Enchanted Forest (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
The Enchanted Forest is an amusement park
located in Turner
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
, next to Interstate 5
just south of Salem
. Creator Roger Tofte opened the park in 1971 after seven years of construction. Today, the Tofte family still owns and operates the 20 acres (8.1 ha) park.
The park is divided into various districts. Storybook Lane has attractions inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Mother Goose
, and Grimms' Fairy Tales. Also featured are the English Village and its lighted fountain show, the Tofteville Mining Town, and a food service court featuring Bavarian architecture. Augmenting the park are attractions such as the Ice Mountain Bobsleds roller coaster, the Haunted House, and the Big Timber Log Ride
, the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest
. In 2006, Challenge of Mondor was added, an indoor trackless interactive ride featuring dragons and monsters.
Enchanted Forest also features a "Summer Comedy Theater" featuring original musical plays based on classic fairy tales, written by Susan Vaslev (Daughter of Roger Tofte).
Recent shows include...
The park is open on a seasonal schedule: opening in late March, weekends only in April, daily from May to Labor Day
, and then weekends only through September.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located in Turner
Turner, Oregon
Turner is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,199 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, next to Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
just south of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. Creator Roger Tofte opened the park in 1971 after seven years of construction. Today, the Tofte family still owns and operates the 20 acres (8.1 ha) park.
The park is divided into various districts. Storybook Lane has attractions inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Mother Goose
Mother Goose
The familiar figure of Mother Goose is an imaginary author of a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes which are often published as Mother Goose Rhymes. As a character, she appears in one "nursery rhyme". A Christmas pantomime called Mother Goose is often performed in the United Kingdom...
, and Grimms' Fairy Tales. Also featured are the English Village and its lighted fountain show, the Tofteville Mining Town, and a food service court featuring Bavarian architecture. Augmenting the park are attractions such as the Ice Mountain Bobsleds roller coaster, the Haunted House, and the Big Timber Log Ride
Log flume
A log flume is a flume specifically constructed to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. These watertight trough-like channels could be built to span a long distance across chasms and down steep mountain slopes...
, the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. In 2006, Challenge of Mondor was added, an indoor trackless interactive ride featuring dragons and monsters.
Enchanted Forest also features a "Summer Comedy Theater" featuring original musical plays based on classic fairy tales, written by Susan Vaslev (Daughter of Roger Tofte).
Recent shows include...
- 2004: Hansel & Gretel
- 2005: Pinocchio
- 2006: The Princess and The Pea
- 2007: The Emperor's New Clothes
- 2008: Cinderella
- 2009: Snow White and the 7 Dorks
- 2010: Hansel & Gretel
- 2011: Little Red Riding Hood
The park is open on a seasonal schedule: opening in late March, weekends only in April, daily from May to Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
, and then weekends only through September.
External links
- The Best of Enchanted Forest - Portland Mercury
- Forty Years of Enchanted Forest - "Think Out Loud" on Oregon Public Broadcasting