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4.8
4 votes

The Gingerbread Castle

50 Gingerbread Castle Rd, Hamburg, New Jersey 07419 USA

  • Independent
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“abandoned fairytale themed park”

This place is on private property. Listing for informational purposes only. Please do not visit without express permission from the land owner. The story starts as most fairy tales often do, with a wide eyed child perched at the feet of his mother listening to her reading a story.In this tale the boy was Fred Henry Bennett and the stories were from the Brothers Grimm. Fast forward several years later to 1928 when Fred Bennett's predilection for a first-class fairy tale met with the artistic abilities of one Joseph Urban. The end result of the merger was The Gingerbread Castle, one of the most beloved children's amusement parks in New Jersey. Originally from Vienna, the German born Joseph Urban was renowned the world over for his architectural talents and artistic eye, especially when it came to designing sets for major musical theatre productions. Urban worked extensively with the the Boston Opera Company, among others. Fred Henry Bennett was the one-time owner of the FH Bennett Biscuit Company. In 1908 the company created Milk Bone Dog Biscuits and the business prospered. After the later success of the company's Wheatsworth Crackers, Bennett changed the company's name to the Wheatsworth Mill in 1927. In 1928 Bennett decided to build the Gingerbread Castle next to his beloved mill. Urban designed the characters and the castle for him. Then in 1931 he sold Wheatsworth Mill to the National Biscuit Company or Nabisco as it is more familiarly known. The Gingerbread Castle was not part of that sale. It remained in operation as a children's amusement park for some time thereafter. Back in its heyday, The Gingerbread Castle and the ground's surrounding it were a true homage to children's literature. In front of the castle was a large storybook where most children would get their photos taken. Once inside the castle, Hansel and Gretel were on hand to lead visitors on a tour throughout the building. Though most of the castle's décor was whimsical, in true Brothers Grimm fashion, there were also ugly gnomes, trolls, witches and a frightening "cauldron of death." Outside of the Gingerbread Castle was a landscaped area with winding paths that would take visitors past large sculptures of such beloved characters as Humpty Dumpty, Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland. In business until 2007, the Gingerbread Castle eventually closed down and fell into disarray and abandonment. Luckily though, local groups are trying to save the site. http://www.aswgreen.com/recent-tour-of-the-gingerbread-castle/ http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/BuildingDetail/633.php

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Reviewed by
Brittanyhaiduk

  • 6 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
March 17, 2014
Rated 5.0

Awesome!

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
scott.v.jeffers

  • 1 Review
  • 1 Helpful
October 30, 2013
Rated

would be good to preserve this place and to turn it into a haunted house... but I say that about all abandon places

1 person found this review helpful
  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
October 15, 2013
Rated

went there when I was little, liked it, to bad it was shut down

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
rosemarie.yguado

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
August 10, 2013
Rated

It is very rundown now...sad. It was a wonderful place when we were children.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
AAmyA

  • 9 Reviews
  • 5 Helpful
July 21, 2020
Rated

A really cool, quick stop if you’re into abandoned, kitschy properties. A couple of us were quietly standing outside the property, outside the fence, outside the private signs, just gazing at it for a couple minutes when an old man pulled up in his car and started screaming at us. We didn’t hear what he was saying. We left quickly. So don’t stay long but enjoy!

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The Gingerbread Castle

50 Gingerbread Castle Rd
Hamburg, New Jersey
07419 USA
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