Oakland's fabled Fairyland celebrates 75 years

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Seventy-five years ago, on Sept. 2, 1950, Oakland's Children's Fairyland opened on the shoreline of Lake Merritt. Today, on Labor Day, a big birthday bash in the storybook theme park drew locals who have memories of going there as children themselves.

Once upon a time, in 1950, on the shores of Lake Merritt in Oakland, a magical child-sized theme park opened up and changed the world.

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Kymberly Miller, Fairyland CEO, said: "In 1954, Walt Disney visited the park. He was supposed to take a quick tour, sort of drive by, but he spent hours here and was fascinated by our no straight lines and a surprise around every corner mentality and the way the park was built."

Lisa Hire with Lake Merritt Breakfast Club said, "He hired away the operations director, Dorothy Mains, who became the operations director at Disneyland."

Such is the foundational story of Children's Fairyland -- generations of Bay Area toddlers and children have marveled at the attractions in this charming land of storybook fantasy.

It's owned by the city of Oakland but now managed by a nonprofit.

Seventy-five years and not much has changed. Fairyland is still low on tech and high on imagination.

The day kicked off with a parade from the 19th St. BART Station to the Fairyland entrance, highlighting the mass transit access families can utilize.

Two thousand guests came Labor Day and the mood was pure exuberance. You can't help but smile.

Oakland dad Benjamin Thomas said, "This is huge. I've never seen it this crowded. I think it's one of the things where kids can be innocent and still enjoying that. I think people want to come out and support what I think is huge for an institution like Fairyland, that's been a pillar of the community for so many years."

Rachel Barrera, an Oakland mom, said, "It's a little Disneyland, that's what it is here. I remember the chickens when I was little, the houses, everything. Lots of memories. Lots of memories of all our kids, and happy birthday, 75th birthday, to Fairyland."

Miller said, "We have lots of aspirations for the next 75 years. We will be here for children and families for as long as we can make it happen."

Fairyland, so it seems, is living happily ever after.

You can visit Children's Fairyland's website here.

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