| Storyland | |
|---|---|
| Main entrance | |
| Location | Renfrew, Ontario, Canada |
| Website | Storyland Amusement Park |
| Owner | Great North Parks, Todd Matilla-Hartman |
| Opened | 1966 |
| Rides | 7 total |
Storyland is a children’s theme park located northwest of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, near the town of Renfrew in Horton Township featuring depictions of classic fairy tale scenes. The park also features a mini-golf course, a small water park, live performers, playgrounds, small rides, and staff dressed as fairy tale characters. It is near the Champlain Lookout in Brown's Bay, where Samuel de Champlain made land. In 1953 a large rock was found in the area bearing a chiselled inscription "Champlain Juin 2, 1613" however the authenticity of the inscription has been brought into question by the date format. The Champlain Lookout was a part of the landscape long before Storyland was founded. The park is normally open from mid-June through to the Labour Day weekend.
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The Park was founded by Durk and Bonnie Heyda, two immigrants from the Netherlands on 175 acres (0.71 km2). They were unable to have children so they chose instead to build story scenes to amuse hikers on their way to the Champlain Lookout, one of the highest points along the Ottawa River and located at the rear of their property. In 1966 the park opened featuring a windmill, several story scenes and a playground. The park continued to expand, adding new scenes at a steady rate until 1973 when Durk Heyda suffered a heart attack and control was handed to family friend John Berkhout. Berkhout continued the parks growth throughout the 1980s, adding mini golf, paddle boats and many additional story scenes, some including moving mechanical scenes. In 2007 Berkhout announced his intention to retire and in the spring of 2008 he sold the park to Ottawa businessman Todd Mattila-Hartman and his company, Great North Parks. Mattila-Hartman had been working on the development of an amusement park in the region for a number of years.
At the time of the purchase Mattila-Hartman announced plans to expand the park with additional live entertainment, rides and new food options for the 2008 season, and the addition of new larger rides for the 2009 season. In 2008 the battery powered car ride and the Hampton Boat Ride were added as well as an upgraded inflatable castle. In 2009 a Water Wars games was added to the park. Plans for expansion are planned for the 45th anniversary in 2011. The Entertainment Department at Storyland was also over-hauled for the 2011 Season and will feature new characters and shows.