657 Comments for The Enchanted Forest

Angel~
You have done more for me tonight than you will ever know.
Sometimes a person says something to you when you need it the most. And for me...that was tonight.
And when it comes from a stranger it makes you believe in magic alittle more.
And you said it beautifully.
Thank you, because of your words I can feel my mother's memory alittle bit closer to me tonight, because you understand completely, and took the time to say so.
And thank you to Motts for taking such beautiful pictures.
It is quite a gift to be able to take a picture and have it suddenly remind a person of a cherished memory.
It breaks my heart to think that there will never be another little child and parent climbing these steps ever again.
Never again will this stairway hear laughter.
I wish this castle could be saved.
I guess some things don't live happily ever after, but pictures like this help keep those memories alive. Thank you so much!

I just watched "Cry Baby" the other day and its so weird to see the place full of life, compared to its current state. Very sad!

AngelWolf, I believe you have explained it quite well, my dear one. Summed up my feelings better than I could ever had on my own. I enjoy this site so much, THANKS LORD MOTTS!

you're so very welcome, ladyhawke! not very many things put a tear in my eye, not sad stories, real or fiction (unless it involves an animal, i.e. a dog), but fond nostalgia and happy endings in the wake of insurmountable agony just might.

our inimitable motts provided the image, and you, my dear, brought it to life, supplied its soul, added a facet that turned a photograph into a story....

ladyhawke, i have never met you, but when i look at this photo now, i can see you walking up the stairs as a child, your mother holding your hand protectively, watching you, making sure that no harm befell the most precious thing in her life, cherishing that moment as lovingly as you are cherishing it now.

as you can see, sharing that with us was a wonderful gift for me. there are many things out of my realm of personal experience. it is hard to explain.... it's like, now i have an idea of what something feels like without the actual familarity.... hmmm. i am putting this rather badly, i'm afraid.... how about this, reading your story sort of rounds out the missing parts of my own life. it is looking in the window of a whole other life... oh, i give up. i apologize, but i am probably confusing you more than anything else, please forgive me.

just let me say, "thank you so much", once again. it may sound crazy, but your post meant a lot more to me than one can realize, perhaps. i appreciate and love the personal anecdotes. and i'm so sorry your mother isn't here anymore.

~angel~

Thank you, AngelWolf(sans 13), for your very kind words...even closed this place will always stir up emotions in the hearts of those who went there, those who never went there and look longingly over or through the fence, or those who risked sneaking in.
Proving once again, that open or closed this forest STILL has the magic of touching us all with it's enchanted spell that was first cast 50 years ago...

These items have been saved and are now at Clark's Elioak Farm.
Only time will tell what can be done to try to bring them back to life again...but I am thankful that they are in caring hands.

I grew up in Baltimore, MD. I remember going there in the 60's as a child on a 2nd grade field trip. I don't remember much about the trip just that I had a blast when I was there and remember not wanting to ever leave this park again. Being gone from Baltimore since the late 80's now I had no idea that this had happened to this wonderful childhood park. What a shame this is.

ladyhawke, your 1st post was very moving. the emotions conjured there reached the very depths of my soul. princess and love child, your posts only reinforced that feeling adding extra warmth cushioning a sadness i cannot yet fully comprehend. my love to you and thank you for sharing that.

Thanks for the correction!

Mott, very cool stuff, your pics are eerie and artistic - just like ruins should be. FYI, not to nit pick but on the opening page, its inccorectly states that this park opened a few months before Disney World Florida, I think you mean Disney Land California.

Keep up the good work.

That would be fun to skateboard or inline skate down.

Makes you wonder why some "gangsta" would be in this park to begin with. Probably some 12 year old 50 Cent fan or somethin...

Man, a place like this would give the kids hours upon hours of conversation in therapy sessions years later...

This has to be my favorite from this gallery. Perfect angle & mystery.

it is in cinderellas castle