"Land of Make Believe"

May 27, 1954-Upper Jay should be in the news a lot this year now that the "Land of Make Believe" is open to the public and it seems to us the community is on the threshold of a bright, prosperous era, thanks to Arto Monaco and his backers. The "Land of Make Believe" is the creation of Mr. Monaco, an artist whose fame should spread as a result of his artistic efforts.

The Au Sable Valley has many scenic attractions even if it is not to be compared with some other valleys of our State in respect to size. It is not heavily populated and has few industries but it does have men of vision and resource who realize that in order to attract tourists you must give them something more than scenery for their money.

Arto Monaco, art director of North Pole and designer of "Old MacDonald's Farm" near Lake Placid, has seen what North Pole has done for the resort industry in the valley. It was a huge success from the very start and there are no signs on the horizon to indicate its popularity is on the wane. We believe his "Land of Make Believe" will prove equally popular, for it has features as attractive to the young as North Pole. And these same features will capture the interest of grownups. You will go far to see anything like "The Fairy Tale Castle" or the miniature village called "Cactus Flats." It boasts, incidentally, the only coal-fired engine in the North Country, capable of pulling enough coaches to accommodate 100 children and 40 grownups all at one time.

Undoubtedly, this project will be the means of providing jobs for more people in the valley just as North Pole does, during the summer months. The more you succeed in attracting tourists to the valley the better will business be for all. If we can't have year-round industries, then let's make the most of the opportunities afforded us by nature, though we can't rely upon the scenic beauty of our valley alone to draw tourists. It has plenty of competition from other areas of the State. Hence, we feel that the "Land of Make Believe," together with North Pole, Ausable Chasm, Frontier Town, and Whiteface Memorial Highway, will successfully meet that competition. We believe our neighbors in Canada are going to take a big liking to the "Land of Make Believe" provided its backers publicize it sufficiently. We presume that is being done.

Arto Monaco has done a masterful job there and he is to be highly commended. He has done much to put Upper Jay on the map as a major tourist resort. He has made only a beginning, so to speak, but what a beginning, and the "Land of Make Believe" and Upper Jay are destined to become synonymous for an attraction that everybody, young and old, will go to see and enjoy to the fullest.

The Record-Post 

 

ADIRONDACK HISTORY CENTER MUSEUM
ESSEX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PO Box 428, 7590 Court Street
Elizabethtown, NY 12932