Having served on the board of directors, I’ve seen Storyland through many seasons. But my roots go even further back—to my childhood, when I first discovered the magic of those little plastic keys. Insert one into a ride’s story box, turn it, and you’d suddenly hear your favorite fairy tale come alive. That click… that rustle of the vinyl key… pure wonder.
A Rich History
- Storyland opened in 1962, seven years after Playland’s debut in 1955, a project conceived by local Fresno Rotary Clubs to offer affordable family fun and spark children’s imaginations
- Built inside Roeding Park, adjacent to Playland and across from the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, it features themed exhibits of Mother Goose, Alice in Wonderland, Humpty Dumpty, the Three Little Pigs, and more than 25 other fairy‑tale scenes, each scaled for little ones
- The concept was as much about literacy and imagination as it was about play: each key activated a narrated story to reinforce reading joy in early learners
Personal Tidbits & Nostalgia
I still remember clutching that little plastic key and racing to the next exhibit to hear Snort the pig or Mother Goose speak. And those miniature train rides circling Lake Washington—not only connected Storyland and Playland, but also instilled a sense of seamless adventure in kids like me. Later, serving on the board, I helped guide new life into the park and heard stories from third and fourth-generation visitors who once clicked keys exactly as I did.
Revitalization & Recent Developments
- Storyland was closed in 2015 to fund repairs and reopen stronger. With renewed leadership, major fundraising, and community contributions, Storyland reopened in September 2015, followed by Playland’s revival in 2016
- The COVID‑19 closures in 2020–21 hit both parks hard—but Storyland reopened first in 2021 and has been thriving, supported by generous grants tied to its literacy-focused mission
- Most recently, Playland closed permanently on March 23, 2025, due to financial unsustainability, while Storyland continues operating and adding new attractions—like a pirate ship exhibit designed by the same team that worked on Disney and Universal installations
Plan Your Visit
📍 Location:
890 W Belmont Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728 — inside Roeding Park, right next to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo
🕒 Hours (updated May 2025):
- Wednesday–Friday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Saturday & Sunday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(Subject to seasonal adjustments and weather permitting.)
Playland remains closed.
🎟️ Admission (as of May 2025):
- Adult: $10
- Child: $8
- Senior: $9
- Children 1 & under: free
Field‑trip and school rates are available—call for details.
Community & Social Media
Stay up to date with Storyland’s seasonal events, Mother Goose performances, and special programming via their official channels:
- Instagram:
@storylandfresno - Facebook: Storyland Fresno
- Phone: (559) 486‑2124
Closing Thoughts
As someone who once inserted those keys as a child and later helped guide the park’s revival, Storyland holds a blend of personal and communal memory—The magic of make-believe, the lessons of literacy, and a simple, timeless joy that generations still share.
Playland may have closed, but Storyland’s stories still echo—and those little keys? They still work.
Visiting soon? Let me know if you’d like tips on field trip planning, special events like Mother Goose weekend readings, or maybe just reliving the thrill of that plastic key turning.
I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.
I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.
Fresno? I say FresYES
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