Probably nowhere else is the disturbing world of children's' fairy tales brought to life more vividly. I am very grateful to the Magic Forest for essentially saving all this original fiberglass all these years, and also for calling us rather than an auction house who could care less about anything other than the money, says Baker. Baker is surprisingly sanguine as he watches the collection split up and scatter around the country. WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. Then there are the fairy tale worlds blessed with good fortune, as if every child who ever visited used up a secret wish on its behalf. 92% of travelers recommend this experience. Get a piece of your childhood now! Alexandra is the features editor at Roadtrippers Magazine. 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. Again the kids enjoyed itand that is the most important part. live santa only comes out when the weather isn't too hot. Hes believed to be the largest Uncle Sam statue in the world. Lake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. Attraction status, hours and prices change without notice; call ahead! Is this worth it for a 2 year old? Magic Forest also has sheep, pygmy goats and country goats at the farm, whom the kids will love to adore and feed. It means nothing to most people; but for people who went to the fair and loved it, its worth its value to them.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". 8.6 Fabulous 813 reviews Price from 102 per night Check availability Best Western of Lake George The new park will transport viewers to prehistoric times with animatronic dinosaurs, a Dino-Roar Valley, and more. The creepy part is the statues. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. Park is small enough to walk and not get too tired out. I hope the utilize this theme in the fall. Lake George Restoration specialists will be working to spruce him up from the wear and tear hes endured over the years. Magic Forest Fun Park The park's famous Santa Claus overlooks the parking lot. But the future doesnt have to be dark for analog attractions like the Magic Forest: I feel like disappearing Americana is not as much a problem as it was just 10 years ago, Baker says. Its a good mix of things to do. There was this crazy little tiny squirrel that was literally the smallest figure I listed and everyone wanted that thing, he says. 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. Magic Forest 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. Staff throughout park are great with the kids and very friendly! I havent had a bad experience with anything Ive sold.. 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. WebYour visit to the park will be a walking tour; for our visitors with mobility difficulties, we will provide alternative means. Magic Forest is the park of your childhood dreams! No computerized rides here! Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. But in fact, hes actually returned home. Luckily, anyone with the money and means to drive to Lake George can still own a piece of history. All stuff geared towards Christmas which also explains the Christmas songs played in the mix of music. Returning the statue to its original home was part of the deal. 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. WebCompare 721 hotels close to Magic Forest Park with room rates, reviews, and availability. The worlds largest Uncle Sam statue greets you in the parking lot. She doesn't understand our concern, and is probably wondering why grown men traveling without children are in her park in the first place. He comes to me and says, Now, what more do you want? And so Charlie Woods attitude helped me buy more stuff.. 71.18% of people who visit Lake George include Magic Forest in their plan, 42.86% of people start their Magic Forest visit around 3 PM - 4 PM, People usually take around 30 Minutes to see Magic Forest, 95% of people prefer to travel by car while visiting Magic Forest. Jimmy Brown the magician is fantastic and I love that they have Santa there. 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. Most of them sit at a starting price of $25. Muffler Men and fiberglass figures are notorious for moving around the country. The park had its first season under new name and ownership in 2021, and that was what pushed Gilette to finally get it done. Magic Forest He was tasked with finding buyers for all of the pieces in the Magic Forests diverse collection. I have no place to store it, he said. Magic Forest The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. 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. The rides were antique pieces that were fascinating to me because it was like an amusement park museum. 51. Actually, that helps to explain a lot about this place. All rights reserved. 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. 7.1/10 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. But then there is a whole dinosaur park with animatronic dinosaurs throughout the forest. 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. Magic Forest (Gone ClickSwipe through our gallery for a preview of everything there is to explore when you visit Magic Forest. We are located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. Lake George Expedition My husband told me he was creeped out & felt like the statues were following is with their eyes. 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. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. They first went 3 years ago. He cataloged the items, helped set prices, and listed them on his website. Are you associated with this business? Magic Forest For Military (Vets, Active, Retired) 2 dollars off the price of admission. Was wondering about parking at magic forest theme park (parking is free) and taking the trolley to great escape. We missed the magic show but will catch it next time. Lake George Expedition Magic Forest I have no place to store it, he said. Close. 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. 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. The next button will take you to Roadpass to create a free Roadpass account and finish the process. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. 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. The Spider Man is a creepy top-hatted arachnid, maybe not so scary in a world of chest-bursting aliens and zombies. The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. Enjoy watching the magic show by Jimmy Brown and the diving show by the last diving horse called Lightning. Credits, Media/Business Inquiries Two Muffler Men are particularly disturbing. Baker first visited the park in 2012 while he was researching Muffler Men (the park had four). Old, sad, dingy, dirty. 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. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. 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! Love the nostalgia of Magic Forest and really like the new Dino Roar Valley addition. That means the array of memories up for auction come from a variety of other fairs, carnivals and fun lands. The park is expected to be open May through October, with tickets going on sale in March. Then there are the fairy tale worlds blessed with good fortune, as if every child who ever visited used up a secret wish on its behalf. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. [1] Magic Forest also has a small petting zoo where children can feed the animals. Actually, that helps to explain a lot about this place. We have a couple of similar parks here in NH that are WAY ahead of Magic Forest. Pass on this one. The other is a Happy Halfwit with an Amish beard and hat, holding an ax just opposite the Little Miss Muffet display. Magic Forest The next button will take you to Roadpass to create a free Roadpass account and finish the process. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. 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 Anything you purchase through links on our site may earn us a commission. 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. Magic Forest 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. 3. 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. The former safari area will see the most changes. Anyone know if I will be towed for parking there after hours? Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is Magic Forest? 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. Fun Park Many lots share a common origin: the now long-defunct Danbury Fair in Danbury, Connecticut. Sometimes, Baker would get ten emails expressing interest in a single item before he could even list it as sold. Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. 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.. After Ellsworth decided to take the park in a different direction, Gillette contacted Joel Baker, owner of the Muffler Man restoration company American Giants, to help facilitate the sale of all of those fiberglass figures. Uncle Sam is Out & Dinosaurs are Also guarding the minivans and SUVs is a large Santa Claus, reportedly the most popular statue on the property. I have no place to store it, he said. 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. Are rides being disinfected after each use? The park was somewhat enjoyable but I would not return because of the use of the animal in this manner, and it ruined our time at the park. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. 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. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. Definitely recommend for little kids. Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. This is a must see. WebLake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. Learn more about Roadpass accounts, Video: How to Plan a Stargazing Road Trip, 12 of the Worlds Largest things tower over the small town of Casey, Illinois, A road trip along New York states Womens Heritage Trail. The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. In fact, we were in love with the idea that we could actually achieve time-travel for less than $30 per person. Close. Are you associated with this business? There's a chapel, too. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. It was an amazing collection of original piecesthe largest I knew to exist.. 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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. We could see things in the woods by they are roped off.