The story of Story Land is one of vision, community caring and wonderment, as founded by the late Bob and Ruth Morrell and carried on by their son Stoney during Morrell Family Attractions’ years of running the amusement park from 1954-2007 and now continued by its owners, Palace Entertainment. The following account is taken from Story Land’s website, with some additions.

Once upon a time, in the far-off land of Germany, Bob and Ruth Morrell were surprised by a knock at their door. They were not expecting visitors. Bob and Ruth, husband and wife from North Conway, were living in Europe at the invitation of the U.S. Army. A veteran of the famed 10th Mountain Division of skiing soldiers in World War II, Bob had been summoned back to serve during the Korean Conflict.

When they opened the door, they were greeted by an old woman who introduced herself as Frau Edith Von Arps. She was accompanied by several small characters who needed no introduction, dolls she had made based on classic children’s fairy tales. She was going door to door, selling the dolls.

Von Arps and the Morrells became friends, and the old woman sold them more than 25 dolls before they returned home. She also planted a suggestion, which turned into an idea, which grew into a business, which blossomed into a life’s work and a legacy.

Her suggestion was that Bob and Ruth build a small village around her dolls. The Morrells had the idea to create a village of more than just dolls, a village where storybook animals could live and where storybook characters could come to life. The idea grew into a business, as Bob and Ruth added plans for rides and play areas, to create a place where young families could play and have fun.

1954-63

In 1954, the Morrells bought a piece of land in Glen, acreage that the previous owner said wouldn’t even make a decent pasture. With some local help, they built a handful of colorful buildings and characters, and opened for business in late 1954, a year before the opening of Disneyland forever changed amusement parks.

As Wikipedia notes, the park opened in 1954 as Story Town. It had just one ride: an old fire truck called “Freddie the Fire Engine.” It was renamed Story Land after its first year because another park in upstate New York had that name.

A few good years, highlighted by the arrival of Cinderella’s Pumpkin Coach and Castle in 1957, were followed by a few not-so-good years, as the economy slowed throughout the country. The fledgling park was truly a risky business venture, and local bankers shied away from holding a mortgage on the home of the three bears.

But through perseverance, hard work, ingenuity and continuous reinvestment in the park, Story Land has survived and grown.

1964-80

During the 1960s and ’70s, Story Land flourished with new rides and attractions. The year 1966 brought the first Tree House and the Seal exhibit ... but the seals only lasted until 1972. In 1967, Bob purchased an antique German carousel, the same one that children still enjoy today and a fleet of Whale Boats (which in 1969 became the Swan Boats). One of the most beloved rides at Story Land was also purchased in 1967, the first CP Huntington Train.

The ’70s was a decade for attractions, as Story Land added the Chapel, and a Child’s Visit to Other Lands debuted with the Safari Ride, Moroccan Bazaar, the first Maze, second-generation antique cars, Dutch Village and the Shoe Ride, Little Mexico area, the Mine, the Canadian Fun Fort (where the Cuckoo Clockenspiel is now), Iceberg Coaster (now Polar Coaster) and the Ted E. Bear Jamboree.

1980-2000

In 1981, the Pirate Ship was the first boat attraction that brought families on a fun-filled adventure through Buccaneer Bay.

Alice’s Tea Cups arrived in 1982, followed by the Voyage to the Moon in 1983. The second half of the ’80s brought the Great Balloon Chase, Farm Follies Theater, the Polar Coaster (which replaced Iceberg Coaster) and Dr. Geyser’s Remarkable Raft Ride.

Once the ’90s arrived, the park continued to grow. Introduced in 1993, the Bamboo Chutes were followed by Grandfather Tree in 1995. The late ‘90s continued to expand the park as the Turtle Twirl and Oceans of Fun Sprayground were born. Closing out the ‘90s was the renovation of what is now known as Loopy Lab Theater where kids and adults enjoyed a fun show of science.

Story Land always has been, and continues to be, a family-oriented business, run by Morrell Family disciples, and geared to young families everywhere. In the beginning, and throughout the rest of their lives, Ruth ran the gift shop and other things while Bob ran from place to place to make sure everyone was having fun.

As a child, daughter Nancy portrayed Mistress Mary in her garden. As an adult, son Stoney carried on the family legacy until his untimely passing in 2006.

Cancer struck the Morrells hard, taking Ruth, 70, first in 1990; then Bob in 1998 at age 78; and Stoney when he was just 50. All made their mark in the valley.

Daughter Nancy Morrell divides her time between Jackson and Florida. Stoney’s wife, Foley, and children Taber and Halie live outside the valley.

2000-Now

Story Land entered the 21st century as New Hampshire’s Best Amusement Park for Kids and retains that title to this day. During the 2000s, the Antique Cars were upgraded to the third-generation electric-powered vehicles; the Cuckoo Clockenspiel debuted on top of the hill; and the beloved Whirling Whales arrived in 2002 (retired in 2016).

In 2003, the Crazy Barn was constructed, followed by the Eggs-Traordinary Farm Tractors to round out the barnyard-themed section of the park. A few years later, the Flying Fish opened, followed by Splash Battle in 2011. The park’s latest ride addition was the Roar-O-Saurus in 2014, a compact wooden coaster with a 40-foot drop and over 12 air times, a child’s first BIG coaster.

As the business grew through the years, an unplanned evolution of sorts developed. Teenagers who had visited when they were children took their first jobs at Story Land. Many of the grandparents and parents visiting today used to come here as children themselves. And currently, many of the people who make the park run from day to day and season to season are part of the aforementioned evolution.

They indeed worked here as teenagers, and either stayed in the family to make careers here as adults, or came back later to be at a place where it’s OK to whistle and smile while they work and kids play.

Story Land’s adjacent 1976-founded attraction, Heritage N.H., a museum dedicated to the history of New Hampshire, closed its doors after 30 years in 2006. Stoney — who had battled cancer for two years — died on its last day of operations. In May 2007, Morrell Family Attractions sold Story Land to a Pennsylvania company, Kennywood Entertainment.

The following year, Kennywood in turn was acquired by Madrid-based Parques Reunidos.

A Spanish firm that manages dozens of amusement parks and water parks in the United States and Europe, the global company placed Story Land under the aegis of the company’s U.S. division, Palace Entertainment.

Today, the theme park still entertains young families and children

“The amusement park,” notes the history of the theme park on its website, “has grown to include more shows, dining, characters, rides and play areas.

At the same time, the Story Land Team has been careful to keep the park from outgrowing the very people — the very little people and their parents — that Bob and Ruth dreamed about entertaining over half a century ago when they were far away from home. And kids have been playing at Story Land happily ever after.”

“The history of Story Land,” the park’s website notes, “is less about the singular history of one family or one business, and more about the multitudes of personal histories that live in the memories of thousands of families and tens of thousands of people from all over.

It endures in the hearts and minds of children who grow up hearing and reading about magical people and places, and who find a real live world of those same characters in Glen.”

In 2019, the park began hosting “Nostalgia Night,” an event where young-at-heart guests 21 years or older can re-create childhood memories and photos in the park after hours. The Nostalgia Nights are set to return this summer on July 13 and 27, and Aug. 10.

2024

The park celebrates its 70th birthday June 22 with an eight-tier birthday cake, balloons, cupcakes for the first 250 customers and more.

Coming this summer is the Moo Lagoon sprayground and water slides. See accompanying article for details about this fun new attraction at Story Land, still making memories after all these years.

For more information on all of its many attractions, go to storylandnh.com or Jim Miller’s book, “Story Land,” published in 2010 by Arcadia Publishing.