Having been born in Port Macquarie, I was one of the lucky children who got to go to Fantasy Glades. It was a theme park in Port Macquarie with alot of 'Disney'esque attractions (As you can see in the above pic). The picture shown here is actually on the back of a Jokers card we found at Bec's place while cleaning out some boxes and my god it brought back some memories. Apparently it was originally owned and built by a midget couple who sold it some years later. But a few years back the place was closed down due to the owners lack of interest (I read a rumour of a possible re-opening in a new location but no idea where or when). Keep an eye out for it's reopening as it was such an amazing place for young children.I have had pointed out to me in the comments a wiki entry for Fantasy Glades.
20 comments:
I too have fond memories of Fantasy Glades. I first went there whilst on holiday with my parents, I must have been around six years old. I remember being scared witless by the large white dragon which exhaled smoke and whose eyes lit up with red lights. "Cinderella Castle" featured elaborate life-sized moving figures and scenes behind panes of glass.
Later when I was around 10 we went back for a second visit, there were a few new attractions like the Witches's Cottage and the Snow White Diamond Mine.
So sad to learn it has closed, I was hoping to take my future children to go see it one day. B
I can't believe it has closed down. I went there about 14 years ago which sounds like a long time but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was talking with my parents about taking my daughter there because I remember how amazing it was for me and I wanted her to have the same experience. Never mind hopefully someone with an inspiration to re open it will come along soon and allow children to experience their fairytale stories in real life.
I have the fondest memories of that place. The detail they put into things was astounding - butterlies stuck on the trees, hidden dinosaurs in the bushes. And every time you went there, there was something new. Snow White's mine, the monorail, and don't even get me started on the coin-powered cars. Man those things rocked. If anyone out there wants to help, i'm trying to create a detailed Wikipedia page on the park at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_Glades and any info would be much appreciated, especially old photos!
I am glad this post has helped people relive some old memories. And i have to agree about the coin powered cars, they did rock.
I too can shed a tear for the closure of Fantasy glades, I created a million memories there first with my brothers and sisters then with my first husband (dec) and my children, I have had another child who will never know the wonder and excitement of Fantasy Glades. Thanks for sharing the feeling
WOW MEMORIES ... been there GOT the T-SHIRT .. though I was 5 so goodness knows where it is and been 35 I doubt it would fit over my head. I remember it had the Big Red Boot on it ... I loved that place.
The coin operated cars are instilled in my brain.
Been vertically challenged myself - Im a staggering 5'3 at 35yrs - I waltzed through that place like it was made for me.
My 8 year old son has been to Disneyland with me twice .. but nothing that Ive ever experienced stayed with me like Fantasy Glades I would have love him to experience it too.
Wonder if whoever bought it ... wants to sell???
BRING BACK THE GLADES!!!
Yes they do want to sell
You can buy it all, the land 4 acres in the midde of Port Macquarie, Pink castle, oldwomans shoe the lot for less then $600 grand, check out rex patterson realestate port macquarie
I have fond memories of going there as a kid. The cars were awesome, as was the monorail. I do remember however being really scared of that dragon. It was seriously frightning stuff! Although I conquoured my fear when I went there when I got older,my heart still skipped a beat when I first saw a picture of it on the wikipedia page.
Yes Fantasy Glades brings back many fond memories for me , every family holiday that we went to Port Macquarie during the 70's & 80's we went to Fantasy Glades when we first arrived and again before we went home ,as kids we could never get enough of the place . Now years on im lucky enough to now live in Port Macquarie and fortunate enough to have purchaced the original Snow White statue from Fantasy Glades for our new born daughter that each night she lovingly Kisses Goodnight before bed ! so a little of that Fantasy Glades Magic still lives on in our home at least ! AL Bennett
Al, that is so awesome that you have the snow white statue... Any chance you could send me a nice photo of it, i'd love to post it for all, who remember, to see.
Respect
I would have been taken there every year between about 1971 and 1974.
I don't recall anything about dragons or castles, but I have a clear recollection of talking to a dwarf couple at the ticket desk, the gift shop and hours of fun with the coin-operated cars.
We used to hire ponies from Paddy Murphy and ride up there.
Fantasy glades ... its magic!
i have a video of me when i was 5 walzing around the place loving every minute. I was petrified of the witches cottage. Im 20 now and its a shame ill never be able to go back
It is great to hear all the memories of Fantasy Glades.
In June 2009 my wife and i fell in love with the property and purchased it with an idea to preserve the heritage of the site
We are getting closer to doing something with it and would love input, videos, photos, etc from the many fans and visitors to Fantasy Glades
We are thinking of having an open day in the next 12 months and invite people to come along to get as much input and history of the Park and join us for a BBQ
Please keep this blogg ongoing and feel free to email us (Karen & Shane) at fantasyglades@live.com
My grandparents used to live in Port Macquarie and I visited Fantasy Glades, as a child, in the early 1970's.
I was utterly mesmerised by it, and the fact that it was owned and operated by dwarves [George and Rosemary Whittaker] only added to the magical charm of the place. I still remember being captivated by a dwarf couple, with a tiny, tiny baby, standing on the front porch of the residence near the park entrance.
Unfortunately, I have no photos from my visit, but I have memories of wandering through the rainforest setting and coming across the Shoe House of the "Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe", and the saucy, politically incorrect souvenirs in the gift shop. My favourite attraction though, was Snow White's cottage - to me it was like a giant doll's house, complete with Snow White's bedroom at the top of a small flight of stairs, with a little bed and wardrobe full of clothes!!
Thanks for this post and the trip down memory lane!
I'll try and find the photos I have. I have a beauty if me at around age 5 proudly holding the Snow White statues hand. I loved loved loved that place-one of my fondest childhood memories. Went back to Port in 2003 with a friend and we couldn't wait to go there but unfortunately it had closed. We were gutted!!
I was fortunate enough to go to Fantasy Glades every school holidays from the time I was 4-5 til about 14 I think was the last time we went with my Grandparents. We visited as older teens later and still loved it. The memories are beyond good and I still have my tiny stuffed seven dwarf toys, mismatching hats I think.
I would love to take my own boys there and if it does re-open, we'll be first in line!
We also went to dreamworld etc but this place has my heart! The 20 cent cars?? LOVED those!
My best friend who always came with us has just sent me a picture of a plate he got for his upcoming 40th fron Fantasy Glades!!! I was so excited!!!
Ahhhh memories, we have pics there too!
Hi Sexy ninja monkey and Fantasy Glades bloggers. this is Karen and Shane Hay. We are the people who purchased the original FG property site a couple of years ago. re: previous blog. We would just like to let you all know that we have just set up a Face Book page for Fantasy Glades and will soon have a Web site up and running. We would love it if you could "Like" our page and share it with your friends. you can identify our page by the profile picture of a post card which displays an animated train on it. we would love to hear from you all and we will keep you informed of our progress with re-building FG. please feel free to share any of your FG memories with us.
Hi Guys, thanks for the update. If anyone is having trouble finding it, it's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fantasy-Glades/>Here</a>. I hope to see regular updates on your progress so i can get my hopes up for the eventual grand opening.
I just realised the Wikipedia page doesn't mention the fire in the snow white cave.. I remember walking through and when snow white was waving goodbye to the dwarfs her hand would hit the top of the horse... Then after the fire they to remake it with stuffed toys!!!
I know I'm late to the party! My Aussie husband and I were watching a video about lost amusement parks in Australia. I'm American, and grew up with so many parks that were deserted. My first thought was how much Enchanted Glades looked like our Enchanted Forest in Maryland!
This is not a complaint, it's a compliment :) I have many lovely memories and it was wonderful that this place called them back. The Enchanted Forest was closed years ago, and a lovely person bought all the buildings he could and set them up on Clark's Eliok Farm.
This is the old days of the Forest
https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-enchanted-forest\
And the Merry Old King Coles lives again at Eliot's Oake Farm!
http://www.clarklandfarm.com/enchanted_forest.html
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