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. I was buying stuff and bringing it back up here and just putting it in my parking lot, wherever I could, Gillette recounted. Magic Forest We are located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. 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. Jimmy Brown's magic show was great. 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 day we were there, a summer camp group was there and they had their own food item stored in coolers. Gillettes own connection to the Danbury Fair comes from a family background in show business. The next button will take you to Roadpass to create a free Roadpass account and finish the process. The other is a Happy Halfwit with an Amish beard and hat, holding an ax just opposite the Little Miss Muffet display. But some of the once-over 700 sculptures that once called the park home are just now resurfacing. 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. More, Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. I think that you would probably be towed. Lake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. Both are protected with Clear Coat, as are all the statues in the Magic Forest. Its also shady as it is indeed in a forest. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions That means the array of memories up for auction come from a variety of other fairs, carnivals and fun lands. WebExperience a journey through time. Magic Forest POTUS landmarks, oddities. 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. WebCompare 721 hotels close to Magic Forest Park with room rates, reviews, and availability. It's perfect. The magic show by Jimmy Brown was incredible, full of laughs, both of my girls got to go on stage and participate. Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! I hope the owners decide to open it all the way up. Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. All rights reserved. Information is subject to change. Try My Sights, Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. 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. 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." The best animatronic dinosaurs Ive ever seen, better than the Bronx zoo and several other parks weve been too. 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. And I said, Charles Wood, and he says, okay.'. Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. Magic Forest 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. My guess is that you can, but I'd ask at the entrance. 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. Theyve added Dino valley and are working on updates around magic forest. The park collected hundreds of fiberglass figures through the years, sourced from the Danbury Fair, mini-golf courses, and other amusement parks. Read on to find out the details. I thought it was really just time to get it out of their way, Gilette said in a phone interview on Thursday. Just perfect for grandparents with two little ones 5 and 6. Lake George Expedition Park There is a area with several picnic table just outside a small snack bar. Please try signing in with another option or create a new account with Roadpass. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions 8.6 Fabulous 813 reviews Price from 102 per night Check availability Best Western of Lake George Create Your Own Bizarre Road Trips! Restoration specialists will be working to spruce him up from the wear and tear hes endured over the years. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Try My Sights, Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. The train ride was quite fun. Most hotels are fully refundable. Two Muffler Men are particularly disturbing. Will go again when were in the area. 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. live santa only comes out when the weather isn't too hot. The animals were severely underfed. After 2 hours our son asked if we could leave & never come back. Our website found buyers who truly have a passion for saving these kinds of things.. By continuing to use our site you agree to ourprivacy policy. Former Magic Forest decorations have also made their way to California, Oregon and Texas. Reddit The Spider Man is a creepy top-hatted arachnid, maybe not so scary in a world of chest-bursting aliens and zombies. Gillette sold Magic Forest in Lake George in 2019 and retired. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. 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. Close. The magic finally ran out last year when longtime owner Jack Gillette sold the park to a local contractor, Ruben Ellsworth. Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. One family contacted him about a fiberglass teddy bear. 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. Prices range from a few hundred dollars into the tens of thousands. 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. This is a must see. More, National Cryptologic Museum, Annapolis Junction, Maryland (Feb 27-Mar 5, 2023). 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! 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). The next button will take you to Roadpass to create a free Roadpass account and finish the process. The sale began last November, and Baker was shocked with the level of interest. $$ - $$$ 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. Also guarding the minivans and SUVs is a large Santa Claus, reportedly the most popular statue on the property. WebLake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. 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. There is so much potential to this park. By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. 7.1/10 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! Magic Forest also has sheep, pygmy goats and country goats at the farm, whom the kids will love to adore and feed. Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New York. In fact, kids seem oblivious to the creepiness of this place, and so do the adults, for that matter. 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. Get expert advice, handpicked recommendations, and tips for your family all year round! 7.1/10 Magic Forest This was our first time. I made, I dont know, about 20 or 30 trips, sometimes with a tractor-trailer. The park is very clean and the employees are patient and friendly. Cookies are used for measurement, ads, and optimization. Simple fun and a great day. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. There are adult rides and family rides too. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. A bit dirty, rides seem OLD and somewhat banged up, and the animals are not taken care of very well (they seem well fed but cages are dirty and small). The former safari area will see the most changes. Close. "His head is the way we got him. Since 1963, Magic Forest has entertained young park goers and their families, creating memories for all. Along the shaded trails, attractions feature fairy tale characters like Hansel and Gretel and Paul Bunyan. 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. Also cant beat the setting, they are carefully dispersed through a beautiful forest. All the classic cautionary tales are here, displayed in miniature within wooden shelters, or lurking in the woods along serpentine trails. I have no place to store it, he said. Anything you purchase through links on our site may earn us a commission. Lake George Expedition More, Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. Magic Forest [1] Magic Forest also has a small petting zoo where children can feed the animals. It was clean, very clean. 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! 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He was tasked with finding buyers for all of the pieces in the Magic Forests diverse collection. Its different, he said. Magic Forest 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. We were there 4 years ago. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. They include paint-chipped animals, old theme park legends, and quite a few broken fae folk. Rides were available for all ages and the Dino roar exhibits were entertaining as much as they were informative. Hours and dates subject to change. 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. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Website Design by Trampoline Advertising & Design Co. | Web Site Development & Hosting by Nolee-O Web Design, Web Site Development & Hosting by Nolee-O Web Design. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. Theyve added Dino valley and are working on updates around magic forest. WebLake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. Park is small enough to walk and not get too tired out. We could see things in the woods by they are roped off. That was a bit disturbing to me. Please alert us if there is any inaccurate information here. June 27 - Sept. 5 Many lots share a common origin: the now long-defunct Danbury Fair in Danbury, Connecticut. more, 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. All stuff geared towards Christmas which also explains the Christmas songs played in the mix of music. Definitely recommend for little kids. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. Close. We did go early in the season. I even went as far as Kansas this summer, and everybody I have met has been nice, friendly and very appreciative. Posted by 3 years ago. 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. Are you associated with this business? The other is a Happy Halfwit with an Amish beard and hat, holding an ax just opposite the Little Miss Muffet display. 8.6 Fabulous 813 reviews Price from 102 per night Check availability Best Western of Lake George Trip Planning Caution: RoadsideAmerica.com offers maps, directions and attraction details as a convenience, providing all information as is. Its a great park to bring the kids without the stress of a typical amusement park (parents, youll understand what I mean). 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. Is the park recommend for children 7-10 years old? RoadsideAmerica.comYour Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions. So many rides. Baker first visited the park in 2012 while he was researching Muffler Men (the park had four). enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. But then there is a whole dinosaur park with animatronic dinosaurs throughout the forest. Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is Magic Forest? He cataloged the items, helped set prices, and listed them on his website. Two Muffler Men are particularly disturbing. 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. We took our almost 3 year old and she loved it. 51. 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.