The magic finally ran out last year when longtime owner Jack Gillette sold the park to a local contractor, Ruben Ellsworth. Will go again when were in the area. 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." WebExperience a journey through time. One account for all of our road travel apps. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Where else can you see Esso tigers and Sinclair Dinosaurs peacefully coexisting with pink flamingos and polar bears? Theyve added Dino valley and are working on updates around magic forest. Copyright 2023 Family Vacation Critic All Rights Reserved. Plenty of parking. This was our first time. We are grandparents of 5 yo and 9 yo boys and went with them and their parents to the park. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. $$ Photos See all photos Connect with Magic Forest on Facebook Log In or Create new account We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". Plan your journey, find amazing places, and take fascinating detours with our app. Its different, he said. We strive to insure accuracy on Lakegeorge.com however accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Most hotels are fully refundable. The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. Dino Roar Valley is so fun its prehistoric! Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. Jimmy Brown's magic show was great. 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. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. 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." You may have heard about a new, dinosaur-themed park coming to Lake George, but do you know whats happened to the iconic Uncle Sam statue? [2], The other part of the park is Dino Roar Valley, which opened in 2019 and featuring animatronic dinosaurs.[3]. We are hoping to go back again We got there around 2 and stayed until close. Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. Its a great park to bring the kids without the stress of a typical amusement park (parents, youll understand what I mean). This place is great if you are into any of the following, all others beware: Unsafe broken rides, uneducated senior citizens running rides, creepy overall, sad use and abuse of a horse forced to walk up an inclosure and dive down into a pool multiple times a day, dirty sad animals in cages, safari train ride of ceramic animal heads with choking fumes from extremely slow moving ride, permanent carnival. The park is open every day, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from late June June through Labor Day. 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. 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.. All rights reserved. They were nice. Gillettes over 700 nostalgic lots are all up for the bidding now, and can be seen in-person by appointment. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. The kids thought the place was greatmy husband and I thought it could be better. Sometimes, Baker would get ten emails expressing interest in a single item before he could even list it as sold. Pass on this one. Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Exhibits like Cinderellas Castle and Santas House as well as the snack bar and the gift shop are also great. 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. 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. There were no lines. 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. 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. The park had its first season under new name and ownership in 2021, and that was what pushed Gilette to finally get it done. There are adult rides and family rides too. Enjoy the 20 minute train ride to watch the life-size animal statues with kids. Baker first visited the park in 2012 while he was researching Muffler Men (the park had four). Returning the statue to its original home was part of the deal. 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. 3. When they heard about the sale they purchased that teddy bear and it meant the world to them, Baker says. The information in this post is a record of the parks previous incarnation. 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. Try My Sights, Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. Keep exploring with the Roadtrippers mobile apps. Magic Forest probably has the longest running permanent "Diving Horse" show since Atlantic City's Steel Pier burned down. 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. There was this crazy little tiny squirrel that was literally the smallest figure I listed and everyone wanted that thing, he says. Park is small enough to walk and not get too tired out. The sale began last November, and Baker was shocked with the level of interest. 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. Our team of parents and travel experts chooses each product and service we recommend. Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New York. They had visited the Magic Forest for years and always taken their kids photo with that particular bear. It depends, Albany Sheriff: Pair arrested for illegal gun possession, Crossgates Mall opening at noon due to weather, Snow begins falling in Capital Region during latest, 03/03/2023: Significant winter storm tonight, Downtown Kansas City bar calls out Jackson Mahomes, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Gillette sold Magic Forest in Lake George in 2019 and retired. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. There are also a petting zoo, magic shows, and stunt shows with the last remaining diving horse, Lightning. There's a chapel, too. The animals were severely underfed. We spot their blistered, sagging entry gates on lonely back roads, or squeezed between the Amusements of the Month in some overdeveloped Mecca. 51. Are you associated with this business? Although they eventually paid the ultimate price, maybe the lesson is that we should celebrate the parks existence and persistenceand not ignore the consequences of resolutely resisting change. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. Web1912 State Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 Visit Site Adirondacks Region Details Since 1963, Magic Forest has entertained young park goers and their families, creating memories for all. Actually, that helps to explain a lot about this place. Please alert us if there is any inaccurate information here. Simple fun and a great day. 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. Gilette was something of a collector, amassing his estimated over 700 items over decades while running Magic Forest, which first opened in 1963. Three of the four fiberglass giants were purchased by Atlantis Plumbing in Dallas, Georgia. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. One, a giant clown, has to be the most remodeled MM in the world. 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." Ever. Get a piece of your childhood now! But its hard not to become despondent and dig in your heels when it feels as if the world you love is rapidly disappearing. Luckily, anyone with the money and means to drive to Lake George can still own a piece of history. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. So many rides. We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". Dino Roar Valley is so fun its prehistoric! Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Are rides being disinfected after each use? 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Close. But then there is a whole dinosaur park with animatronic dinosaurs throughout the forest. My guess is that you can, but I'd ask at the entrance. His father and uncle started a carnival together. These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Best suited for the very young, or anyone with a penchant for quirky roadside attractions, this small amusement park opened in 1963, and retains some of its retro charm. Magic Forest also has sheep, pygmy goats and country goats at the farm, whom the kids will love to adore and feed. 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. However, not long after, Gillette got another chance; all thanks, unknowingly, to another local entertainer, whose name lives on in nearby Glens Falls. We took our almost 3 year old and she loved it. POTUS landmarks, oddities. It's perfect. One, a giant clown, has to be the most remodeled MM in the world. The use of the diving horse is not nor should it be an attraction for children or adults. 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). 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. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. Copyright 1996-2023 Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. Also guarding the minivans and SUVs is a large Santa Claus, reportedly the most popular statue on the property. It means nothing to most people; but for people who went to the fair and loved it, its worth its value to them.. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. The train ride was a Diesel engine that kept throwing black smoke in our faces, and at the end of it the animation & recording say that they are going to blow the train up, which really scared our 5 year old son. 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. Probably nowhere else is the disturbing world of children's' fairy tales brought to life more vividly. Credits, Media/Business Inquiries WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. 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). Also cant beat the setting, they are carefully dispersed through a beautiful forest. Santa is actually there in an air conditioned log house. WebCompare 721 hotels close to Magic Forest Park with room rates, reviews, and availability. WebYour visit to the park will be a walking tour; for our visitors with mobility difficulties, we will provide alternative means. That means the array of memories up for auction come from a variety of other fairs, carnivals and fun lands. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the authors. WebLake George, New York. Trip Planning Caution: RoadsideAmerica.com offers maps, directions and attraction details as a convenience, providing all information as is. She likes things that are bigger or smaller than they should be: novelty architecture, miniature worlds, and anything made from fiberglass or neon. May 28 - June 26
He says to me, Do you know Charlie Woods? This is a must see. Get in Touch Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Forest How popular is Magic Forest? 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. Most hotels are fully refundable. 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 park's famous Santa Claus overlooks the parking lot. 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. 10am5pm | Sat & Sun Only
It opened in 2019, and incorporates the Magic Forest, which opened in 1963, along with a new attraction entitled Dino Roar Valley. Alexandra is the features editor at Roadtrippers Magazine. Get a piece of your childhood now! The dark, woodsy allure of classic fairy tales is part of Magic Forest's charm. 92% of travelers recommend this experience. Hours Most of the rides are "kiddie rides" and a 10 year old would be bored. The Magic Forest felt like it was from a different time not only physically, but spiritually. Create Your Own Bizarre Road Trips! 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. Copyright 1996-2023 Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. Posted by 3 years ago. Water available for sale all throughout. More, Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. Get expert advice, handpicked recommendations, and tips for your family all year round! Sometimes I wonder if we really saw Lightning, the last remaining diving horse in the country, take his famous (and some may say inhumane) dive twice the day we visited, or if it was all a mirage. Two Muffler Men are particularly disturbing. Most of them sit at a starting price of $25. Is this worth it for a 2 year old? When sorting through his collection, Gillette knew that those items, in particular, should be auctioned. Take time to enjoy the rides - the merry-go-round, you-drive car track, sail in the boats, and others. People normally club together Water Slide World and Lumberjack Pass Miniature Golf while planning their visit to Magic Forest. Visit Family Vacation Critic on Facebook! 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. 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. My husband told me he was creeped out & felt like the statues were following is with their eyes. She dreams of visiting every state in the U.S. and will always stop for a Muffler Man. 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. ", Hudson River Sightseeing Cruise from Albany, Central Troy Historic District Walking Food Tour, Albany Scavenger Hunt: Empire State Of Mind, 2 Hour Private Forest Immersion Retreat in Woodland Sanctuary, 3 Day Reiki Certification Retreat in Vermont, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB. The next button will take you to Roadpass to create a free Roadpass account and finish the process. 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. 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. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the authors. Close. Having trouble using this site? Information is subject to change. Actually, that helps to explain a lot about this place. Not the first time for the boys. "His head is the way we got him. All stuff geared towards Christmas which also explains the Christmas songs played in the mix of music. We left & renamed it "bizzaro world". Modern amusement parks just cant compete with the thrill we got when we realizedperhaps too latethat our body weight was testing the load-bearing limits of one of five rides said to accommodate adults. 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. Restoration specialists will be working to spruce him up from the wear and tear hes endured over the years. Our son loved it and so did we, will definitely be back! LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) Up until just a couple years ago, a drive up Route 9 toward the village of Lake George would take visitors past, among other things, Paul Bunyan and Uncle Sam. Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in New York. We have a couple of similar parks here in NH that are WAY ahead of Magic Forest. Hes believed to be the largest Uncle Sam statue in the world. 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! Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions Its fiberglass figures had long ago dug in their collective heelsand hoovesas the world evolved around them. There is a area with several picnic table just outside a small snack bar. 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. Tall tales, trip guides, and the weird and wonderful. Transferring the giant statue from Lake George to Danbury, roughly a three hour ride, was reportedly difficult. We were there 4 years ago. I was impressed by the amount of original International Fiberglass figures there, Baker says. Get a piece of your childhood now! No, I would say age 8 max. They first went 3 years ago. 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. 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.