Story Land (Images of America)

When sedans and station wagons replaced trains for vacationers heading to New Hampshire’s rugged and picturesque White Mountains, new motels and attractions catering to middle-class families sprang up amidst the established grand hotels and diversions for socialites, artists, skiers, and hikers. In 1954, a tiny children’s park inspired by a collection of storybook dolls opened in the quiet village of Glen. Through a unique combination of independent innovation and regional cooperation, Story Land has continually grown for more than 50 years through economic and cultural changes that undermined many amusement parks. Parents still travel great distances for a Story Land getaway with their children, just as their own parents did, sharing a common experience that is talked about between multiple generations at family gatherings. This photograph collection illustrates the unlikely beginnings and creative entrepreneurship behind one of New England’s most memorable and enduring childhood institutions.