Fairytale Town | Sacramento

Fairytale Town is a beloved children's theme park in William Land Park, Sacramento, designed to spark imagination and learning through storybook-themed play areas. Opened in 1959, it has been a cherished destination for generations of families, combining classic nursery rhymes and fairy tales with interactive, outdoor play structures, animals, and educational programming. It’s not a traditional amusement park but rather a whimsical, hands-on experience that celebrates storytelling, creativity, and early childhood development.

Overview

Location: 3901 Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95822

Setting: Located next to the Sacramento Zoo and Funderland Amusement Park in Land Park

Size: Approximately 3.5 acres of themed play areas, gardens, animal enclosures, and amphitheaters

Target Audience: Primarily children ages 1 to 10 and their families

Themed Play Sets and Structures

Fairytale Town features over 25 play sets based on classic nursery rhymes, fables, and literary tales. These are not just displays—they are playable environments, many of which kids can climb on, slide down, or walk through.

The Old Woman in the Shoe

A giant shoe structure with stairs and a slide.

One of the park’s original and most iconic features.

Jack and the Beanstalk

A towering beanstalk sculpture that leads up to a lookout point.

Cinderella’s Pumpkin Carriage

A life-size carriage that children can sit inside for photos and pretend play.

King Arthur’s Castle

A large medieval-style play fort with turrets and drawbridge features.

Humpty Dumpty

A large sculpted wall with the famous egg character perched on top (and yes, kids can climb near him).

Three Little Pigs' Houses

A set of three small houses made of straw, sticks, and bricks that children can explore to reenact the classic tale.

Peter Rabbit’s Garden

A small, themed garden area with paths, tools, and vegetables—a blend of horticulture and play.

Each structure is designed to encourage imaginative, self-directed play, making it both fun and developmentally enriching.

Live Animals

Fairytale Town also features a small collection of animals, many of which represent storybook characters:

Eeyore the donkey (from Winnie-the-Pooh)

Goats, sheep, and pigs (from various nursery rhymes like Three Billy Goats Gruff)

Chickens, ducks, and geese (commonly featured in farm and fable stories)

The animal pens are integrated into the landscape and themed to match the stories they come from.

Animal care is overseen by trained staff, and the park often offers hands-on educational encounters, especially during school visits or special programs.

Gardens and Natural Spaces

Alphabet Garden: Features flowers and plants corresponding to each letter of the alphabet—an outdoor literacy-learning space.

Mother Goose Stage and Garden: A tranquil garden area used for live performances and storytelling.

Educational and Cultural Programming

Fairytale Town offers a wide range of events, camps, and classes to enrich the visitor experience:

Storytelling & Theater

Live performances are held regularly at the Mother Goose Stage and Children’s Theater, featuring puppet shows, local performers, or seasonal plays.

Summer Camps

Themed day camps focused on storytelling, drama, gardening, and animal care for kids ages 4–9.

School Tours & Field Trips

Programs tailored to California state learning standards, incorporating early literacy, life science, and art.

Cultural Celebrations

Annual events that explore global storytelling traditions and folklore, including World of Wonders, Safe & Super Halloween, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Special Events

Safe & Super Halloween

A non-scary, family-friendly Halloween event with themed areas, treat stations, and costumed characters.

Winter Wonderland

Holiday lights, visits from Santa Claus, and winter-themed crafts and performances.

Fairytale Town Troupers

A resident children’s theater troupe that stages family-friendly adaptations of well-known stories each season.

Visitor Information

Hours: Typically open daily from spring to fall; more limited hours during winter.

Admission: Modestly priced (usually under $10 per person); discounts for seniors, members, and special days.

Accessibility: Stroller- and wheelchair-friendly paths throughout the park.

Food & Picnic Areas: Small café on site, plus open areas for picnics and birthday parties.

Gift Shop: Sells books, toys, and souvenirs themed to classic fairy tales.

Educational Philosophy

Fairytale Town is built around the idea that play is learning. Each play structure, performance, and activity is designed to foster creativity, literacy, and social development. The space promotes exploration, storytelling, and hands-on experiences that align with early childhood educational goals.

Cultural and Civic Role

For over 60 years, Fairytale Town has been an essential part of Sacramento’s cultural landscape. It represents a time-honored approach to childhood enrichment—low-tech, story-driven, and focused on community and imagination. It is a frequent venue for school field trips, family gatherings, and birthday parties, and it holds deep nostalgic value for locals who visited as children and now bring their own kids.

Fairytale Town remains a unique fusion of playground, petting zoo, theater, and learning center, designed to bring timeless stories to life and give children a magical, meaningful space to play and grow.