Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire, is a White Mountains family favorite.
Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Located just six miles north of North Conway, New Hampshire, Story Land has been delighting generations of New England children since 1954. Boosted by a beautiful White Mountains backdrop, Story Land (“Where fantasy lives!”) offers attractions and rides geared exclusively toward the under-12 set, making the storybook-themed park a favorite “staycation” destination for many New England families.
Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire, home of Cinderella’s Castle, is a longtime White Mountains family favorite. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
For its youngest visitors, kid-sized figures and buildings depict traditional nursery rhymes such as Humpty Dumpty, the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe (you can go into the shoe!), and Goldilocks and the Three Bears (including all three Mama, Papa, and Baby Bear beds). Then there are rides like Alice’s Tea Cups and the Polar Coaster, live animals (I see you, Three Little Pigs), special shows and performances, and the perfect amount of “bigger kid” rides such as the Roar-o-Saurus coaster and Bamboo Chutes log flume.
Additional Story Land perks? You’re allowed to bring your own food and drinks into the park (pack an entire picnic lunch if you want to). Most restrooms include a separate room for nursing mothers. And if you purchase your ticket within three hours of closing time (3 p.m. in July and August and 2 p.m. on all other operating days), you’ll receive a free pass for the next day or any other full day that season.
I spent many happy summer days at Story Land during my 1980s New England childhood, so when I had the opportunity to return last year with my sisters and their small children, my nostalgic curiosity got the better of me. Here’s a look at our day at Story Land!
Revisiting Story Land
I made my return visit to Story Land during opening weekend in 2016. Why? Two nephews and a niece — all under the age of 3. While we were waiting in line, Story Land set the tone for the day with whimsical colors and kid-friendly design. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerFirst up: Check your height! Celia and Jack show how it’s done. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerJust inside the entrance, the Humpty Dumpty statue at Story Land (the park’s unofficial mascot) is a popular spot for photos. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerHumpty Dumpty looked a little different back in the mid-’80s, and he was seated a little higher. Still, I was glad to see his vision had been restored. (That’s me, pouting in the sailor shirt.) Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerAnd here’s my own daughter having her first visit with Humpty Dumpty in the summer of 2019. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerWe first spent some time in the “storybook” section of the park, which is especially popular with its littlest visitors. An open book welcomes you to the storybook world of Story Land. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe hands out Story Land stickers to all shoe visitors. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerHave a look inside the pumpkin prison of the wife of Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerOr venture into Granny’s Cottage, sometimes visited by the Big Bad Wolf. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerMy personal favorite has always been the house of the Three Bears … the one broken into by that pesky Goldilocks. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerYou can climb the stairs and see for yourself if Papa Bear’s bed is too hard, Mama Bear’s bed is too soft, and Baby Bear’s bed is “just right.” Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerDon’t forget to admire Mary’s little lambs and the houses made by the (live!) Three Little Pigs. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
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See that windmill? That’s the Slush Factory. Kids like to “milk” the cow (her udder is full of water). Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerLeaving the storybooks behind, we moved on to some rides. Kids of all ages love Alice’s Tea Cups. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerAnd, of course, there’s an old-fashioned carousel. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe Great Balloon Chase offers a Ferris wheel–style experience. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe Whirling Whales are sure to delight all toddlers (like my niece Celia) and their strong-stomached chaperones. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThirsty? There’s a lion’s-mouth water fountain for that. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerHungry? There are plenty of snack stands, lunch spots, and ice cream shops to keep your crew satisfied. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerFor slightly bigger thrills there’s the Polar Coaster, which I vividly remember from my own Story Land days. Now it’s one of two coasters in the park. The other, the Roar-o-Saurus (below), offers even bigger drops. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerThe mountain view from the Roar-o-Saurus at Story Land. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerOf course, it’s still safety first at Story Land. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerWandering past the Swan Boats mean you’re getting close to Cinderella’s Castle. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerAnd then … the castle! Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerIf you’re lucky, you may even see Cinderella herself arriving in a pumpkin carriage. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerCinderella meets her adoring subjects at her throne inside the castle. Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerUntil next time, Story Land! Photo Credit : Aimee TuckerTired from a long day at Story Land? The park’s Dunkin’ Donuts will be your best friend for the ride home. Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Do you share my fond childhood memories of visiting Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire? (You’ll sometimes see it spelled on the Web as “Storyland,” but they’re one and the same.) Let us know in the comments, and remind me what I missed on this visit (I’ll get you next time, Los Bravos Jail!).
Story Land. 850 Rte. 16, Glen, NH. 603-383-4186; storylandnh.comThis post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
Aimee Tucker is Yankee Magazine’s Home Editor and the Senior Digital Editor of NewEngland.com. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.
