Tucked away on a side street in Hamburg, New Jersey sits an Enchanted Castle made out of Gingerbread and trimmed with Sweet Delights. Children's eyes light up with Gumdrop Visions and Marzipan Dreams, topped off with an endless amount of Sweet Frosting and Tasty Treats that makes your mouth water! Now sitting in despair withering away into nothingness ever so slowly hoping to be restored once again to it's full luster.

The owner of the Wheatsworth Mill, (just adjacent the Gingerbread Castle) Fred Henry Bennett was fond of the mischievous stories written by the Brothers Grimm, Jacob & Wilhelm. He decided to create such a Fairy Tale Castle Theme Park for Children and those Adults that still are a kid inside. Opening the doors in 1930, Hansel & Gretel would escort you and your Children through a magical Fairy Tale enriched with Dwarves, Gnomes and Trolls as well as a Witch riding a Broomstick that would love to cook you up in her Cauldron! Around the Castle you'll see the majestic grandness in bright colors as you pass the Three Men in a Tub, the Knight in Shining Armor and The Old Lady who Lived in a Shoe to awe your senses. Let us not forget the ever so whimsical Humpty Dumpty who still sits on the wall, looking quite rough I might add! Other attractions like a life size story book you can stand in along with Dinosaurs scattered about kept the young Children interest, never being bored.

For nearly fifty years, the Gingerbread Castle amused and enlighten people from around the Globe before finally closing the Storybook in the late 1970's. There was hope as the doors reopened intermittently for a short time as a haunted attraction, but unfortunately rumors state that a fire stunted it's appeal before permanently closing in 1990's.

Today the once beautiful Gingerbread Castle is abandoned and wasting away… Overgrown and sadly to say vandalized by those unworthy of mentioning. If you do venture there and explore, once beyond the surrounding fence is considered Private property and you're at the risk of being arrested… And if you do go. please don't vandalize, it's just not cool! With that being said, save yourself the trip and see it all virtually here with my photographs

 

Walking over this bridge over a small pond brought such excitement with the castle in view.

 

 

Wheels recycled from the Wheatsworth Mill to decorate the grounds

 

Humpty Dumpty sat on a Wall but never had a Great Fall

 

He just sits there looking a bit rough with his colorful paint flaking away through the years

 

 

 

 

 

The Old Lady who Lives in a Shoe is consumed by Overgrowth

 

 

Mother Goose

 

 

 

Ole King Cole

 

Unfortunate Vandalizm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nature finding her way in and climbing to the Tippy Top

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"He who bears the Throne, Rules the Kingdom"

 

Let's hope and pray that someone ambitious restores this hidden gem from yesteryear. Wish I had the funds... I'd hop on this in a heart beat and bring it back the way it was for future generations!

 

 

Click on the Gingerbread Story Book below for a special treat!