Md. woman works to preserve Enchanted Forest memories (Photos)

A storybook-shaped sign and the castle entrance to the theme park are still located at the shopping center, but both are set to be moved soon. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A storybook-shaped sign and the castle entrance to the theme park are still at the shopping center, but both are set to be moved soon. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The dragon that used to sit on top of the castle entrance to the theme park has just recently been moved to Clark's Elioak Farm, and the castle will follow soon. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The dragon that used to sit on top of the castle entrance to the theme park has just recently been moved to Clark’s Elioak Farm; the castle will follow soon. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Old King Cole used to stand on a pole at the entrance to the Enchanted Forest theme park. Today, he's part of the sign at the entrance to the shopping center that replaced the park. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Old King Cole used to stand on a pole at the entrance to the Enchanted Forest theme park. Today, he’s part of the sign at the entrance to the shopping center that replaced the park. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A close up of Old King Cole. Generations of kids knew when you saw him, you were almost to the Enchanted Forest theme park. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A close up of Old King Cole. Generations of kids knew that when you saw him, you were almost to the Enchanted Forest theme park. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The friendly-looking dragon from the theme park's entrance was recently moved to a barn at nearby Clark's Elioak Farm. The dragon will be repaired and repainted for future display. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The friendly-looking dragon from the theme park’s entrance was recently moved to a barn at nearby Clark’s Elioak Farm. The dragon will be repaired and repainted for future display. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Another look at the big green dragon, who is playing a lute! (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Another look at the big green dragon, who is playing a lute! (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Behind the Enchanted Forest shopping center and a locked gate, you can still spot two abandoned theme park buildings through the trees. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Behind the Enchanted Forest shopping center and a locked gate, you can still spot two abandoned theme park buildings through the trees. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Look closely through the fence and you can see the Gingerbread House to the left, and Cinderella's Castle to the right. Both are in such bad condition that they're set to be torn down. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Look closely through the fence and you can see the Gingerbread House to the left and Cinderella’s Castle to the right. Both are in such bad condition that they’re set to be torn down. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
In this photo, you can see the Gingerbread House has a tree growing through its roof. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
In this photo, you can see the Gingerbread House has a tree growing through its roof. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The Three Bears House is one of the many buildings & items from the theme park that have been moved in recent years to Clark's Elioak Farm. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The Three Bears House is one of the many buildings and items from the theme park that have been moved in recent years to Clark’s Elioak Farm. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Another attraction moved from the park to the farm features a slide! (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Another attraction moved from the park to the farm features a slide! (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
In 2004, the Pumpkin Coach became the first item from the closed theme park to be moved to Clark's Elioak Farm. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
In 2004, the Pumpkin Coach became the first item from the closed theme park to be moved to Clark’s Elioak Farm. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Willie the Whale was also rescued by the farm. His inner structure is original, but his outer shell needed serious repairs. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Willie the Whale was also rescued by the farm. His inner structure is original, but his outer shell needed serious repairs. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
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A storybook-shaped sign and the castle entrance to the theme park are still located at the shopping center, but both are set to be moved soon. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The dragon that used to sit on top of the castle entrance to the theme park has just recently been moved to Clark's Elioak Farm, and the castle will follow soon. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Old King Cole used to stand on a pole at the entrance to the Enchanted Forest theme park. Today, he's part of the sign at the entrance to the shopping center that replaced the park. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A close up of Old King Cole. Generations of kids knew when you saw him, you were almost to the Enchanted Forest theme park. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The friendly-looking dragon from the theme park's entrance was recently moved to a barn at nearby Clark's Elioak Farm. The dragon will be repaired and repainted for future display. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Another look at the big green dragon, who is playing a lute! (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Behind the Enchanted Forest shopping center and a locked gate, you can still spot two abandoned theme park buildings through the trees. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Look closely through the fence and you can see the Gingerbread House to the left, and Cinderella's Castle to the right. Both are in such bad condition that they're set to be torn down. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
In this photo, you can see the Gingerbread House has a tree growing through its roof. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
The Three Bears House is one of the many buildings & items from the theme park that have been moved in recent years to Clark's Elioak Farm. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Another attraction moved from the park to the farm features a slide! (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
In 2004, the Pumpkin Coach became the first item from the closed theme park to be moved to Clark's Elioak Farm. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
Willie the Whale was also rescued by the farm. His inner structure is original, but his outer shell needed serious repairs. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — One of America’s first theme parks was in the D.C. region — and two of its roadside remnants will soon be moved.

Disneyland opened in July 1955; the Enchanted Forest, in Ellicott City, Maryland, followed just one month later.

The Enchanted Forest closed in the ‘80s, and the rest of the property was turned into a shopping center. Many of the attractions were fenced off behind the shopping center’s stores, but that hasn’t kept people from visiting the ruins tucked away in the woods.

The castle-shaped park entrance and the sign that looks like a storybook still stand proudly along Route 40, but in the next month or so, they will be moved.

Martha Clark, of nearby Clark’s Elioak Farm, has already collected more than 100 items from the Enchanted Forest and made them available to visitors on her petting farm. The castle and sign will join the collection.

“Route 40 is not going to be the same without the Enchanted Forest castle on it, and I’m going to miss it there as much as everybody else will, but if it’s got to go, I was more than happy to be able to provide it a home,” Clark says.

She adds that it may be a challenge to get the castle to the farm.

“That’s a major building. It’s made out of concrete block, and it’s going to be a real job to move it, but we’re ready,” Clark says.

The lute-playing dragon that is usually perched atop the castle has already been moved to a behind-the-scenes barn at the farm.

“It gives us a chance to paint him and refurbish him while he’s down on the ground,” says Clark.

Ole King Cole, a statue that used to stand on a pole at the park’s entrance, was integrated into the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center sign and will stay where he is.

There are also plans to add a new sign at the shopping center detailing the history of the site and pointing the curious to the farm.

Clark says two other structures at the park’s original site — the Cinderella Castle and the Gingerbread House — are so dilapidated that they are set to be torn down.

She’s been asked to try to save the giant ice cream cone that tops the Gingerbread House, but it’s not clear whether that will happen. Clark began rescuing parts of the Enchanted Forest in 2004.

“I just thought it was a dreadful shame that these pieces were falling apart and deteriorating behind locked gates and closed doors. The Enchanted Forest is such an important memory in so many people’s lives in this area,” Clark says.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the park’s opening, and the Clark’s Elioak Farm is planning a special celebration Aug. 15 and 16.

“We’re going to have a big day of all kinds of activities going on, we’ll have dignitaries hopefully, and costumed characters and family members from the family who owned the Enchanted Forest.” All former employees will get free admission to the farm that weekend.

Clark says she’s determined to preserve as much of the theme park as she can for as long as possible.

“I consider it a very important job and I have every intention of taking care of these things for the rest of my life, and then pass them on to my children.”

Michelle Basch

Michelle Basch is a reporter turned morning anchor at WTOP News.

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