BoroughVENT... Gettysburg,PA

Lifesaver · 03-02-2010 08:29:30

Rainier's post this morning mentioned Fantasyland. I know it pales in comparison to theme parks of today, but that was where I wanted to go on my birthday every year when I was a kid. It brings back good memories, and was definitely a part of Gettysburg and a place you didn't want to pass up if you visitied. Was kind of sad when I got too tall to fit through the kid's door.

Camosteel · 03-02-2010 08:32:36

+1 I grew up a few miles from there and it was great treat for me and my folks to go there. Ah, the good old days.

ohbeserious · 03-02-2010 15:53:47

some posted old postcards of Fantasyland

http://theimaginaryworld.com/fl.html

FormerT · 03-02-2010 16:18:08

My youngest brother worked at Fantasyland. It was the best place locally to visit for adults and kids. We took my Mom out on the paddleboat and it made her sick. Poor Mom!

Lifesaver · 03-02-2010 16:43:36

ohbeserious wrote:
some posted old postcards of Fantasyland

http://theimaginaryworld.com/fl.html

Humpty Dumpty, Mother Goose, Johnny Appleseed, even Henny Penny and the chickens. I remember them all! Thanks for sharing them.

djturnz · 03-03-2010 11:23:12

Never heard of it? Where was this and when was it bulldozed?

Camosteel · 03-03-2010 11:34:48

The entrance to the new VC off of T-town Rd was the original entrance to Fantasyland. It was an old, little amusement park that was here for a long, long time till the Government bought the property and razed it.

Lifesaver · 03-03-2010 12:01:57

I remember that Mother Goose would talk to you. She would scare the pants off the real little kids! In the corner of my mind I seem to remember that the Kennedy's visited Fantasyland with Caroline. It was a good summer job for the local kids.

Camosteel · 03-03-2010 12:09:08

I most remember the cowboy and indian shows. I wish I could remember more, that was a long time ago...

ohbeserious · 03-03-2010 20:06:58

Here's more, an old article from an Emmitsburg newspaper online

http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/ … syland.htm

Rainier Wolfcastle · 03-03-2010 20:40:05

I loved Fantasy Land. Many great memories of time with my Grandfather there.

ROCK · 03-03-2010 23:36:39

That was the place to go!! I wish I also could remember those days completely but as we all have said those are memories lost. I do have a picture book around here somewhere I'd have to look for it but in time I will find it and educate my kids on what I had to go to for fun in a little town that has nothing for them anymore.

Inspector · 03-04-2010 02:57:43

How old are you Rock?
I thought we were close in age, and I dont remember the place.

We'reDoomed · 03-04-2010 04:14:48

http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/ … syland.htm

http://www.theimaginaryworld.com/fl.html

Links about the real fantasyland, not the one Latschar lived in.

Last edited by We'reDoomed (03-04-2010 04:15:40)

Rainier Wolfcastle · 03-04-2010 06:48:09

ROCK wrote:
That was the place to go!! I wish I also could remember those days completely but as we all have said those are memories lost. I do have a picture book around here somewhere I'd have to look for it but in time I will find it and educate my kids on what I had to go to for fun in a little town that has nothing for them anymore.

Yet Gettysburg needs NCG to defend their family friendly environment. I submit that Gettysburg is at an all time low for family friendly. No Tower, no Fantasy Land, and a huge park that you can't picnic or play on. Super fun.

FormerT · 03-04-2010 17:11:59

Rainier Wolfcastle wrote:
ROCK wrote:
That was the place to go!! I wish I also could remember those days completely but as we all have said those are memories lost. I do have a picture book around here somewhere I'd have to look for it but in time I will find it and educate my kids on what I had to go to for fun in a little town that has nothing for them anymore.
Yet Gettysburg needs NCG to defend their family friendly environment. I submit that Gettysburg is at an all time low for family friendly. No Tower, no Fantasy Land, and a huge park that you can't picnic or play on. Super fun.

Makes you wonder why the hell people come here. Must be the ghosts. OR - perhaps it's the body count that SSP's anti-casino video shows. Nothing is more entertaining than photos of bloated corpses.

OK, Col. Sheads was my history teacher - I know why they come...for the picnics and fun times on the battlefield!!! Before the fines; not after.

ROCK · 03-05-2010 06:38:35

I am 43 and my joints are telling me more like 53 but yes me and the local Barlowians used to go there 2 to 3 times a year that was back when if you had a Gettysburg address you got in for a cheaper price or free. It is hard to remember how old I was 4 to 6 I don't know. The moms of the area would get to talking about fun days for the kids and that was the place to go as well as the Hall of Presidents, Wax Museum or the VC at the time. I always had bad dreams after being at the first 2 places at that age it creaped me out of how those guys stayed in the same place all the time and the looks on their faces.

But the best time of all was when my mom said that we were going to the top of the Tower for the first time to see the whole battlefield. That year for my peep box school project I did Picketts charge. My dad and I went to the tower and he helped me get a drawing together so I could look at it when we (or should I say he) did the project. I got first place for it and was so happy but now my kids will never get a true idea about what it was really like to see the whole Battlefield! Bunch of PIGS!

It also helped to that we past all of the true attractions everyday when we went to Gettysburg.

Inspector · 03-05-2010 16:35:28

Damn, I was hoping you were older than me.
For the life of me I can not remember the place, and I have a memory like an elephant, normally.

getysbg · 03-24-2010 02:43:57

ohbeserious wrote:
some posted old postcards of Fantasyland

http://theimaginaryworld.com/fl.html

It's nice to see some of the past of the area not associated with the Battle.

Fire Marshal Bill · 04-11-2010 09:50:23

Inspector, you may be closer to my age. I'm 63, and i can't remember ever going there as a child, but my sister, ten years younger did go. And we took my little girl (32) there as a baby on the last day they were open. She of course doesn't remember a thing about it, but we were interviewed on WGAL at the entrance. I don't remember the date but it was very cool and she was bundled up so she couldn't move.

scott · 04-11-2010 10:05:58

What ever happened to fantasyland?

Fire Marshal Bill · 04-11-2010 11:33:01

That is now pretty much the location of the new Visitor Center. The Taneytown Road entrance to the Visitors center is roughly were Fantasyland entrance was, and it covered a pretty good area, i would imagine probably most of what is now occupied by the visitor center and parking.

A very nice article on it

http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/ … syland.htm

http://www.theimaginaryworld.com/fl.html

FormerT · 04-11-2010 17:03:01

scott wrote:
What ever happened to fantasyland?

The park service wanted the land and bought it. It was a great place for teenagers to find summer employment and they were well treated by the owners. The attractions, rides, etc were sold to various entities I believe. And then, as usual, the park service didn't do a thing with the land but let it sit once they owned it.

When my daughter was still in high school the park wanted the last block of houses on the left on Steinwehr Ave. They badgered home owners and managed to buy all but one house. They demolished the homes and took more tax money away from the borough.

BoroughVENT... Gettysburg,PA

Announcement

#1 03-02-2010 08:29:30

Fantasyland

#2 03-02-2010 08:32:36

Re: Fantasyland

#3 03-02-2010 15:53:47

Re: Fantasyland

#4 03-02-2010 16:18:08

Re: Fantasyland

#5 03-02-2010 16:43:36

Re: Fantasyland

ohbeserious wrote:

#6 03-03-2010 11:23:12

Re: Fantasyland

#7 03-03-2010 11:34:48

Re: Fantasyland

#8 03-03-2010 12:01:57

Re: Fantasyland

#9 03-03-2010 12:09:08

Re: Fantasyland

#10 03-03-2010 20:06:58

Re: Fantasyland

#11 03-03-2010 20:40:05

Re: Fantasyland

#12 03-03-2010 23:36:39

Re: Fantasyland

#13 03-04-2010 02:57:43

Re: Fantasyland

#14 03-04-2010 04:14:48

Re: Fantasyland

#15 03-04-2010 06:48:09

Re: Fantasyland

ROCK wrote:

#16 03-04-2010 17:11:59

Re: Fantasyland

Rainier Wolfcastle wrote:

ROCK wrote:

#17 03-05-2010 06:38:35

Re: Fantasyland

#18 03-05-2010 16:35:28

Re: Fantasyland

#19 03-24-2010 02:43:57

Re: Fantasyland

ohbeserious wrote:

#20 04-11-2010 09:50:23

Re: Fantasyland

#21 04-11-2010 10:05:58

Re: Fantasyland

#22 04-11-2010 11:33:01

Re: Fantasyland

#23 04-11-2010 17:03:01

Re: Fantasyland

scott wrote:

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