Read on to find out the details. The pace has slowed, but each week he continues to get inquiries. Is there a live Santa the kids can visit with? The park is almost completed shaded. There were buttons to push to tell us their stories but the recordings didn't work so they sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher. ClickSwipe through our gallery for a preview of everything there is to explore when you visit Magic Forest. WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. The next button will take you to Roadpass to create a free Roadpass account and finish the process. Trip Planning Caution: RoadsideAmerica.com offers maps, directions and attraction details as a convenience, providing all information as is. Anyone know if I will be towed for parking there after hours? $$ Photos See all photos Connect with Magic Forest on Facebook Log In or Create new account Start here.Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip. Enjoy the Snowy Weekend in the Lake George Area! Since 1963, Magic Forest has entertained young park goers and their families, creating memories for all. She doesn't understand our concern, and is probably wondering why grown men traveling without children are in her park in the first place. 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. 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. One, a giant clown, has to be the most remodeled MM in the world. 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. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. The Magic Forest felt like it was from a different time not only physically, but spiritually. The other is a Happy Halfwit with an Amish beard and hat, holding an ax just opposite the Little Miss Muffet display. Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! Transferring the giant statue from Lake George to Danbury, roughly a three hour ride, was reportedly difficult. Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is Magic Forest? 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. We are located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. 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. Many recycled rides from other parks. 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! Luckily, anyone with the money and means to drive to Lake George can still own a piece of history. 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. 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. Tall tales, trip guides, and the weird and wonderful. Not the first time for the boys. Yes, it is small and management is aware it needs work. Is there a picnic area and can you bring a cooler? Water available for sale all throughout. "Magic Forest" redirects here. We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". 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. The dark, woodsy allure of classic fairy tales is part of Magic Forest's charm. There's a chapel, too. 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. The train ride was quite fun. Are you associated with this business? I havent had a bad experience with anything Ive sold.. Dino Roar Valley is so fun its prehistoric! Probably nowhere else is the disturbing world of children's' fairy tales brought to life more vividly. 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. All four of us had a really awesome day. Dino Roar Valley is so fun its prehistoric! WebYour visit to the park will be a walking tour; for our visitors with mobility difficulties, we will provide alternative means. Enjoy the 20 minute train ride to watch the life-size animal statues with kids. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! [1] Magic Forest also has a small petting zoo where children can feed the animals. Loved the nostalgia of this park, the "dated" that everyone seems to be talking about. WebLake George, New York. The Muffler Mena Paul Bunyan, a Mortimer Snerd, a clown, and Pecos Billwere among the first items to sell. 10am5pm | 7 Days a Week The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. Start here.Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip. 7.1/10 The admission cost is super reasonable and their snack bar has normal food prices. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. Get a piece of your childhood now! Never ever again will we return. Still gives me creeps every night to look back on it. A very well run park. 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. Most of these giants had already stood at a handful of locations before coming here so it is not surprising they are on the move again, Having worked with these giants for almost 10 years now, I know that nothing ever stays the same, he says. Ronald McDonald Vacation Home Coming to Lake George, Check Out Weekend Events With Barrel Fest & More in Lake George, Dont Miss Your Last Chance for Winter Carnival & Ice Bar Fun in Lake George, Winter Carnivals, Fireworks & Fun: See Whats Happening in Lake George This Weekend, Get Into a Valentines Day Mood in Lake George This Weekend, Bundle Up for All the Frozen Fun Going On Around Lake George This Weekend. We are located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. A great park. No, I would say age 8 max. 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. The new park will transport viewers to prehistoric times with animatronic dinosaurs, a Dino-Roar Valley, and more. Undeterred, we assured her that we were willing participants in the charade that the park was still a viable tourist destination. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Get a piece of your childhood now! We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. It is now a running joke In our family that as a pumishment we will return to bizzaro world. The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. 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. In the beginning, I was getting over 30 emails a day, he says. Get a piece of your childhood now! In fact, kids seem oblivious to the creepiness of this place, and so do the adults, for that matter. Attraction status, hours and prices change without notice; call ahead! We could see things in the woods by they are roped off. Rides are fun and seeing Santa was really great! All of that was fine. The Spider Man is a creepy top-hatted arachnid, maybe not so scary in a world of chest-bursting aliens and zombies. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. It still happens, but I feel that awareness is growing about the importance of saving and restoring these piecesI like to think that today it is more about relocating Americana rather than disappearing Americana.. 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. But in fact, hes actually returned home. In fact, we were in love with the idea that we could actually achieve time-travel for less than $30 per person. The rides were antique pieces that were fascinating to me because it was like an amusement park museum. His father and uncle started a carnival together. We missed the magic show but will catch it next time. POTUS landmarks, oddities. Three of the four fiberglass giants were purchased by Atlantis Plumbing in Dallas, Georgia. These are rides that we as children went on growing up and rides we brought our children to go on when they were little but at different amusement parks. 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. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. when we went santa wasn't there and hadn't been for days. Credits, Media/Business Inquiries Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you when you hit the road! The rides are very old school, and my kids. WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. 3. 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. "His head is the way we got him. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions WebLake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. We took our almost 3 year old and she loved it. They first went 3 years ago. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Santa is actually there in an air conditioned log house. The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. The park is open every day, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from late June June through Labor Day. Most hotels are fully refundable. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. For as long as I live, I wont forget how it felt to teeter on the brink of death, slowly ascending on a rickety Ferris wheel that appeared to have been built from the mismatched pieces of a garage sale Erector set. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. 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. Enjoy watching the magic show by Jimmy Brown and the diving show by the last diving horse called Lightning. 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. The animals were severely underfed. It opened in 2019, and incorporates the Magic Forest, which opened in 1963, along with a new attraction entitled Dino Roar Valley. No masks were required even for the kids as it's all outside. Most fairy tale theme parks eventually suffer the fate of a fabled cursed kingdom. Information is subject to change. For what he does for them, that poor guy is not taken care of very well in return (matted mane, hooves not properly trimmed, SMALL paddock that he is just put back into after his dive, soken wet), and he doesn't seem to enjoy what he's made to do. 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. Gillettes own connection to the Danbury Fair comes from a family background in show business. The other is a Happy Halfwit with an Amish beard and hat, holding an ax just opposite the Little Miss Muffet display. Pass on this one. 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. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. He kept my kids entertained the whole show and that is a true magic trick. My husband told me he was creeped out & felt like the statues were following is with their eyes. The park had its first season under new name and ownership in 2021, and that was what pushed Gilette to finally get it done. Located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. I think that you would probably be towed. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. But then there is a whole dinosaur park with animatronic dinosaurs throughout the forest. But some of the once-over 700 sculptures that once called the park home are just now resurfacing. Take time to enjoy the rides - the merry-go-round, you-drive car track, sail in the boats, and others. Animals and astronauts are headed to a campground in Iowa, and Story Land in New Jersey purchased a castle, a Robin Hood figure, and several animals. May 28 - June 26 Most of the rides are "kiddie rides" and a 10 year old would be bored. 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. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Cookies are used for measurement, ads, and optimization. Kids enjoyed it a lot. Gillette sold the park in 2019, but much of the remnants have remained on the property, now operating as Lake George Expedition Park. The dark, woodsy allure of classic fairy tales is part of Magic Forest's charm. 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! They include paint-chipped animals, old theme park legends, and quite a few broken fae folk. Baker first visited the park in 2012 while he was researching Muffler Men (the park had four). Plan your journey, find amazing places, and take fascinating detours with our app. Contents 1 Magic Forest 2 Dino Roar Valley 3 References 4 External links Magic Forest [ edit] In fact, kids seem oblivious to the creepiness of this place, and so do the adults, for that matter. Most hotels are fully refundable. The magic finally ran out last year when longtime owner Jack Gillette sold the park to a local contractor, Ruben Ellsworth. Gillettes over 700 nostalgic lots are all up for the bidding now, and can be seen in-person by appointment. Jimmy Brown the magician is fantastic and I love that they have Santa there. The people who worked there were either teenagers from Europe or seniors. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Close. She dreams of visiting every state in the U.S. and will always stop for a Muffler Man. Follow, like and subscribe to LakeGeorge.com on social media. I was buying stuff and bringing it back up here and just putting it in my parking lot, wherever I could, Gillette recounted.