This location is now a picnic area that is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Other picnic sites in Point Defiance and throughout Metro Parks.
Never Never Land
Previously located in Point Defiance Park (5629 Five Mile Dr.)
Oh where are you going,
And where have you been?
To the land of never never
And back again!
Never Never Land was a private attraction owned and operated by Alfred Peterson of Victoria, B.C. from 1964 to 1985. In the cool, green forest of cedar, fir and hemlock trees, where ferns and moss covered the ground, the stories of enchantment, from Mother Goose to the Brothers Grimm were brought to life.
To develop the site, designer Jean Jaques Andre spent many hours walking through the woods to find settings for the stories that would take advantage of the natural topography and not disturb the landscape. Hungarian sculptor Elek Emredy then carved each slightly smaller than life size figure out of clay, made a plaster cast and into that laid fiberglass. The final versions were dried, sanded and painted in life-like colors. The expressions and sense of motion inherent in each character were a tribute to his skill. Even the houses and fences were individually designed for each scene and built locally by two master wood craftsmen.
During its first year of operation more than 90,000 people visited, but its financial success was short lived. Falling attendance over the years, vandalism, and theft of the storybook figurines led to skyrocketing operating expenses that contributed to Peterson's decision to not renew his lease when it expired in 1985.
In an effort to preserve Never Never Land, Metro Parks purchased the structures, figurines and molds and re-opened the attraction in the summer of 1986 as a park district facility. During that time, Metro Parks faced the same issues that plagued Peterson's operation.
In 2001, the District removed the fencing surrounding the property and placed all of the storybook figurines except the entryway's Humpty Dumpty in storage, opening the remaining original storybook structures that were deemed safe and in good repair as part of a public picnic area.
In 2004, Humpty Dumpty was removed for repairs and placed in storage due to continuing vandalism concerns and the difficult process required for restoration.
Currently this area includes a 1/2 mile trail which loops through the forest, a play structure shaped like a boat and approximately 24 picnic tables. The picnic area is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Last Updated: Aug 18, 2008 11:11 AM