Historical past & Christmas At Storybook Land In Egg Harbor Township, NJ

Identical to that! We flip the web page from Thanksgiving Day to the Christmas vacation season.

One of the crucial properly maintained leisure venues in New Jersey is Storybook Land, situated in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.

Storybook Land may be very particular  on a year-round foundation, nonetheless, it’s significantly magical throughout the Christmas season, which is now formally underway.

It’s the residence to greater than 1,000,000 lights, that are immaculate of their consideration to element and general presentation.

It was a lot enjoyable to place collectively this historical past of Storybook Land.

There are only a few true visionaries all through historical past. By any normal of measure, John Fricano was a visionary.

He additionally ought to be a family title, however he isn’t. In my opinion, that was of his doing. John Fricano merely labored very arduous and did not fear about promotion or self-promotion. He promoted his imaginative and prescient and never himself. Nevertheless, he has left an indelible legacy that has endured for greater than 66 years.

Fricano dreamt large. In 1954, he put $ 5,000 collectively and turned his dream right into a actuality.

It began with the acquisition of 5 acres of land in Egg Harbor Township, proper alongside the Black Horse Pike.

Fricano would add a further 15 acres and he named his dream, which he made come true –

Storybook Land!

It was the right title.

In the present day, it’s extra stunning then ever and completely lit with greater than 1,000,000 lights.

Fricano’s dream was easy, however, profound. He wished to construct an amusement park for kids to have the ability to unconditionally get pleasure from.

Fricano swung for the “fences” and he hit the equal of a backside of ninth, 3 balls and a couple of strikes, 2 outs, grand slam residence run to win his personal “world sequence.”

John Fricano died in 2009 and his spouse Esther in Might, 2015.

Storybook Land has by no means been in higher bodily situation then it’s in the present day. The paint is all the time vivid. The amenities are all the time clear and completely manicured and maintained. The parking has been strategically expanded as a result of their operational success demanded it. The eye to element that has been exhibited by the second and third generations of The Fricano Household has been distinctive in each manner.

They’ve truly taken Storybook Land to the subsequent degree, ever upgrading and increasing Storybook Land, which goes stronger in the present day then ever earlier than.

Christmas with Santa Claus and Santa’s workshop at Storybook Land is so particular and it’s such a gorgeous time of the yr.

Earlier than we go, let’s take a fast stroll down reminiscence lane and return 66 years. It is April 10, 1955. The fee to enter the park on opening day was $ .75 cents. The park was now a full 20 acres in measurement.

With the assistance of his spouse, Esther and different members of the family, Fricano painted his masterpiece. By the best way, Fricano was a painter by commerce.

In 1955, Storybook Land opened with great fairy tales that had come to life for younger youngsters:

The Three Bears, Humpty Dumpty, The Little Crimson College Home, Noah’s Ark, The Outdated Girl within the Shoe and far more.

Fricano succeeded in turning legendary youngsters’s books into an actual life, interactive amusement park expertise.

Folks have come from throughout America, Europe and past to go to Storybook Land. Fricano could not presumably have imagined how large his dream had now turn into in actuality. He wished to supply an outlet on the most important highway of its day, (The Black Horse Pike) for fogeys and kids to have a spot to have a relaxation cease.

There was no Atlantic Metropolis Expressway, but. Legendary State Senator Frank S. “Hap” Farley delivered this on July 31, 1964. Till then, the Black Horse Pike was the principle thoroughfare.

We went to Storybook Land as youngsters and continued to take action as adults, bringing our kids. I by no means even knew the Fricano’s by title, however, you could not miss John and Esther, proper on the entrance entry and all all through the park. They had been all over the place.

It was additionally pure genius that they created an amusement park theme that each little girls and boys may equally get pleasure from.

John and Esther constructed one thing that had room to develop, with the altering occasions. A enjoyable truth: Storybook Land predated the opening of Disneyland in California by 3 months. Sure, The Fricano’s delivered Storybook Land earlier than Walt Disney delivered his personal dream.

My spouse Margie and I’ve numerous fond reminiscences of time spent at Storybook Land … each, once we had been youngsters … then, taking our our kids … and, now taking our Grandson Noah.

Storybook Land is each ageless and timeless. I vividly keep in mind having our son, Harry Robert Hurley, Jr.’s 1st Birthday contained in the repurposed prepare caboose.

Rob’s two older sisters, (Kristin & Lauren) then ages 7 and 4 and plenty of different youngsters and adults who joined with us on this excellent day at Storybook Land.

Extremely, our kids are actually 38, 35 and 32 years outdated. And, Noah is sort of 14 years outdated. But, this Storybook Land reminiscence looks like it was simply yesterday.

You by no means know what you’ll see subsequent at Storybook Land. Pictured immediately under, is “Phil” of Phil and Phylis fame. For a few years, they stood proud and on responsibility at The Philadelphia Phillies Veteran’s Stadium. When a house run  was hit, they might flip and ring the Liberty Bell.

Each have been preserved for two generations and for generations to come back at Storybook Land.

By design, The Fricano’s imagined Storybook Land for kids 10 years outdated and youthful. Purposely, there aren’t any haunted homes, spooky points of interest or thrill rides. It is particularly tailor-made for younger youngsters.

But, it nonetheless stays nice enjoyable for the massive youngsters at coronary heart, too. Storybook Land is a type of particular locations that stays deep inside you coronary heart, perpetually,

Storybook Land was well worth the $ .75 cents entry cost in 1955.

It is price each little bit of the $ 27.95 (on-line value) in 2022. That’s up solely $ 1.00 since final yr. That may be a actual worth, particularly when you think about the present runaway inflation and the way prices have elevated for Storybook Land since final yr.

NOTE: Instantly following listed here are two spectacular picture galleries, that includes many by no means earlier than seen pictures of the legendary Journey Village and the unique Metal Pier.

Do You Bear in mind Journey Village in EHT?

Metal Pier