Ellicott City, Maryland: Enchanted Forest at Clark's Elioak Farm

Clark's Elioak Farm has continued to move Enchanted Forest attractions and characters to their petting farm location (only 5 minutes from the original Enchanted Forest site) since 2004. When they open in April 2009, they will have an amazing new permanent pine tree MAZE filled with newly-restored Enchanted Forest pieces.

They already have the Old Woman's Shoe, Willie the Whale, Humpty Dumpty, the 3 Bears House, the 3 Pigs Houses, Mother Goose, Cinderella's Pumpkin Coach, Jack and Jill, Jack and the Beanstalk, and much more. Now, they are adding the Tortoise and the Hare, Hickory, Dickory Dock, the Gingerbread House and Little Red Riding Hood, the Teapot and Teacup, Little Boy Blue and much more to the new Maze.

Recalling fond childhood memories, I searched RoadsideAmerica.com for the Enchanted Forest in MD and to my delight I found it. But I was sad to know that it had suffered the same fate as most such childhood theme parks had...closed and in great disrepair.

But, I was intrigued to read an entry describing a less-than-perfect boat ride at the park. During their ride the boat started filling with water. I have a similar memory in which I took a boat ride there and our boat got stranded on a sand bar. I guess their boat rides came with a certain level of peril! I remember thinking the chaos of the stranded boat was great fun and very exciting...my Mom did not share my opinion.

I will always remember it fondly!

The Enchanted Forest's 52nd Birthday celebration will be held at Clark's Elioak Farm, August, 11-12, 2007. Special family activities all day. Fairy tale characters, story times, entertainers, face-painting. Enchanted Forest memorabilia will be on sale, including the famed "Enchanted Forest Stones."

See the new Enchanted Forest buildings we have restored in 2007. Have you seen Humpty Dumpty, Little Toot, Willie the Whale or the Merry Miller's House.? Bring copies of old family photographs to share. We will be putting together an album of photos from everyone's childhood trips to the Enchanted Forest during the weekend. Blue Sky Puppet Theatre is performing "The Three (NOT SO) Little Pigs" Saturday 11 AM and 1:30 PM. The wolf is a vegetarian and the pigs jam on rock and roll guitars.

All of the rumors are true! A recent visit to my hometown revealed that the old Enchanted Forest structures are, indeed, in various phases of renovation, intermingled with goats and ponies in a petting zoo. Now, new generations can enjoy Jack and the Beanstalk, the scary gingerbread men, and many other storybook icons. The King and his castle remain on Route 40 by the Safeway.

Clark Elioak's Farm is working diligently to complete the restoration process on the pieces they have moved. I took a wonderful hayride through the first phase of development, which thrilled both my children. Enchanted Forest may be closed, but it is living on in this delightful petting zoo "palace!" More info (and directions) on their site: www.clarklandfarm.com.