Story Land is a fairy tale-themed amusement park in Glen, New Hampshire, built around storybook characters and aimed squarely at young children and their families. It opened in 1954 as “Story Town” after founders Bob and Ruth Morrell bought a collection of German storybook dolls and hired local artist Arlene “Topsy” Samuelson to design a park around them. The name was changed to Story Land after its first season because it was too close to that of another park.
The park stayed in the Morrell family until 2007, when it was sold to Kennywood Entertainment Company; it passed to Parques Reunidos/Palace Entertainment in 2008 and was acquired by Herschend in 2025. Spread across 35 acres in the White Mountains, Story Land now has about 30 attractions, ranging from gentle storybook-themed rides to its two roller coasters, Roar-O-Saurus and Polar Coaster.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Glen, New Hampshire
- Opened: 1954 (as Story Town)
- Size: About 35 acres
- Attractions: About 30
- Notable Coaster: Roar-O-Saurus (wooden, opened 2014)
- Current Owner: Herschend (since 2025)
Rides and Attractions
Story Land’s rides are built around storybook and fairy tale themes rather than thrill-seeking, making it a park designed for children up to the pre-teen years. Its best-known ride is Roar-O-Saurus, a wooden coaster from The Gravity Group that opened in May 2014 in the park’s dinosaur-themed section, featuring a 38-foot drop, a top speed of about 33 mph, and a 1,240-foot layout with a dozen airtime moments. A second coaster, Polar Coaster, along with several water rides and the narrow-gauge Huff Puff and Whistle Railroad round out the lineup.
A Storybook History
The park’s very first ride was a converted fire truck called “Freddie the Fire Engine,” a far cry from today’s attraction list. One of its most fondly remembered rides was Voyage To The Moon, a dark ride that opened in 1983 and operated until 1999, complete with bullet-shaped cars built by Bradley and Kaye of California. Through several ownership changes over the decades, Story Land has kept its original fairy tale identity and small-scale, family-first approach intact.
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Story Land FAQs
When did Story Land open?
Story Land opened in 1954 in Glen, New Hampshire, originally under the name “Story Town.”
What is Story Land’s most famous ride?
Roar-O-Saurus, a wooden roller coaster built by The Gravity Group that opened in 2014, is the park’s signature ride.
Who owns Story Land today?
Story Land is owned by Herschend, which acquired the park along with the adjacent Living Shores Aquarium in 2025.
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Photo: AnotherMaker / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.