Have you noticed that when you go back to revisit your old childhood haunts everything seems to look smaller then you remember?
Not so here, because Fairy Tale Forest was built with size in mind for the little ones. The showcased wooden cottages were all designed and made by Paul and his two sons. There was a kiddie ride, magic shows, storytelling and roaming costume characters, a gift and candy snack shop on location and of course, Mother Goose herself.
But don’t go looking here for rides or high excitement for your children, the place is no longer operating as “Fairy Tale Forest”.
Years ago a child had fallen from a small train ride, breaking an arm, thereafter a lawsuit befell upon the forest.
Not all fairy tales have a happy ending, as is the case with the final chapter of this Fairy Tale Forest in Oak Ridge.
The land has been sold and is now operating a place of business where big kids can store their toys in a self storage facility. What the future holds for this once adored roadside attraction is unknown. Big John and I spoke with the caretaker of the property at the time; he has tried to keep watch over the forest so that it doesn’t get any further vandalized by the mischievous children of the current generation than it already has.
The remains of Paul Woechle’s forest are looking weathered and worn. I’m glad we took the ‘63 GTO out for one last look around, as I am sure that soon there will be nothing left of the forest to be found. So get out and take a ride down memory lane for one last peek through the shoe at the once loved roadside attraction on Route 23 in Oak Ridge, New Jersey.
You can contact the
self storage facility at
973.697.8556
