Ellicott City, Maryland: Enchanted Forest at Clark's Elioak Farm
Fairy tale statues and buildings from the shuttered Enchanted Forest (1955-1989) have been saved and restored on a petting farm. The final building was set in place August 2015.
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Visitor Tips and News About Enchanted Forest at Clark's Elioak Farm
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Enchanted Forest
The park is still there -- it's just that it has been closed for the past 10 years (the shopping center did not replace the park but was put up beside it). There is actually an organization made up of individuals committed to reopening the park. Their goal is to see it reopen in the Spring of 2001.
[Kenneth W. McKirahan, 05/14/2000]$380,000 has been raised by Friends of the Enchanted Forest, a volunteer organization, trying to reopen the children's theme park in Ellicott City, MD. Their goal is to gather $1.2 million to repair Enchanted Forest, which has been closed for ten years.
... [05/14/2000] Complete News StoryI just heard that some investors are hoping to re-open the Enchanted Forest just outside of Ellicott City! I remember going there as an older kid (not as old as I am now). I have two fond memories of the place. The first one was fishing with kernels of corn in their little pool-like pond and catching a 14" fish that looked like something from The Creature From the Black Lagoon. I still wonder if it was a real fish or not. And, the second memory of that place was in the boat ride (I've long forgotten the name of it.). Halfway through the ride our boat began to fill with water until it was half full and dragging the bottom of the channel. At first our only response was to wonder if this was supposed to happen. We realized that it wasn't when other boats began backing up behind us. The manager of the park gave us enough tickets and apologies to make us bug our parents for years to go back. We never did.
[MightyDoor, 03/20/1999]I'm a Baltimore native and like a previous contributor, I too grew up going to the Enchanted Forest in Ellicott City. However, the other person stated that it's gone now. Not quite. It's closed, true, and part of the old park has been turned into a shopping center, but a good bit of the place is still there, albeit fenced off and crumbling. (A particularly spooky sight are the cement Gingerbread Men that once ringed the place -- now trapped behind a fence, they look like they're screaming in terror to get out.) There's one spot where the fence is easily traversed and you can get in to roam about. Do so at your own risk, though; there are plenty of "No Trespassing" signs.
[Dan Gibbs, 01/17/1999]Enchanted Forest
For several years now, Enchanted Forest has disappeared from Route 40 leading into Ellicott City, MD. I have many happy childhood memories of the quaint park, with Cinderella's Castle and even underground passages to see Alice in Wonderland's rabbithole, The 7 Dwarfs' mining cave, etc. Supposedly, parts of the John Waters' film "Crybaby" were filmed here.
[Lori Sampson, 05/21/1997]October, 2003 - a recent photo from Glenn and Rebecca Brown of the fenced castle at Enchanted Forest.
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Enchanted Forest at Clark's Elioak Farm
Clark's Elioak Farm
- Address:
- 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD
- Directions:
- On Hwy 108 between Harper's Farm Rd and Centennial Lane.
- Hours:
- April-Nov. T-Su 10-4 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 410-730-4049
- Admission:
- Adults $6.00
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
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Update - 5/2004: According to a couple of tips we've received, it still looks unlikely to open, although it made it onto the Preservation Howard County's annual list of most endangered properties in 2004. Funds so far raised are not enough to remedy parking, traffic and environmental issues. The park, opened in 1954, has been closed since the late 1980s. This photo is from 1985, while the park was still operating.