Enchanted Forest in the Adirondacks

Upon entering Old Forge, it's hard not to miss spotting the Enchanted Forest water park. If the large signs declaring "Enchanted Forest" and "Water Safari" aren't enough to pull you in, the tall, green waterslides might do the trick. The irony of this huge tourist attraction is that there's a lake in the same town... in fact there's lakes all over the place. If someone was really itching for water fun, you'd think they be satisfied with jumping in the many gorgeous lakes the Adirondacks provides us with. 

Yet, Enchanted Forest has a place in my heart. As children, my cousins and I would spend all day in a lake that was only five minutes away from Old Forge. The only time you could get us out of the water or away from the dock was for mealtime, after we had already worked up an appetite. Even after dinner was over, we'd jump right back into our swimsuits and play in the cold water until the sky grew so dark that our parents got nervous. 

Though the lake could entertain us for hours, we were very aware of the water park in town. All week, we would beg our parents to take us to Enchanted Forest for just one day. None of our parents were particularly excited by the idea of leaving their bottles of wine and chairs on the dock for a day in a crowded amusement park. We went to the Adirondacks every summer when I was a kid, and I can only remember about two summers that we spent a day at the Enchanted Forest. Yet, that might have made the park seem all the more magical. 

Now, when I'm in the Adirondacks, I have no desire to check out the theme park. I have turned into my parents; preferring wine and a seat by the lake to long lines and expensive prices. I now wonder why a water park has to be there at all. How can this man-made structure even compare to the glory of the lakes and the mountains that the Adirondacks has to offer. But there is a certain nostalgia that comes with Enchanted Forest, a water park that was first opened in 1956 and stands in the memories of many generations of people coming to the area. If anything, maybe the water park has drawn in tourists who would otherwise not come to the Adirondacks. And as we all know, once you've entered the Adirondacks, it's hard not to fall in love with the nature around you. 

Enchanted Forest in the 1970's

References:

https://www.watersafari.com/ 

http://www.oldforgecamping.com/recreation/enchanted-forest-water-safari