MAGIC FOREST

MAGIC FOREST
(revisited)

JUNE 28, 2008

by Ham and Kelly

Project Absurd did not yet exist when we first visited Magic Forest in Lake George, NY in 2004. So, not only did we not know what we were in for when we visited this Family Fun Park, we also did not take any pictures or video specifically for the site. We still managed to put together a page dedicated to Magic Forest (click here to check it out) that was a bit smaller than the average page on this site. After we started this site, we always intended to go back and give this place the proper dedication that it deserves. So, that's just what we did this summer (June 2008).

We were amazed at how many things we missed the first time we went there. This time we took over 300 pictures and taped over an hour's worth of video. It was hard trying to narrow that down into a page that isn't too mind-numbingly long. The first step in eliminating pictures was to make sure I didn't post anything that we posted last time (excluding the photo above, of course). Also, I put together three video clips. So, I will not be posting many of the pictures that are already included in those clips.

Even before you go into Magic Forest, you get a sense of what's waiting for you inside. Aside from the World's Largest Uncle Sam in the parking lot (as seen in our last post), you can also see several of the park's attractions as soon as you get out of your car, including Rapunzel letting down her hair. I don't know why he needs her hair when there's obviously a ladder he could use!

As you walk in the entrance building, you are greeted by an odd clown named Brian. Last time we were there, the bee on "Brian's" hat was animated, buzzing in circles around his head. This time... not so much.

Once inside Magic Forest, there is so much absurd goodness that you do not know where to go first. There is literally stuff everywhere you look. Sure, there's rides for the kids and animals and normal stuff like that, but we want to focus on the not-so-normal stuff. Like this "Quacker Barrel" (and interestingly, there is no "barrel of monkeys!"):

Near the wacky geese is a building called "Christmas In The Forest", which includes several Christmas-themed dioramas featuring squirrels bouncing around on beds. Oh, and a giant snowman.

Near the back of the park you will find several animals, including this peacock who seems annoyed by the bulbous-nosed face above him.

There is also a chapel near the animals. And why not? This chapel was completely empty both times we visited the park. Except for the orbs, of course.

This brings me to the first video clip - The Train Ride. This was one of the things that we missed the first time we went to Magic Forest.

Phew! They weren't kidding around with the name Magic Forest, eh? I think many of those torso-less heads were probably either the top parts of drinking fountains or trash cans. Why there were so many just hanging out in the forest is beyond me. In case you missed it, here are two pictures from this Train Ride. The first is the odd series of human shaped beings with dogs heads, and the second is the world's only two-headed llama. Llama Llama Man.

Going back toward the center of the park, the Magic Forest Animal Band plays some of your favorite songs.

Near the food court there are several statues depicting various food items trying to eat themselves, including the Hot Dog Man (as seen in the last post) and this French Fry Guy:

I thought this photo of the Statue Of Liberty was nicely framed by the Lake George scenery:

This brings me to the second video clip, and also something we missed on our first trip to the park - The Safari Ride:

And you thought the Train Ride was cool! I was shocked the four little girls in front of us were screeching in delight and not pure horror. One has to wonder where all of these figures were originally made. The only thing I have been able to find out (from the books linked at the bottom of this page) is that they came from a "fiberglass junkyard" in Knoxville, Tennessee. I would also guess that they were made several decades ago, in an era when people were not exactly, uhh... politically correct. Check out this photo from the Safari Ride to see what I mean:

Returning to the main area of the park, you find some more wackiness. This old ticket booth labeled "Helicopter" had a wax (I think) figure of a woman sitting inside. For no damn reason! And isn't that the best reason of all, really? Well, Ham, she was obviously selling tickets for the non-existent helicopter ride!

There were a couple of astronauts spinning about and an absurdly giant version of Hansel and Gretel. I love that freaking rabbit!

This brings us to my favorite section of the park, The Fairy Tale Trail.

First up, we have Humpty Dumpty, some crazy-ass rabbit and Jack climbing up his Beanstalk.

I love the crazy eyes on these figures!

Next up we have a large man with bald feet, an orange shirt and an enormous lower lip trying to chop down a tree. Those sticks in his legs have got to be painful.

Here is Little Miss Muffet and the spider who sat down beside her. Wait a minute, that isn't Miss Muffet. That's the Bride Of Frankenstein! That flat head gives her away every time. Where's the flipping tuffet, anyway? And honestly, she doesn't look so much "frightened" as she does "frightening." Nice dress. Nice makeup! She'd look great on Alice Cooper's new album, "Along Came A Spider!"

Next we have quite a disturbing figure of a boy asking the question, "Can you stand on your head like me?" followed by a figure of a man with his head up his backside. Cue horrified screaming.

This is probably a good time to post the third video clip. Many of the dioramas in the park include an audio clip which you can enjoy by pressing a button. Most of these do not work any more (they mostly just had broken wires, so hopefully they'll be repaired soon). Anyway, this time I made a compilation of all of the dioramas in the park that had working audio clips. Also included in this clip are the infamous Cinderella and Snow White And The Seven Dwarves displays.

Ok, back to the Fairy Tale Trail photos.

These next photos include The Little (not so) Old Lady Who Lived In A Shoe and her bratty kids, Jack Be Nimble jumping over his candle stick, and Ichabod Crane running away from the Headless Horseman. On our last visit, jack was nimbly jumping over a feather-on-a-stick, this time it's just a stick...still no actual candle. Come on, people! It doesn't have to be lit!

Here is Rip Van Winkle, who looks like someone punched him in the face to try to wake him up, and some sort of odd bowling themed thing. If anyone knows what this picture is supposed to be please let us know in a comment or e-mail.

Next up are the free-thinking swingers, the 3 Men In A Tub (notice the hats depicting each one's profession), and a guy who shot an arrow through another guy's head. Again, I don't remember that Fairy Tale but I do enjoy the visual.

Of course you expected to see the one-eyed chicken sitting on an enormous egg.

This caveman was one of my favorites, simply because he just looked so damn crazy. Here he is with his wife, some sort of dinosaur meat, and his crazy kid playing with his Legos. Cavewomen were short, but stacked.

And, finally, we have dumb ole' Jack and Jill after they've slid down the hill. Um... Jill don't look so dumb! Jack's the one that done has a bucket!

We absolutely loved Magic Forest. It truly is one of a dying breed of amusement parks, and is just about the only one of it's type left in Upstate New York. Enchanted Forest in Old Forge and Great Escape in Lake George contain parts of their old, classic parks but Magic Forest seems like it hasn't changed in 25 years. And we wouldn't have it any other way.

(Posted 7/2008)