland Rabbit!
Fun Things to Do at Storyland
Storyland had many exciting attractions for kids and families. Here are some of the popular ones:
Scenic Views
- Champlain Lookout: This was the highest point in the park. From here, you could see amazing views of the Ottawa River Valley.
Exciting Rides and Games
- Off Road Rally: Kids could drive small battery-powered vehicles on a fun track.
- Gone Fishin’: This was a special umbrella ride where you felt like you were fishing.
- Splish-Splash Spray Park: A small water park perfect for cooling off! It had two inflatable water slides, a splash pad, and a Water Wars game.
- Crooked Pond Paddle Boats: You could rent paddle boats and explore a small pond in the middle of the park.
- Jump & Bounce: An inflatable bounce castle where kids could jump and play.
- Storyland Arcade: A classic arcade with redemption games where you could win prizes.
Exploring and Playing
- Fairytale Trail: This was a path through the park filled with many of the park's storybook scenes. It was like walking through a giant storybook!
- Mini Golf: A standard 18-hole putt-putt course for some friendly competition.
- Playgrounds: There were several playgrounds scattered around the park, so kids always had a place to climb and slide.
- Old MacDonald’s Farm: A petting zoo where you could meet and interact with many friendly barnyard animals.
Live Shows and Entertainment
Storyland also offered fun live shows that brought the fairy tale characters to life!
- Alice’s Tea Party: Characters from the park would host daily tea parties (serving apple juice!) and sing songs with the children.
- Storytelling Time: This was an interactive show. Park characters would perform skits from classic fairy tales. They would sometimes get details wrong, encouraging the audience to shout out the correct information!
- Special Performances: Throughout the summer, local performers would visit the park. They would put on magic shows, juggling acts, and even make cool balloon characters for everyone to enjoy.
Park Location
- Physical Address: 793 Storyland Road, Renfrew, Ontario K7V 3Z8
