Written by: Sasha Rosen Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 .
Nestled in the trees on the edge of Lake Merritt and hidden amongst the drab, cement buildings of downtown Oakland sits an enchanting world where fairytales come to life and kids are the ones in charge: Children’s Fairyland. EntertainmentDesigner.com had the unique opportunity to tour the 10-acre park and see dozens of storybook attractions, including the “Wonder-Go-Round,” a carousel with Alice in Wonderland characters, “Peter Rabbit’s Village,” where live bunnies reside in storybook houses, and a life-sized pirate ship turned playground.
Fairyland is not only a fun and imaginative place for young kids; it is also a historically significant park because it was one of Walt Disney’s influences to create Disneyland, as well as the inspiration for numerous storybook parks across the country. Created in 1950, Fairyland thrived until the early 90s, when it fell into disrepair. It then became a nonprofit, which facilitated the park’s revival. Fairyland now thrives with the help of volunteers and donors, and of course, with their in-house departments that range from landscaping and animal care to art and restoration. Annie Wong, Art & Restoration Manager of the park, described her average day as consisting of re-painting attractions, sketching, and imagining ways to keep the themes fresh and exciting. In the restoration workshop she pointed out the life-sized concrete hen she was finishing, which lay in the company of a dragon head made of foam and a plaster version of the big bad wolf.
Fairyland is a place for children to experience classic stories and nursery rhymes through exploring miniature houses and themed tunnels, and listening to story boxes placed throughout the park that recite rhymes or stories when children insert a Fairyland key. On the weekends, the park also offers arts & crafts, storytelling, and theater programs. By far the most remarkable feature of the park is their puppet theater, where Frank Oz once worked. The theater has an impressive workshop of highly detailed, ornate puppets for stories like “Beauty and the Beast” and even “Hamlet.” The theater is equipped for marionette and hand-puppet shows, and uses beautifully painted backdrops, lighting, music, and voice recordings to put on three shows a day, each surprisingly well choreographed and engaging.
What makes Fairyland unique in the world of entertainment design is its dedication to creating a safe environment that keeps true to its original 1950’s quaintness and nostalgia. Michael Flores, designer and concept artist for the park, explains, “What I love most about my job is that I know I work in a special pace, and I’m responsible for maintaining the nostalgia and memories of hundreds of families.” Instead of incorporating advanced technology into attractions to bring stories to life, Fairyland invites kids to imagine and be a part of the story through a more organic, hands-on environment that remains timeless and universal.
