magic forest lake george closing

Is there a live Santa the kids can visit with? Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. No souvenirs though. By that point, Gillettes father had broken off from the fair to found Carson City, an amusement park in the Catskills themed around the American wild west, and which also has relics in the auction lot. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions The magic show by Jimmy Brown was incredible, full of laughs, both of my girls got to go on stage and participate. Fun for the kids and nostalgic for us babyboomers! 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). [2], The other part of the park is Dino Roar Valley, which opened in 2019 and featuring animatronic dinosaurs.[3]. 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. Most hotels are fully refundable. 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. Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. Like most relics of another time, however, these low-tech parksif they still exist at allare becoming harder to find. We are hoping to go back again We got there around 2 and stayed until close. Its also shady as it is indeed in a forest. The people who worked there were either teenagers from Europe or seniors. The sale began last November, and Baker was shocked with the level of interest. Magic Forest Reddit Again the kids enjoyed itand that is the most important part. tourist attractions and odd sights in New York, World's Highest and Longest Pedestrian Bridge. Its different, he said. Definitely recommend for little kids. When Gillette came back down to Danbury, intending to pick up the last of what he had already paid for, he caught the seller while he was still in a bad mood from that conversation. 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. 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. The worlds largest Uncle Sam statue greets you in the parking lot. Plenty of parking. 51. 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. It means nothing to most people; but for people who went to the fair and loved it, its worth its value to them.. 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. RoadsideAmerica.comYour Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions. Magic Forest is the park of your childhood dreams! The Muffler Mena Paul Bunyan, a Mortimer Snerd, a clown, and Pecos Billwere among the first items to sell. We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". Magic Forest (Gone 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. WebLake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. 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. May 28 - June 26 Anything you purchase through links on our site may earn us a commission. Will go again when were in the area. There's a chapel, too. 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. 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." Was wondering about parking at magic forest theme park (parking is free) and taking the trolley to great escape. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. One family contacted him about a fiberglass teddy bear. Create Your Own Bizarre Road Trips! 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. Posted by 3 years ago. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. The Gillettes bought so many items from the Danbury grounds, in fact, that at one point they were cut off. Receive emails and newsletters to keep in touch with I LOVE NY. We couldn't find an existing Roadtrippers account using that service. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. Trip Planning Caution: RoadsideAmerica.com offers maps, directions and attraction details as a convenience, providing all information as is. There were no lines. All the classic cautionary tales are here, displayed in miniature within wooden shelters, or lurking in the woods along serpentine trails. 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. Soon we will require you to update your account to a Roadpass account as it will be the only way to log in to Roadtrippers. There were buttons to push to tell us their stories but the recordings didn't work so they sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher. 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. In the beginning, I was getting over 30 emails a day, he says. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. However, not long after, Gillette got another chance; all thanks, unknowingly, to another local entertainer, whose name lives on in nearby Glens Falls. 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 wasn't the least bit crowded and they would run the rides for just our two granddaughters. Magic Forest Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. This was very nastalgic for us because the rides here were bought from different parks over the years and brought to this one. 1912 U.S. 9, Lake George, NY 12845, USA, United States, Magic Forest Address: 1912 U.S. 9, Lake George, NY 12845, USA, United States, Magic Forest Contact Number: +1-5186682448. Most fairy tale theme parks eventually suffer the fate of a fabled cursed kingdom. A bean pole droops, a gingerbread house caves in, a Humpty Dumpty falls one last time. Jack Collins is slated to be the General Manager and COO of the new park; he brings experience working as the General Manager of the Great Escape and has also consulted with Santas Workshop in Wilmington. Santa had been on the Atkins diet and looked as healthy as the animals. Read on to find out the details. That means the array of memories up for auction come from a variety of other fairs, carnivals and fun lands. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. 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. That was a bit disturbing to me. We could see things in the woods by they are roped off. $$ - $$$ 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. 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. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. I even went as far as Kansas this summer, and everybody I have met has been nice, friendly and very appreciative. We spot their blistered, sagging entry gates on lonely back roads, or squeezed between the Amusements of the Month in some overdeveloped Mecca. 51. Our website found buyers who truly have a passion for saving these kinds of things.. WebCompare 721 hotels close to Magic Forest Park with room rates, reviews, and availability. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. More, Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. Each ride had info about when and where it was made, when it was bought and info about the hydraulics. A lion-head drinking fountain (and lion-head trash can), a caveman family, Ma and Pa Kettle, an Esso tiger, a 15-foot Santa, a one-hump camel, a skull, and several other pieces are still up for sale. Actually, that helps to explain a lot about this place. 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. 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. 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. 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. The food was not too expensive. 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. Lake George Expedition Park Its a good mix of things to do. Is this worth it for a 2 year old? The park is expected to be open May through October, with tickets going on sale in March. 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. We are grandparents of 5 yo and 9 yo boys and went with them and their parents to the park. There are adult rides and family rides too. Get a piece of your childhood now! 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. Gillette sold the park in 2019, but much of the remnants have remained on the property, now operating as Lake George Expedition Park. Baker first visited the park in 2012 while he was researching Muffler Men (the park had four). Get a piece of your childhood now! enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. His father and uncle started a carnival together. Magic Forest I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. Jimmy Brown the magician is fantastic and I love that they have Santa there. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. Lake George Expedition Park - Magic Forest The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. Memories of Magic Forest up for auction Former Magic Forest decorations have also made their way to California, Oregon and Texas. Magic Forests rides and layout will mostly remain the same, except for the removal of Uncle Sam and a few other fixtures, including animal statues; 23 of the 25 rides will remain in operation. WebLake George, New York. Lake George Expedition Anyone know if I will be towed for parking there after hours? Magic Forest Park Lake George Expedition Park - Magic Forest A good place to spend half a day for kids. Magic Forest So many rides. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. We need your email address to send you trip itineraries and other updates. 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.