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Oakland, California: Children's Fairyland

Created in 1950 as America's first three-dimensional storybook theme park. Also home to America's oldest continuously operating puppet theater.

Address:
699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland, CA
Directions:
I-580 to Grand Ave., then west to Bellevue Ave. and the Park, on the left.
Hours:
Daily 10 am-4 pm, weather permitting (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
510-452-2259
Save to My Sights

Children's Fairyland.

Oakland, California - Children's Fairyland (1950)
Yesteryear Travel: Children's Fairyland:

Ride a miniature train with a munchkin to Children's Fairyland, a colorful, crazy-angled, kid-sized theme park in Oakland, California. In the 1950s, it was a radical place.

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Visitor Tips and News About Children's Fairyland

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Purple bunny, giant pumpkin.

Children's Fairyland

Great old school kids theme park. They have live puppet shows in two areas. Live miniature goats, an alpaca, and a chicken. Magic Key activated Fairy Tales and a new artificial turf "hill" with free cardboard to slide down the "hillside." We went on Easter Sunday and got pics with a giant purple bunny. Grassy areas for picnicking. Other kid stuff nearby: feed ducks at Lake Merritt Nature Center, several play structures and lots of grass to run around on.

[Petergum, 04/29/2014]

Shoe entrance.

Children's Fairyland

Just took my 3 and 5 year-old nieces there for an afternoon of adventure - just as I remembered it from 40 years ago. Lots of activities for kids, especially under 10s, including rides (very tame, like the train ride) pirate ship, Old West town, lots of colorful fairy tale (life-size) figures, puppet shows, loads of animals to pet (and feed). A wonder-filled experience for little tykes. Concession stands and exit through the gift shop.

Surrounded by open parkland around Lake Merritt in Oakland. Be sure to purchase the Fairyland Magic Key that allows you to listen to info, stories and music throughout the park!

[Johnomo, 01/08/2011]

April 2014: Photo added.

Children's Fairyland

I was pleased to find the ORIGINAL kid's storyland/fairyland in Oakland, in Lake Merrit Park. According to their site, it was "created in 1950 as America's first three-dimensional storybook theme park." The day I was there, mobs of four-year-olds accompanied by frantic adults were walking toward it chanting "FAI-REE-LAN! FAI-REE-LAN!" in a manner reminiscent of zombies in the Dawn of The Dead films. I could not go in as I had no kid with me, but I could see through the fence. Unlike the attraction in New Orleans, this one had animals (And the entrance is a topiary dragon. Very nice.)

[Flatus Maximus, 05/30/2004]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Mid-Century MonsterMid-Century Monster, Oakland, CA - < 1 mi.
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Champions For Humanity: Mount Rushmore of CaliforniaChampions For Humanity: Mount Rushmore of California, Oakland, CA - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Mare Island Naval Missile Park, Vallejo, CA - 20 mi.

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