Enchanted Forest Water Safari

The Water Safari Enchanted Forest (originally named the Enchanted Forest of the Adirondacks) is an amusement park in Old Forge, New York.cite book|chapter=The Enchanted Forest of the Adirondacks|title=Kiddie Parks of the Adirondacks, (NY)|author=Rose Ann Hirsch|date=2006|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|id=ISBN 0738544701|pages=97–116]

History

The park was opened in 1956 by A. Richard Cohen, a hardware store owner and commissioner for the Adirondack Authority in charge of the development of ski centres on Whiteface and Gore mountains. When opened, it had 35 employees, and encompassed 35 acres of swampland. Admission was $1 for adults and ¢25 for children. Over time, the park expanded in size to its present 60 acres.

The design for the park, incorporating a large circus tent and a series of houses with themes from children's fairy-tale stories, was based upon research by Cohen's daughter and wife, whom he sent to several amusement parks across the country to study how they worked. Concept watercolour paintings for the park were done by Russell Patterson, who also worked on the designs of the several individual fairy-tale houses in the park.

The only mechanical ride in the park at the time of the opening was the Enchanted Forest Express. However, this changed during the 1960s.

In 1977, Cohen sold the park to the Noonan family, In 1988, the park's name was changed to the Water Safari Enchanted Forest, as a result of the popularity of the Wild Waters Water Park (two 350-foot waterslides) that had been added in 1984.

New Rides Coming Soon

The Silverback ride is expected to be completed Summer 2009.

References

Further reading

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