In fact, we were in love with the idea that we could actually achieve time-travel for less than $30 per person. But its hard not to become despondent and dig in your heels when it feels as if the world you love is rapidly disappearing. Hes come to the buyers, too. She doesn't understand our concern, and is probably wondering why grown men traveling without children are in her park in the first place. You can get the I LOVE NY Travel Guide by, 2023 New York Department of Economic Development, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources for Travelers, Spotlight: Jamestown and Chautauqua-Allegheny. 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. This is by far the greatest place whether you are old or young. With magically delicious food and shows so good you wont believe your eyes, one trip to the Magic Forest will have you checking for vacancies in the Old Womans shoe. Restoration specialists will be working to spruce him up from the wear and tear hes endured over the years. The only thing that I was disappointed in is the fact that the dinosaur are on a section that you have to walk done a steep section and up again therefore my sister and I couldn't go down. 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. Close. WebExperience a journey through time. The animals were severely underfed. They had visited the Magic Forest for years and always taken their kids photo with that particular bear. The kids thought the place was greatmy husband and I thought it could be better. Our son loved it and so did we, will definitely be back! Is there a live Santa the kids can visit with? when we went santa wasn't there and hadn't been for days. I was buying stuff and bringing it back up here and just putting it in my parking lot, wherever I could, Gillette recounted. Two Muffler Men are particularly disturbing. Get a piece of your childhood now! But we bet this up close encounter will come back in someone's nightmares. Uncle Sam is 38 feet tall and formerly stood at the Danbury Fairgrounds in Connecticut. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! It was clean, very clean. Magic Forest Park We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". But then there is a whole dinosaur park with animatronic dinosaurs throughout the forest. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. 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. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. We have an awkward moment -- not uncommon for us -- when we ask a passing manager why the grimacing, Amishized Alfred E. Neuman holds an ax. Called and wrote many letters to various places asking to end the poor horses use as a diving attraction. Transferring the giant statue from Lake George to Danbury, roughly a three hour ride, was reportedly difficult. There was this crazy little tiny squirrel that was literally the smallest figure I listed and everyone wanted that thing, he says. The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. Learn more about Roadpass accounts here. 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.. The former safari area will see the most changes. tourist attractions and odd sights in New York, World's Highest and Longest Pedestrian Bridge. Is the park recommend for children 7-10 years old? Magic Forest (Gone 51. 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." Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New York. 3. Love the nostalgia of Magic Forest and really like the new Dino Roar Valley addition. 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. Both are protected with Clear Coat, as are all the statues in the Magic Forest. There's a chapel, too. However, that didnt keep father and son from getting together at the Danbury Fair after it had closed, for the grounds to become a mall to rescue hundreds of statues and decorations. The Dinosaur park is amazing!! Its also shady as it is indeed in a forest. Gilette was something of a collector, amassing his estimated over 700 items over decades while running Magic Forest, which first opened in 1963. We spot their blistered, sagging entry gates on lonely back roads, or squeezed between the Amusements of the Month in some overdeveloped Mecca. Copyright 1996-2023 Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. A very well run park. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. Not for family but for the individual. Plenty of parking. Magic Forest I even went as far as Kansas this summer, and everybody I have met has been nice, friendly and very appreciative. Uncle Sam is Out & Dinosaurs are A good place to spend half a day for kids. 7.1/10 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The best animatronic dinosaurs Ive ever seen, better than the Bronx zoo and several other parks weve been too. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. Magic Forest On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! Loved the nostalgia of this park, the "dated" that everyone seems to be talking about. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. 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. Sometimes, Baker would get ten emails expressing interest in a single item before he could even list it as sold. We took our almost 3 year old and she loved it. Along the shaded trails, attractions feature fairy tale characters like Hansel and Gretel and Paul Bunyan. $$ - $$$ 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. Baker first visited the park in 2012 while he was researching Muffler Men (the park had four). Memories of Magic Forest up for auction Lake George Expedition All four of us had a really awesome day. 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! Pass on this one. Information is subject to change. 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 them sit at a starting price of $25. Magic Forest Copyright 1996-2023 Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. Fun for the kids and nostalgic for us babyboomers! And how the Magic Forest park will be incorporated into this new park? WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. It wasn't the least bit crowded and they would run the rides for just our two granddaughters. Jimmy Brown the magician is fantastic and I love that they have Santa there. Get a piece of your childhood now! Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions The Spider Man is a creepy top-hatted arachnid, maybe not so scary in a world of chest-bursting aliens and zombies. Anyone who wants to be one of Gillettes next buyers has a month to do it. The stable and manger are not in use. Memories of Magic Forest up for auction The majority of the items have now sold and most of the well-known, larger items are gonelike the big animals and Muffler Menbut there are still plenty of items online for those that are interested.. Its a good mix of things to do. Get a piece of your childhood now! Before Chuck E. Cheese, video games, Six Flags, or Disney World, parks like the Magic Forest used to be the place to take your kids. [2], The other part of the park is Dino Roar Valley, which opened in 2019 and featuring animatronic dinosaurs.[3]. He kept my kids entertained the whole show and that is a true magic trick. People normally club together Water Slide World and Lumberjack Pass Miniature Golf while planning their visit to Magic Forest. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the authors. That means the array of memories up for auction come from a variety of other fairs, carnivals and fun lands. Are you associated with this business? The Magic Forest was a theme park that remained untouched by timeand when we visited, almost nothing about it made sense anymore. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. Hes believed to be the largest Uncle Sam statue in the world. Magic Forest WebCompare 721 hotels close to Magic Forest Park with room rates, reviews, and availability. Memories of Magic Forest up for auction Dino Roar Valley is so fun its prehistoric! Actually, that helps to explain a lot about this place. Get a piece of your childhood now! Lake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. 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. Lake George Expedition Park Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. Magic Forest Lake George Lake George Expedition Park - Magic Forest Magic Forest (Gone Is this worth it for a 2 year old? ' Gilette remembers. I was impressed by the amount of original International Fiberglass figures there, Baker says. It opened in 2019, and incorporates the Magic Forest, which opened in 1963, along with a new attraction entitled Dino Roar Valley. Magic Forest Enjoy the Snowy Weekend in the Lake George Area! Most of the rides are "kiddie rides" and a 10 year old would be bored. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. Santa had been on the Atkins diet and looked as healthy as the animals. All of that was fine. 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. Park is small enough to walk and not get too tired out. Because they are giant, it feels like they will never leave, but the truth is they are well-traveled for as old as they are. 3. 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. Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New York. There were no lines. There is a area with several picnic table just outside a small snack bar. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. Three of the four fiberglass giants were purchased by Atlantis Plumbing in Dallas, Georgia. Accessibility is our goal, please contact us with site improvements. 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. 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. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. 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. 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. All the classic cautionary tales are here, displayed in miniature within wooden shelters, or lurking in the woods along serpentine trails.