Case twenty-one

Opened in 1971, Enchanted Forest is a local, family-owned theme park in Oregon, USA. It combines charming storybook thematic features and a green environment with family-friendly offerings. This case study details the origins of Enchanted Forest and its appeal to visitors. It focuses on adversity the park faced due to weather events, personal tragedies, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter examines the operator’s strategies to stay open despite trials including financial choices and a family management approach. Business decisions were made such as allowing guests to buy personalized bricks in the park, selling the original artwork of the park’s creator, appealing to visitors on social media, and launching a crowdfunding page, which yielded an outpouring of support from the community. The case illustrates the distinct challenges of a small visitor attraction, with diverse methods necessary for site viability and crisis management.