Q&A: Storybook Land
Storybook Land nostaglia amusement park has delighted generations of children for 60 years. It opened in July 1955 in Egg Harbor Township on Routes 40/322 - once the main route to the Shore - as the vision of John Fricano and his wife, Esther, who wanted to build a place for young families and their children.
Storybook Land nostaglia amusement park has delighted generations of children for 60 years.
It opened in July 1955 in Egg Harbor Township on Routes 40/322 - once the main route to the Shore - as the vision of John Fricano and his wife, Esther, who wanted to build a place for young families and their children.
The couple started off with a five-acre wooded site. John Fricano, an Army veteran and housepainter, built the first attractions - the Little Red Schoolhouse, the Old Woman's Shoe, and Jack and Jill's Hill.
Back then, the admission fee was 75 cents. There were two simple rides for visitors to tour the park.
Today, the park covers 20 acres. There are 14 rides, including Bubbles the Coaster. Some of the old features have been retired. The approach remains the same: old-fashioned attractions aimed at children younger than 8.
Third-generation family member Jessica Fricano, 29, operates Storybook Land with her father, John Fricano Jr., brother, and aunt.
The quaint setting features hand-painted furniture, nursery-rhyme themes, and familiar favorite childhood stories. A tram, the J&J Railroad, with a restored 1863 steam locomotive, loops through the park.
Why did your grandparents create Storybook Land?
They were from Vineland and they had two young children. They realized that there was nothing to do between the rides. They wanted to create a place for families to relax. It started as a luncheonette and it kind of grew from there.
How did they come up with the idea for it?
Fairy tales were popular for a lot of parks. Not a lot of them are around. We are one of the few that are still family-owned. They just went with what was popular at the time.
How did they get it started?
The family worked. Eventually, we hired people and eventually it just got bigger.
How big is it today?
About 25 acres, about 100 employees.
Have you worked there your entire life?
Yes. I can't imagine doing anything else. It's what I know. It's fun. It's unpredictable. It's always challenging and growing. You never really stop learning.
What is the appeal of Storybook Land?
We have a very old nostalgia charm. We are updated as well. It's very calm. It's not overwhelming for kids. For a lot of our kids, our roller coaster is their first roller coaster. It's really a nice place.
How has your business survived for 60 years?
This is a big tradition for a lot of people. A lot of people came here as kids and now they are bringing back their kids. Tradition has kept us relevant.
How has the park changed?
We are doing our best to keep it as updated as possible without it becoming too commercialized. We don't have any kind of endorsements from big companies. It's kind of a different vibe here.
What do you hope families will get from the experience?
We are the only park that is just for kids. It's definitely unique.