Inside abandoned Enchanted Forest theme park where Johnny Depp once filmed

15 April 2023 , 08:12

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The park first lowered its drawbridge to the public in 1955 (Image: Matthew Christopher/Abandoned America)

The Enchanted Forest theme park with its castles and magical characters bore a striking resemblance to Walt Disney's famous park but there was no fairytale ending for this attraction.

Rides at the park included fairytale classics like Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella and even formed a prominent backdrop for one of the first movies in Johnny Depp's acting career.

The 1990 teen musical romcom Cry Baby, which portrayed Depp as a heartthrob youngster with a dark past, was shot primarily at the park and also starred Ricky Lake.

But now the park, which at its peak welcomed 300,000 visitors a day, sits crumbling, abandoned and overgrown. Haunting pictures show rotting plaster storybook figures and undergrowth slowly or reclaiming the once jolly buildings at the former attraction in Howard County, Maryland, US.

The rotting park, which closed its doors in the last time in 1995, has now been captured in a series of fascinating images by photographer Matthew Christopher of abandoned America, the Daily Star reports.

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The abandoned 'enchanted forest' where Johnny Depp once filmed (Matthew Christopher/Abandoned America)

Overgrown ruins are all that remains of the theme park (Matthew Christopher/Abandoned America)

The park, which initially covered an area over 20 acres and expanded up to 52 acres at its peak, cost $1 for adults to enter and 50 cents for kids. With the park’s theme of classic nursery rhymes, the attractions appealed mostly to families with small children.

When the park first opened in the mid 1950s no mechanical rides were present, with only fairytale buildings and characters to entertain visitors. However track rides including the Alice in Wonderland ride and Cinderella's Castle ride were later added.

Fans tried to save the park several times, but with no success (Matthew Christopher/Abandoned America)

The park's fortunes began to fade in later years and in 1988 it was closed down with some parts of the fantasy buildings used to build the Enchanted Forest Shopping Centre.

The Enchanted Forest reopened for one brief Summer season in 1994 but then closed again, despite several efforts to reopen the park on a permanent basis, none was successful.

An abandoned turnstile amid the undergrowth (Matthew Christopher/Abandoned America)

In 2005 a successful effort to save the figures and structures was mounted, and many were moved to Clark's Elioak Farm nearby.

By 2015 - Enchanted Forest's 60th anniversary - the last salvageable remnants of the park were moved to Clark's, including the castle and dragon at the entrance.

The fairytale themed buildings now sit abandoned (Matthew Christopher/Abandoned America)

Matthew Christopher, of Abandoned America, has a regular podcast, where he tells the story of the ruins he visits.

You can follow his work on Facebook and Instagram, or by visiting his website.

The once-popular park has lapsed into ruin (Matthew Christopher/Abandoned America)

To see the full gallery and story about the Enchanted Forest click here.

Joe Faretra