If you happen to be in the far North East and have a love of classic children's stories, you might want to take a look at Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire. Set in the beautiful White Mountains, this park is the life's work of the Morrell family whose park motto, "Where Fantasy Lives," sums up their desire to bring traditional stories alive for the children of New England.
Opened in 1954 with an admission fee of 85 cents for everyone over twelve, the park was family owned until 2006 and the family-centred organisation behind the park is evident in its attractions. What began with a set of fairy tale dolls purchased in Germany led to a small park of colorful buildings and characters. Slowly, attractions and rides were added and now a thriving theme park nestles alongside the magnificent presidential range of mountains.
The Park contains several different kinds of attractions that make it perfect for a family of all ages. The bulk of the park's attractions are grounded in fairy tales, and reminiscent of the early years of the park. Just as his predecessors in the fifties did, my toddler was able to meet and chat with Mother Goose, The Old Woman in the Shoe gave him a Story Land sticker (which would have been a pin in the fifties), and he spent a good half an hour playing in Heidi's house and chatting with her Grandfather. These character actors are not in giant foam costumes, you do not have to line up to meet them. They are just there, in the park, waiting to make a child happy. Though he was scared of Cinderella in her castle, Toby did not stop talking about her for days. He was also able to get close to some of the animals from his favorite stories and rhymes, as he visited with the Three Billy Goats Gruff and the Three Little Pigs. In an area of the park known as "For Little Dreamers," children can play One Two Buckle My Shoe, be baked in a pie with four and twenty blackbirds, and sit on a tuffet awaiting a spider. These are not high tech attractions, they are simple but highly effective. The ball pool alone, originally home to two live seals, in this area of the park could easily occupy the most rambunctious of toddlers for hours. I should know, I have one!
In addition to the trademark fairy tale elements, there are more traditional theme park rides, such as Dr. Geyser's Remarkable Raft Ride, Bamboo Chutes, which is a log flume, and the Polar Coaster, which is of course a roller coaster. At just the right height, my son went on all but Dr. Geyser. We rode Bamboo Chutes six times before convincing him that it was time to move on. It was his first log flume, and the log flume is one of my favorite rides in any park, so this was an especially proud moment for me. As he had enjoyed his first roller coaster at Thomas Land he went on the Polar Coaster with great anticipation; however, he got bored! The roller coaster was too long for him and he wanted to get off, not because he was scared, but because he was simply done with it! Although we did not ride on the rafts with him, mistakenly thinking he was too short, he had a great deal of fun watching other people and yelling out warnings to them about upcoming rain clouds. All of the traditional rides could easily occupy families with a broad range of ages as we noted otherwise sullen teenagers having a great deal of fun with their younger siblings.
As testament to their commitment to family entertainment, there are four "mother" areas across the park. There are quiet, well ventilated spaces, each with a fan and a few rocking chairs. You can nurse in comfort, take a few quiet moments with your baby, and change a diaper without interruption. I spent some time in there with my baby while the other two Pinault boys went on yet more rides. I enjoyed a quiet moment away from the world, and it was nice to sit in a rocking chair to feed Charlie instead of on a wall or in a plastic cafeteria chair. Across the park you will also find "misting tents" which spray a thin mist within to help you cool down. Charlie is four months old and he thought this was absolutely hilarious. Speaking as someone who overheats easily, these tents are a an absolute Godsend. You can rent strollers or wheelchairs, you can even leave your pet in one of 26 free kennels; you don't have to leave anyone at home on a trip to Story Land.
As a life long Disney fan, I was fascinated by the history and stories behind this home-grown park. Likewise inspired by things he had seen at Walt Disney World, Bob Morrell undertook one of his most adventurous undertakings in 1981 with the concept of a "dark ride." Between 1983 and 1998, Space Fantasy (later Voyage to the Moon) operated within a fabric covered dome. Visitors would blast off to the moon in a ride based loosely on Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon. High costs and low usage prompted the closure of the ride, and it was replaced with my son's second favorite aspect of the park: Professor Bigglestep's Loopy Lab. While an enclosed ride was not that popular in Story Land, the hands on Loopy Lab with its foam balls and compressed air cannons remains one of the park's most popular attractions. In keeping with its development and history, the attraction was named after a character from a much earlier attraction. It is a nice cool place to let the kids run around in for a little while, though you have to keep a close eye on them as there are two exit points!
While EPCOT and its World Showcase opened in 1982, A Child's Visit to Other Lands opened in Story Land in 1971 and included Morocco, Africa, the Netherlands, Mexico, Switzerland, and the Arctic. To continue the overriding theme of the park, tales such as Arabian Nights were included. Toby had great fun climbing around inside the Flying Carpet Sandwich Oasis. We panned for Gold and were put in prison in Mexico, before quickly sauntering over to see the actual North Pole. One of the dominant cultural themes in this section comes from the Dutch street. The Wooden Shoes ride and the story of the little Dutch boy were incorporated into this area. On our visit my son enjoyed the climbing the windmill, and helped prevent a flood by blocking the dyke with his finger.
Near the entrance to the park are two attractions that help educate and involve your children. In an old town hall replica, your child can have their picture taken, and purchase their own driver's license. This is suitably located near the antique cars so that you can show your children responsibility, get your license, ride a car. Of course if you are my son, a twenty minute line is hard to explain. In that case, you can use the moment to teach your child why not to run down the railroad tracks! Second, is the animatronic Farm Follies, which began as the Green Garden Variety Show. Stony Morrell was an aspiring farmer and environmentalist and wanted to use his creative outlet at Story Land to educate children through entertainment. The show tells children how the garden grows and now encourages recycling. My two year old sat through the presentation twice, perfectly still. It was a miracle.
Entrance to the park is reasonable at $28 per child over the age of two. Food is available at several locations but you are also encouraged in your family's frugality by being allowed to bring your own picnics in. Shops are few and far between at StoryLand; souvenirs range in price from a handful of change to a decent sized check, my son left with a squashed penny album to commence a new collection. I left with one pound of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans and a book. At the epicenter of the park is a store in which you can purchase capes, crowns, swords, and all manner of fantasy apparel for the whole family – perfect for your little cosplayer. If my mother-in-law didn't make capes, I would have been making an investment that day.
In the Images of America history of Story Land, Jim Miller notes that a cornerstone of the park's business philosophy was to frequently add simple props that appealed to children and helped create a lasting memory, even if it did not generate a measurable return on investment by itself. If, like me, you are somewhat of a theme park geek, Story Land is full of secret gems if you care to look closer and talk to cast members:
The spider's web from Little Miss Muffet hung from a real tree between 1954 and 2001. When an annual inspection discovered how fragile the tree was becoming, the decision was made to preserve it in some way. Massachusetts artist Justin Gordon and Story Land artist Donna Howland carved out of the tree a colorful sculpture which stands there to this day. It was not dug up and moved for this project but remains in its original spot of Story Land history.- The shoelaces on the house of The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe are made from the firehose of Freddy the Fire Truck, the first amusement ride that the Morrell family built at Story Land.
- The original merry-go-round at Story Land, whose location now houses the tiger merry-go-round, was based on the controversial children's story Little Black Sambo.
- The no smoking policy at Story Land was years ahead of its time, having been introduced in 1961.
- The Swan boats, a fixture in most theme parks, were originally a fleet of whales. They were changed to be more in keeping with the theme of the castle area.
- The antique German carousel was originally steam powered, and in the late 1800s toured the Bavarian countryside. It found its home in Story Land in the early 1960s. Pay close attention, unlike most carousels that turn anti-clockwise, this carousel turns clockwise.
- The Huff, Puff, and Whistle Railroad may be mechanised now, but originally it was a steam-powered train.
- Until 2000, the model cars were gasoline operated. Unhappy with the quality provided by outside vendors, owner Bob Morrell built them in house so that a second row could be added for parents to take a back seat to their driving children.
The bronze sculpture of two children peeking into the pond near the Great Balloon Chase was installed in 1989 as part of the park's 35th anniversary celebrations and is titled "The Winds of Imagination."- The leaking water tower in Dr. Geyser's Remarkable Raft Ride was originally a working tank that once powered the park's steam train.
- The Bamboo Chutes flume ride may seem simple, but it cost over $1 million to construct in 1993 and includes seven miles of wiring, 23 tons of steel, and 1,500 tons of concrete.
- The lift and drop for the flume ride is not artificial, it was constructed along the lines of an existing hillside.
- When the Crazy Barn, a tilting, spinning elevated barn, opened in 2003, it was the only ride of its kind in the U.S.
As my son left the park, he was singing about the things that had happened that day. Rather than where fantasy lives, Toby proclaimed "Story Land, where Graaandmaaa lives." I think it is safe to say that Story Land has become part of his family now, ensuring a return visit next season.
My family and I received complimentary entrance to the park and are considering the value of season tickets for next year. If we buy them now, we get entrance for the remainder of the 2012 season for free.
