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Enchanted Forest
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
9 reviews for Enchanted Forest
The recent spate of one-star Yelps on this page has moved this EF-lover to tack an additional warning onto my review. Enchanted Forest isn't for everybody. I'm not trying to condescend to those who didn't like it; after all, EF and I were a pretty poor match when I was a little kid.
This theme park hails from a time when childrens' entertainment was far more toothy than it is today, and in many ways it no longer meets modern expectations of what a theme park is and how it entertains its customers. If you have children who are frightened by dark spaces, loud noises, or morbid humor - or if you are pushing a stroller or carrying an easily pooped kid - a day at Enchanted Forest may be a recipe for misery. I have to disagree with assertions that Enchanted Forest is filthy. A wet, mildewy climate does not go well with concrete and amateur robotics, and the Toftes and their fleet of teens actually do a fairly admirable job of fighting the elements. Nevertheless, EF doesn't have Disneyland's elite mop-and-pail crew, so you may have to be on your guard if your child is especially prone to putting things in his or her mouth. As for modern fears of pedophilia or sexual deviance, parents can rest easy; there really isn't any subtext lurking here that you couldn't pull out of the original fairy tales or their Disney adaptations.
Nevertheless, my five-star review stands. Despite its obvious age, Enchanted Forest can be a blast for parents who know what to expect and kids who are ready for it. If your kids like to run around and play on things (and are allowed to do so within reasonable limits), or if your kids are brave and can take surprises with a laugh, or if your kids devour Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket, and The Brothers Grimm with ghoulish aplomb, Enchanted Forest will leave them with lasting fun memories. Take it from my parents: they might've been tempted to give EF the equivalent of a one-star review on the 1980s BBS equivalent of Yelp when I was a jumpy four-year-old, but they would've happily bumped that review up a few stars once I was a heartier eight-year-old with a fearless little brother to back me up.
Oh, and to answer Aimee M's question... Costco acetaminophen and hydrocortisone. :-D
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11/14/2008
Enchanted Forest gets minimal attention on http://RoadsideAmerica..., which usually is the premier… Read more »
Ok.. I'm giving it 2 stars since my wife wants to bring our daughter and her friends back because our daughter LOVED the kiddie rides.
That being said.. this place is CREEPY. The animatronic displays are obviously old ( but well mantained), and super creepy. They actually have a witch getting ready to push hansel and gretel into an oven, along with some other weird places... but, that's what Hans Christian Anderson was all about back then..
Overall, the park was super clean and well maintained. Employees were young, and not super enthusiastic, but mostly friendly and happy for what you expect from a minimum wage earning teenager.
The kiddie rides were a blast... each one costs 80 cents per person and you can buy tickets or pay cash... not a huge deal. My daughter rode the frog hopper about 6 times and was a giggling fool.. worth every penny.
Lots of weird and "trippy" exhibits.... obviously, whoever designed this park in the 70's was doing a bit of chemical therapy.
$25 bucks for 2 adults and one kid is very reasonable, and not a big deal to spend, creepiness factor aside.
All in all.. fun kiddie rides.. pretty clean and well maintained park.. overall vibe= 70's acid trip, sorta creepy.
My oh my, where to start?
Entrance fees: $40 for a family of 4!! Outrageous......
I had high hopes for this crap hole....boy, was I wrong! I really want some of what these other reviewers are "taking" to give it anything above 1 star.
It is SOOOOO run down, dusty as all get out and down right scary for kids. Hell, I had nightmares after seeing the Fairy Godmother rise out of the closet looking like a child corpse on a stick! Not to mention Geppetto talking like a pedophile about "real boys" in a spooky tone. Disturbing I say, disturbing folks!
Then came the cross dresser/actor (part of the Snow White and the Seven DORKS)......scared the dickens out of our 3 year old daughter. SHE RAN from him and buried her face into us! WTF! Not to mention the name of the show.....is that a bad porn movie name or what??
Seriously, about the only good part was the Abe Lincoln impersonator. He was about the only normal thing there.
On to the employees. Our 11 year old asked if all of them were depressed. I am sure they all LOVE working here. NOT!
Save your money, find something else to do while in Salem. There are so many more options....like digging in the sand would be better!
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Wow! This place is really something else. I am speechless that it has received some favorable reviews.
During a recent trip to Salem with some friends we decided to take the kids (ages 8 and 10 yrs) to the Enchanted Forest. What a joke! $40 to get in the door and then you have to pay extra for the so called rides. This place is beyond dirty, old and rundown .... it is just plain WEIRD! ! ! The place literally scared me.
We knew it was time to go when the cross dresser was out working the crowd, scaring the kids??? Need I say more?
Save your money, most kids would have more fun taking a nap.
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I love this place although it may get a bit boring if you go too much and you're older than twelve.The haunted house really scared the shit out of me when I was a little kid...maybe even a little bit still.
Overpriced for an aging and somewhat boring theme park. (I went there in 4th grade, and it is still alive!) The displays had mice shit in them... "Oh, look honey, Goldilocks is mice infested!" I think not. The least they could do is update the "enchanted" to include fairies or Cinderella or something to appeal to today's kids. I think most kids resent the whole Hansel and Gretel thing...or at least they should!
And the safety issues abound! Broken fencing, aging walkways,...the crooked house is becoming the norm around there. A family got there stroller stuck in the maze. The caves are for kids and very skinny, short people. I almost got stuck in there! :) One mom told me her son was extremely hurt last year because he barrelled into a concrete wall...with his face! And yet she is back! Glutton for punishment? But when it comes to your kids...no...
Okay, so it was shady there, which on an almost 100 degree day was a welcomed retreat. The Coca-cola was ice cold and not too sweet....another plus. The Free water light show was pretty cool, but a little on the "wt" side.
Was it worth the drive, gas, and admission (close to $10 a pop)? There were some family memories made, but.....ahhh....I will skip it next time.
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I don't understand how this place doesn't have a zillion 5 star reviews. The Enchanted Forest is amazing! Recently I went on the best date of my life there. Imagine going on a second date that includes Story Book Lane- with witches and dwarves and caves and tunnels both terrifying and fantastic, Western Town, an English Village, roller coasters, a sparkly Water Show- with 1970's moog sounding music, an ABE LINCOLN IMPERSONATOR, ice cream, the Challenge of Mondor- at which I kicked my date's ass (it's a ride that involves shooting dragons!) and an incredible vintage Haunted House, all surrounded by and filled with giant, beautiful evergreen trees! You might need a little herbal enhancement to truly appreciate the beauty of Enchanted Forest, but even without, I imagine it would be a fun time.
Listen folks, if you want to impress your new crush and then have her lose her job and move in with you three weeks later, Enchanted Forest is the place to go.
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Fun for the youngins! Id say under 10 yrs old and they will have a blast. It isnt disneyland but it is much closer and cheaper! :)
Lets get one thing straight, this isn't Disneyland. It isn't even Disneyland's poor cousin. Its a little old fun park with some basic rides and attractions. If you love unique places then you should visit. The absolute best thing about the park is the haunted house. It was actually pretty creepy and had some really scary effects. I read somewhere once that it was voted the best walk-thru haunted house in America. We were able to see the whole park in about two hours, but I assume if you have kids you could double that time. Its basically a kitschy fairy tale theme geared to those of us who enjoy interesting roadside attractions.
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