NEAR REVELSTOKE: If you’ve ever driven Rogers Pass it’s hard to miss, the enticing name may have even drawn you inside. It’s been a tourist attraction on the Trans Canada Highway since 1960, but if you were to drive by the Enchanted Forest today you’d see a for sale sign.
The present owners, Rocky and Juliet Ehlers, have put the attraction on the market for a cool $2.7 million. After owning the business for 25 years, the couple is looking to retire.
Inquiries into buying the treasured theme park have gone through the roof. “I’ve had over 50 replies over the last two or three days,” says Steve Daschuk, the property’s realtor. “It’s been silly.”
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The Enchanted Forest has changed hands since its humble beginning in 1960, starting as the brainchild of Doris and Ernest Needham.
“Doris Needham was an artist in Revelstoke during the 1950’s. She made unusual fairy tale figurines from cement by shaping her creations by hand, without the use of molds or forms. Desiring to find the perfect setting for her handiwork, she searched for two years and finally chose this unique but isolated location between Revelstoke and Sicamous, BC.” according for the attraction’s website. “This endeavour turned into a retirement project, which Doris and her husband Ernest named their Enchanted Forest.”
The 38-acre attraction has seen some changes in the past 55 years. The biggest, being the addition of an adjoining attraction rouhgly eight years ago called the SkyTrek Adventure Park, a cluster of six zip line adventure courses. Last year owners added a 60-foot climbing wall, six foot swing and drop zone.
On average the theme park sees about 85,000 visitors a year.
The Ehlers’ are heavily involved in the selling process, helping Daschuk filter through all the interested buyers to find the best fit. They expect a sale isn’t too far off.
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