Enchanted Forest (Oregon)

The Enchanted Forest is a seasonal (closed from October to spring break) theme park located in Turner, Oregon, on a small patch of hilly wooded land next to Interstate 5, just south of Salem, Oregon. The park was created and hand built by Roger Tofte over a period of seven years in the late 1960s. The park first opened to the public in 1971. Early success led to many expansions over the last half-century, mostly built again by Tofte by hand. The Tofte family still owns and operates the 20-acre (8.1 ha) park, with three generations of the family involved in the day to day operations.[1] The park sees an average of 125,000 guests a year during the normal six-month-long season.

Enchanted Forest
Main entrance
Location8462 Enchanted Way SE, Turner, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates44.833085°N 123.008249°W / 44.833085; -123.008249
OpenedAugust 8th, 1971
OwnerTofte family
Area20 acres (8.1 ha)
Attractions
Total10
Roller coasters2
Water rides1 [note 1]
Websiteenchantedforest.com
Main sign in 1987

History

In 2006, the Challenge of Mondor ride was opened featuring dragons and monsters.[2] The original 1971 Humpty Dumpty display was damaged in July 2014 and was replaced in August 2014 with a new sculpture of the character.[3]

Attractions

The park is divided into various districts that the Toftes classify as 'Attractions". Initially opening with just the Storybook Lane in 1971, the Tofteville Western Town and Old European Village were added in later expansions. The Haunted House attraction was opened in 1974. Enchanted Forest also features a "Summer Comedy Theater", which showcases original musical plays based on classic fairy tales, written by Susan Vaslev.

Rides

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.[4] The Challenge of Mondor is an ETF Ride Systems indoor trackless interactive ride featuring dragons and monsters.[2]

Park schedule
Yellow house, 1987

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.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the park did not adhere to its usual schedule for the 2020 season. The park was able to open daily with reduced capacity beginning June 26 with COVID-19 safety practices in place.[5]

Notes
  1. Big Timber Log Ride is classified as both a roller coaster and water ride

References
  1. Ozug, Matt (August 9, 2018). "How A Labor Of Love Grew Into An 'Enchanted Forest' In Oregon". NPR.
  2. "Another challange [sic] for ETF Ride systems in Salem, USA" (Press release). ETF Ride Systems. 7 June 2008. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  3. Killen, Dave (August 26, 2014). "Humpty Dumpty returns to Enchanted Forest, defying incompetence of King's horses and men". The Oregonian. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  4. "Rides Information". Enchanted Forest. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  5. "Updated List of Coronavirus Theme Park Closures". Coaster101. 13 March 2020.
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