Shane Hay confirms Fantasy Glades will re-open in Port Macquarie. We also talk to Fantasy Glades Founder Rosemary Hobbs nee Whittaker.
Fantasy Glades was opened in 1967 by George and Rosemary Whittaker, both of whom were sufferers of dwarfism. In 1987 the park was sold to The Spry family and Brian Hutchinson, who operated the park until its closure in 2002 [2]. Some of the rides and attractions have since been purchased by Tony Williams who has plans to reopen the park in a new location on the Hastings River [3]. Currently[update] this idea appears to be on hiatus.
A sign at the front of Fantasy Glades before its closure read:
" Created in 1968 by George and Rosemary Whitaker. Fantasy Glades is believed to be the world's only theme park to have been built by "Little People" (Persons who were once called dwarfs). Following the death of its creator George Whitaker, Rosemary remarried Mr Stephen Hobbs and the family of short statured persons continued to operate the park until 1987. Rosemary and Stephen now live in Victoria with their 5 children and 6 grandchildren. Although of small stature George and Rosemary started a fantasy world that has delighted persons of all ages & has become Port Macquarie's most visited and highly awarded tourist attraction. "
Fantasy Glades was located at 44 Parklands Cl, Port Macquarie.
On 17 March 2008 the parkland became available to buy [4]. The parkland is the only landsite of its kind in the beach side area of Port Macquarie.
Cinderella Castle - a large pink castle with life-size mannequins behind glass depicting the story of Cinderella
Witch's Cottage - a later addition, this wooden house was full of fun 'booby traps'
Snow White Diamond Mine - a walk-through mine with motifs of the singing seven dwarves
Snow White Cottage - a miniature house themed with Snow White and the Seven Dwarves designs
Crooked House - a later addition, this was similar to the witches house and featured distorting mirrors
Wishing Well - a simple wishing well
Monorail - a later addition, this was a people-powered push-pull monorail which wound through the rainforest
Dinosaurs - a series of Dinosaur sculptures near the Cinderella Castle
Dragon - a large pink dragon whose eyes flashed and sprayed water and smoke from its nose at passers-by, activated by infrared sensors.
Coin-powered cars - these tiny cars were designed for children to ride around a bitumen area, and could be operated by inserting a 20 cent coin
Old Woman's Shoe - this large red shoe (approx 3 metres tall) was designed to represent the nursery rhyme There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe in which children could play
Train - this electric road train circumnavigated the theme park on a loop
Miniature Chapel - a tiny church, sized for children and dwarves
Hansel and Gretel - A glass-windowed shopfront depicting the story
Humpty Dumpty - A large figure a humpty dumpty that, when a button was pressed, fell off his wall
Little Red Riding Hood's Grandmother's house - with the big bad wolf dressed as grandma in bed.
Kiddies Corner - a later addition, this was a selection of generic 'shopping mall' coin operated rides
Wildlife Park - Included Goats, Kangaroos, and Emus.
Golden Goose - That laid a golden egg.
Hickory Dickory Dock - A grandfather clock that a mouse would run down.
Jack in the box - Press a button and he pops out.
The mouse house - a small house with a cat painted on it, inside were robotic moving mice such as musical mice, fishing mice, dancing mice, mice ornaments, choral mice, family mice and mayor mouse. The mice were adult size, placed behind a glass screen and infrount of a theamed background. Press the button and the mice would move and/or sing.
Dungeon - Underneath Cinderella's castle
Doll room - A room filled with a collection of beautifully detailed dolls
Musical Piano Wall- A wall with touchable piano keys
The three bears cottage/Blinky bills house
Various little mushrooms to sit under
Crocodile bridge - a bridge with a giant sized crocadile under it
Hand operated miniature monorails
Pirates corner- a corner near the coin operated cars with various pirate games e.g. -lift the gold out of the well
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@0lah10101 Yeah, and then most other people who have an imagination, and who were absolutely captured by this wonderful place will probably burn you... idiot.
Flurry911 1 month ago
if they open this back up, im goin gto burn it down. i promise
0lah10101 1 month ago
Check out the official Fantasy Glades website.
DesignInteraktiv 5 months ago
Climb """"
Minimanwhs 7 months ago
Aww I'm to old to clump the big red shoe now :( lol
Minimanwhs 7 months ago
yay yay yay yay yay yay!! XD
merrandah1993 7 months ago
Thanks for posting. Bought back some memories. Monrail, Crooked House, Min Cars "Mum can i have 20 cents" .Reminds me of the whole area, Peppermint park as well. Walking down the tunnell smelling sunscreen and chlorine. Having to wait until you were dried off before going onto the skate rink after the water slides. Minigolf 8 hole. Good Times. Good to see Fantasy Glades making a return.
pageyzchillin 7 months ago