Revelstoke's Enchanted Forest: Charming or Creepy?
Honestly, it's a little of both. The Enchanted Forest is a forest area sprinkled with fairy tale characters and structures, located about 30 minutes south of downtown Revelstoke on the TransCanada Hwy. Over more than 60 years, this private attraction has greeted more than 3 million guests, mainly families with children and lovers of fairy tales. I have driven past it many times over the years during my solo adventures, but this time, I decided to stop. Come meander with me through the Enchanted Forest to discover what waits behind the castle walls.
While you are in the area, check out Crazy Creek Hot Pools resort, 6km west of The Enchanted Forest where you can find accommodations, camping, a suspension bridge, a waterfall, ruins of an abandoned town, and hot pools. Check out my full review of Crazy Creek here.
What is the Enchanted Forest?
Doris Needham was an artist from Revelstoke who created fairy tale characters from cement during the 1950s. As retirement approached, Doris and her husband Ernest decided to look for property to display her work. Over the next ten years, the couple developed the property, clearing land by hand using basic tools. Ernest built the Candy Cane home where they lived. He cleared the trails to create a lovely nature walk through the wetlands and ponds.
The Enchanted Forest quickly became popular and grew beyond what the Needhams had ever imagined. After ten years, they decided to sell the property so they could enjoy their retirement years. Additional creations by Adel Clark and Charles Henzler were added to the display. The Enchanted Forest remains a family-owned and operated attraction.
The attraction includes the fairy tale trail with over 350 characters, tree and fairy tale houses, an Interpretive Nature Walk and, of course, a gift shop.
Next door is a separate attraction, the SkyTrek Adventure Park where visitors of all ages can zipline, climb, and balance for a grand adventure. The Adventure Park includes a section suitable for young children.
The Enchanted Forest
Open from May to early October.
Summer season 09:00 - 17:00 Shoulder season 09:00 - 17:00
Admission: Adult $14 Senior $12 Children (3-15 yrs) $9 Infants/Toddlers Free
Dogs on leashes are permitted.
SkyTrek Adventure Park
Open mid-May to late September
Summer season 09:00 - 17:00 Shoulder season 09:00 - 17:00
Admission varies. Check website for details
A Walk Through the Enchanted Forest
I pulled into the parking lot and found a spot at the base of the castle walls with a dragon greeting visitors from overhead.
The Candy Cane house at the entrance, once the home of Doris and Ernst, continues to be a private residence. I would have loved to peek to see if the inside followed the fairy tale theme.
A wizard greets visitors inside the castle. While he looks friendly, his eyes follow your movement through the room.
I headed down the stairs to check out the dungeons where another dragon was being held captive.
After exploring the castle, I followed the pathways through the Enchanted Forest. Every few steps is another display of characters from well-known fairy tales and children's Nursery Rhymes. Children around me were delighted to recognize and identify each display.
The cement characters are brightly painted and imaginative. The structures are wonderfully wonky and encourage visitors to explore. The smaller structures are delightfully child-sized but smaller adults who don't mind ducking their heads will also enjoy checking them out.
The characters that inhabit the Enchanted Forest seemed to come to life before my eyes. From mischievous gnomes peeking out from behind bushes to elegant fairies flitting through the air, there is something to see every few steps.
Families and children around me were captivated by these whimsical beings. While some of the folksy characters were charming, I found others more creepy than delightful. I am one of those people who find clowns to be frightening, so I may not be the best audience for this attraction. A good friend shared that she had experienced nightmares for weeks after her childhood visit.
A Nature Walk to Remember
The highlight of my journey through the Enchanted Forest was the nature walk that meandered through wetlands and lush forests. The tranquillity of the surroundings was broken only by the gentle rustling of leaves and the sounds of birdsong overhead. The excellent signage detailing the diverse flora and fauna added an educational element to the walk.
The nature walk takes visitors through the forest and over the wetlands on boardwalks. Few families took the nature walk so it was a quiet and contemplative path. The nature walk path can be rough and steep in some areas and is not recommended for those with mobility issues. The nature walk loops back and rejoins the Enchanted Forest near the large tree house.
The last section of the Enchanted Forest Walk was my favourite, with fewer characters and more structures. I really enjoyed the tree trolls and would love to have one of these on a tree near my home!
It is in this last section where the thematically named toilets are located.
Right at the end of the path is a small fish pond where visitors can feed the fish with food bought at the admissions booth. I spent some time just enjoying the experience before gifting my remaining fish food to a youngster who had lost her food somewhere on the trail.
Don't forget to look up just before entering the exit tunnel to the gift shop to see Jack's Giant!
Final Thoughts
My journey through the Enchanted Forest was a spellbinding experience that entranced me with its beauty, mystique, and slight creepiness. Whether you seek a whimsical adventure with your family or a solo exploration, the Enchanted Forest promises an escape into a realm where magic and reality converge.
So, are you ready to step into the realm of enchantment and embark on an unforgettable adventure? The Enchanted Forest beckons, waiting to reveal its secrets to those brave enough to seek them out. Let me know what you think -- is it charming or creepy?
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