A Look Back
1956
Enchanted Forest
In honor of their 70th anniversary, we wanted to take A Look Back at Enchanted Forest’s original roots.
In 1956, three local businessmen, armed with a budget of $250,000, transformed 80 acres of former swamp land into a 35-acre attraction for the “young and the young at heart.” Guests were invited into the Enchanted Forest, a world of fairy tales, pirates, and an old mining town.
Admission was just $1.00 for adults and .25 cents for children, with rides available for an additional fee. More than 140,000 guests visited the park that first season. Its founders were clearly on to something.
For more than seven decades, Paul Bunyan has stood watch over the park as it has expanded, evolved, and entertained generations of visitors. Now, the World’s Greatest! television series, which showcases some of the most remarkable products, people, and travel destinations, has taken notice, a true notch in Paul Bunyan’s ax.
