Enchanted Forest - a fairy tale wonderland - now at Clark's Elioak Farm

In August 1955 the Harrison family opened a new concept family park.  A story-book-land.  And it was a success.  It closed in 1989 and luckily, after 2004, many of the buildings and figures were moved to Clark's Elioak Farm, restored and now part of the popular petting farm.


Howard Harrison, Sr. owned a Baltimore printing company and opened a theme motel of cabins (motor court) Belgian Village which his son ran and lived there with his family.  When Enchanted Forest was being developed, he moved his family to live on that property; and for his children it was a unique childhood experience. Four generations would own and run the Park from 1955 to 1989.

Initially the characters and structures were wood frame and papermache then they were made of the new material - fiberglass. Structures ranged from a large castle to crooked house,

From the start, the park welcomed all families - a remarkable example of desegregation in the 1950s.  The Today Show was filmed there one time in the early years with Dave Garroway and his chimp J. Fred Muggs.

The Enchanted Forest: Memories of Maryland's Storybook Park by Janet Kusterer and Martha Anne Clark, 2013 is an interesting book full of old photographs and memories of the owners, staff and visitors.

Clark's Elioak Farm is well worth a visit... my almost two year old grandtot had a terrific time.  More info about the site HERE

©2018 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD