Storyland to reopen Saturday, September 28

Shuttered in July for an $800,000 renovation, Storyland will reopen its doors at noon Saturday, September 28.

“We’re excited to be able to present to the children of New Orleans and the region a chance to live inside of the stories they read,” said Bob Becker, City Park CEO, in a statement.

Four new exhibits join the beloved, interactive story-tale sculptures, which include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio and the Whale, and The Little Mermaid. They are Humpty Dumpty, the Tortoise and the Hare, Boudreaux the Zydeco Gator, and Jack and the Beanstalk (which opens later this fall).

The 60-year-old Storyland mainstays have also gotten updates. The Little Mermaid now includes pirate ships that attendees can motor through a pond, and Hey Diddle Diddle is ADA accessible.

The entrance will display an astronaut suit worn by Charles Bolden, Jr., which is on loan from NASA for the next five years.

“Bolden was the first African-American to permanently hold the title of NASA Administrator,” Becker said. “He also served as a NASA astronaut for 14 years and has logged nearly 700 hours during four space flights.”

Storyland’s reopening coincides with the park’s busy fall season, which includes Ghosts in the Oaks and Celebration in the Oaks. Tickets are $5, and children who are shorter than 36 inches get free admission with a paying adult.