If you’ve ever wandered through Storybook Lane, strolled the Old European Village, or watched your child’s eyes light up at Enchanted Forest, you know it feels like more than an amusement park.
It feels personal.
That’s because it is.
Roger Tofte, the creator of Enchanted Forest in Turner, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, at the age of 96. What he built — quite literally with his own hands — continues to welcome families more than five decades later.
In the 1960s, Roger was simply a father of four with a dream. He wanted to create a place where his children could experience wonder. With limited resources but steady determination, he bought a wooded hillside south of Salem and began building fairy-tale scenes by hand. Evenings. Weekends. Small payments on the land. Repairing watches on the side to fund the project.
It took seven years.
When Enchanted Forest opened on August 8, 1971, just 75 people walked through the gates. Today, it remains one of Oregon’s most beloved destinations — still family-owned, still thoughtfully maintained, still carrying the handcrafted charm Roger insisted on.
What makes his story meaningful isn’t just the creativity. It’s the heart behind it.
He wasn’t chasing fame.
He was building joy for his children.
And in doing that, he created a place where countless other families would make memories of their own.
Three generations of the Tofte family now carry that work forward. Every carved figure and winding path reflects something steady and familiar — a father’s quiet devotion expressed through hard work.
And that’s a story many of us understand.
Maybe you didn’t build a theme park.
Maybe it was a treehouse.
A backyard project.
A late-night science fair display.
A costume sewn after everyone else went to bed.
Love often looks like effort no one applauds.
As we remember Roger Tofte, we honor not only the man who built Enchanted Forest — but every parent who has poured time, patience, and creativity into something meant simply to see their child smile.
If you visit Enchanted Forest this year, take a moment at the entrance. Notice the details. Remember how it all began.
And maybe whisper a quiet thank you — for the kind of love that builds things meant to last.
