Why you should experience Storyland in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Storyland is an enchanting storybook playground where City Park's centuries-old oak groves, childhood imagination, whimsical design, and family tradition create one of New Orleans' most beloved attractions.
Set within City Park along Victory Avenue near Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and just steps from the New Orleans Botanical Garden, this magnetic outdoor playground invites children to climb aboard Captain Hook's pirate ship, venture through Pinocchio's whale, explore Jack and Jill's hill, and interact with larger-than-life fairy-tale characters drawn from Grimm's Fairy Tales, Mother Goose, and folklore from around the world. Majestic live oaks, colorful sculptures, and imaginative play environments create an atmosphere where classic stories become unforgettable adventures. Every visit inspires creativity, curiosity, and joyful exploration. The result is an experience defined by timeless imagination, family fun, and one of New Orleans' most cherished children's destinations.
What you should know about Storyland.
Storyland is best known for opening on December 30, 1956 as Children's Storyland, transforming a section of New Orleans City Park into an immersive fairy-tale playground inspired by Children's Fairyland in Oakland, California. Financed by Harry Batt Sr., owner of Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park, and featuring many original creations by the young Blaine Kern, who would later become the world's most celebrated Mardi Gras float designer, Storyland pioneered interactive play by encouraging children to climb, crawl, and explore its oversized storybook environments. Today the attraction features 18 larger-than-life storybook sculptures representing classic fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and folktales, including Captain Hook's pirate ship, Cinderella's pumpkin, the Three Little Pigs, Sleeping Beauty's castle, and Pinocchio's whale, all tucked beneath City Park's renowned canopy of ancient live oaks. Following Hurricane Katrina, Storyland underwent extensive restoration before receiving its first major renovation in more than 35 years, completed in 2020, which introduced new attractions, accessibility improvements, interactive features, and Louisiana-inspired characters while carefully preserving the nostalgic spirit that has delighted generations of New Orleans families. More recently, City Park celebrated the return of the park's beloved Dragon Slide with a newly reimagined version, continuing Storyland's tradition of balancing preservation with thoughtful renewal.
Beyond its whimsical attractions, Storyland continues serving as one of New Orleans' defining family destinations by combining imaginative play with literacy, storytelling, and outdoor recreation. The attraction encourages children to physically engage with classic stories while seasonal story hours, educational programming, and its seamless connection to Carousel Gardens Amusement Park expand the experience beyond a traditional playground. Careful landscape design preserves the towering live oak canopy while integrating colorful sculptures, shaded pathways, and accessible play environments that invite exploration at every turn. Its enduring popularity reflects the city's commitment to preserving childhood traditions while continually investing in future generations of visitors. Historic preservation, creative play, landscape architecture, educational storytelling, and family-centered design combine to create one of the South's most influential storybook playgrounds.
How to fold Storyland into your trip.
Storyland is best experienced as the family centerpiece of an exploration through City Park.
Begin at Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, where historic rides introduce the remarkable family attractions surrounding Storyland. Continue to the New Orleans Botanical Garden, whose beautifully landscaped collections complement the park's imaginative atmosphere. Conclude at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, where world-class outdoor sculpture provides a memorable finale celebrating the remarkable relationship between art, nature, and creativity that defines City Park. The progression moves naturally from classic amusement rides to immersive storybook adventure before concluding through two defining cultural landscapes, revealing why Storyland remains one of Louisiana's essential family experiences.
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