The land of the Atlantic County storybook is timeless: do you remember that?
There are very few true visionaries throughout history. In every way, John Fricano was a visionary.
It should also be a household name, but it isn’t. In my opinion, it was his fault. John Fricano just worked really hard and didn’t care about promotion or self-promotion. He promoted his vision and not himself. However, he left an indelible legacy that has lasted for over 66 years.
Fricano dreamed big. In 1954, he accumulated $ 5,000 and turned his dream into reality.
It all started with the purchase of 5 acres of land in Egg Harbor Township along Black Horse Pike.
Fricano would add 15 more acres and he named his dream, which he made –
Land of tales!
It was the perfect name.
Today it is more beautiful than ever and perfectly lit with over 1,000,000 lights.
Fricano’s dream was simple, yet deep. He wanted to build an amusement park so that children could enjoy it unconditionally.
Fricano swung for the “fences” and he hit the equivalent of a 9th bottom, 3 balls and 2 strikes, 2 strikeouts, grand slam to win his own “world series”.
John Fricano died in 2009 and his wife Esther in May 2015.
Storybook Land has never been in better physical condition than it is today. The paint is always shiny. The facilities are always clean and perfectly maintained and maintained. The parking lot was strategically expanded because their operational success demanded it. The attention to detail by the second and third generations of the Fricano family has been exceptional in every way.
They actually took Storybook Land to the next level, continually improving and expanding Storybook Land, which is stronger today than ever before.
Christmas with Santa Claus and Santa’s Workshop at Storybook Land is so special and it’s such a great time of year.
Before leaving, let’s take a look back in time and go back 66 years. It is April 10, 1955. The cost to enter the park on opening day was $ 0.75. The park was now 20 acres in size.
With the help of his wife Ester and other members of his family, Fricano painted his masterpiece. By the way, Fricano was a painter by trade.
In 1955, Storybook Land opened with wonderful fairy tales that had come to life for young children:
The Three Bears, Humpty Dumpty, The Little Red School, Noah’s Ark, The Old Woman in the Shoe and much more.
Fricano has managed to turn legendary children’s books into a true interactive amusement park experience.
People have come from all over America, Europe and beyond to visit Storybook Land. Fricano couldn’t have imagined how much his dream had come true. He wanted to provide an outlet on the main road of his day, (The Black Horse Pike) so that parents and children had a place to stop.
There was no Atlantic City freeway yet. Legendary State Senator Frank S. “Hap” Farley delivered it on July 31, 1964. Until then, the Black Horse Pike had been the main thoroughfare.
We went to Storybook Land as kids and continued to do so as adults, bringing our kids. I didn’t even know the name of the Fricano, but you couldn’t miss John and Ester, right at the main entrance and throughout the park. They were everywhere.
It was also out of sheer genius that they created an amusement park theme that little boys and girls could also enjoy.
John and Esther built something that had room to grow as the times changed. Fun fact: Storybook Land preceded the Disneyland opening in California by 3 months. Yes, The Fricano delivered Storybook Land before Walt Disney made his own dream come true.
My wife Margie and I have countless fond memories of our time in Storybook Land … both, when we were kids … then, taking our kids … and, now, taking our grandson Noah.
Storybook Land is both timeless and timeless. I vividly remember our son, Harry Robert Hurley, Jr.’s first birthday inside the converted train van.
Rob’s two older sisters, KKristin and Lauren) then aged 7 and 4 and many other children and adults who joined us for this wonderful day at Storybook Land.
Incredibly, our children are now 38, 35 and 32 years old. And, Noah is almost 14 years old. Still, this memory from Storybook Land seems to be yesterday.
You never know what you’ll see next at Storybook Land. Pictured directly below, “Phil” of Phil and Phylis fame. For many years they have stood proud and in service at the Philadelphia Phillies Veterans Stadium. When a home run was hit, they would turn around and ring the freedom bell.
Both have been preserved for 2 generations and for generations to come at Storybook Land.
By design, The Fricano made Storybook Land for children 10 and under. By design, there are no haunted houses, spooky attractions or thrill rides. It is specially designed for young children.
Still, it’s still great fun for big-hearted kids as well. Storybook Land is one of those special places that stays deep in your heart, forever,
Storybook Land was worth the entry fee of 0.75 cents in 1955.
It’s worth every piece of the $ 26.95 (online price) in 2021.
REMARK: Immediately after, here are two spectacular photo galleries, featuring many never-before-seen photos of the legendary Adventure Village and the original Steel Pier.
