Former iconic P.E.I. amusement park goes up for sale

NEW HAVEN, P.E.I. — Most of the much-loved sights that when made up Fairyland and its successor, Encounter Creek, now solely exist within the recollections of adults who flocked to the 2 parks as kids.

Lengthy gone are the towering slide (rumoured to be the biggest on P.E.I.), the elephant that sprayed water from its trunk right into a pond, the Fairyland Categorical and the white citadel, full with two pink turrets and a double pink door, which was the gateway to a toddler’s magical world.

Nevertheless, a number of the infrastructure stays and, for the proper value, somebody with an entrepreneurial aptitude and, probably, a keenness for nostalgia, can convey it again to life.

“This was an iconic gathering place for younger children within the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s,’’ stated Hamish Redpath, who runs Redpath Realty based mostly out of Flat River, P.E.I., the itemizing agent for the property. “It’s an unimaginable web site simply off the Trans-Canada Freeway. In the previous few weeks, I can’t consider the quantity of individuals I’ve talked to about it who’ve responded with an enormous smile and glow once I talked about I used to be promoting Fairyland.’’

Throughout a tour of the location with SaltWire Community on June 29, Redpath walked by means of one of many two remaining important buildings, simply off the outdated parking zone, the place there are nonetheless some reminders of the park that operated below two names: first as Fairyland, from 1965 into the early Nineteen Nineties, after which as Encounter Creek, from 1997 into the early 2000s

Exterior, he pointed to the wave pool put in by the homeowners of Encounter Creek, Redpath stated the mechanic room that operated the pool continues to be in working situation.

“Anyone might definitely refurbish it and function a wave pool … or probably use it as a standard pool,’’ he stated.

The gateway folks walked by means of to enter the Fairyland Forest continues to be there, full with washrooms inside that Redpath stated nonetheless work.

Nevertheless, a lot of the forest is gone, together with the lengthy, winding paths that took households to go to Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Magnificence, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Little Crimson Driving Hood. The provincial authorities bought a number of the land in 2012 to make room for the brand new Trans-Canada Freeway.

The prepare station – dwelling to the Ferryland Categorical that travelled on a observe all through the forest – can be nonetheless standing however is in poor form.

The 2 remaining important buildings on the 16.8-acre web site – a 4,000-square-foot steel roofed construction that was as soon as a restaurant and present store and a 2,000-square-foot steel roofed constructing that was an arcade – have been constructed when Ray and Robin Chace of Crapaud acquired the property in 1997 and turned it into Encounter Creek.

The property is presently owned by Crimson Door East Inc. The proprietor declined to do an interview, apart from to say the grounds have been maintained, and there have been some renovations performed previously yr.

Many recollections

Lots of Islanders have fond recollections of the 2 parks, with some equating it to Rainbow Valley, the park in Cavendish that closed in 2005.

Joanne Vessey of Belfast, P.E.I., stated when she was attending Belfast Consolidated College as a toddler, they’d go on area journeys to Fairyland.

“We’d experience the prepare by means of the station and throughout the citadel,’’ Vessey stated. “It was at all times a contented time and an important day away from the classroom. We’d additionally (go) with the household. The recollections of Fairyland and, when it modified to Encounter Creek with the wave pool, are as clear as my days at Rainbow Valley (in Cavendish). It’s a disgrace children in the present day don’t have an old-style theme park like Fairyland.’’

Adam Affleck of Hazelbrook, P.E.I., stated his dad and mom used to take the household to Fairyland on a day journey.

“It was nice to get a break from chores (on the farm) and spend a scorching day (on the park), particularly when it modified to Encounter Creek and it had the wave pool,’’ stated Affleck. “Each child in P.E.I. on the time should have taken a visit on that prepare. It was epic.’’

Keith MacLean of Stratford, P.E.I., stated he grew up in Montague and used to go to Fairyland on class journeys.

“I bear in mind the prepare and the citadel,’’ MacLean stated. “Everybody in my technology has superb recollections of Rainbow Valley and Fairyland … and when Fairyland grew to become Encounter Creek it had the one wave pool on the Island. Nice instances and nice recollections. My ladies would have liked it.’’

Steve Pollard, a resident of New Haven, stated he’s hoping the somebody can return the location to its former “legendary” standing.

“It’s positively nostalgic,’’ Pollard stated. “It will likely be nice to see the property carried ahead and introduced again no less than to some extent of what it was within the numerous years of its historical past.’’

Redpath stated the property was simply listed not too long ago, and there have been no formal affords but.

With a number of working septic programs and wells, Redpath stated he thinks the property would make an important campground and amusement park mixture, however he provides that’s simply his opinion.

“I’ve talked to sure businesspeople locally who’ve some concepts for it,’’ Redpath stated. “I’ve additionally had some latest showings. I believe any individual will come alongside shortly who has the nostalgia and sees the potential. From the folks I’ve talked to, this property has a particular place in folks’s hearts that is the same as Rainbow Valley.’’

At a look

Following is details about the previous amusement park web site in New Haven:

• Fairyland was opened on Saturday, June 19, 1965, by a farmer who lived throughout what was then the Trans-Canada Freeway.

• It survived into the Nineteen Nineties earlier than closing.

• Ray and Robin Chace of Crapaud bought the location in 1997 and renamed it Encounter Creek. The couple spent greater than $2 million including issues like a wave pool, in addition to establishing two buildings that will function the brand new important entrance.

• Encounter Creek would solely final a couple of years earlier than it closed.

• In 2012, the P.E.I. authorities bought the land that was as soon as the Fairyland Forest for the needs of establishing a brand new addition to the Trans-Canada Freeway.

• The location is now 16.8 acres in measurement.

• The location is for now on the market. The asking value is $849,000.