Paul Bunyan Land - Brainerd, Minnesota - Family Amusement and Fun Park

Paul Bunyan Land is a family theme and amusement park located in Brainerd, Minnesota. It follows a lumberjack and country theme that includes many references to the legend of Paul Bunyan. The most famous of these would probably be the 26-foot statue of Paul Bunyan at the entrance to the park. The statue is not only animated, but programmed to talk as well, welcoming each child into the park by name. The park itself is moderately sized and includes a varied selection of rides, 30 different buildings, and a number of other attractions.

Paul Bunyan Land was first founded in 1950 by Sherm Levis in Baxter, Minnesota. The famous Paul Bunyan statue was actually the center around which the original park - then known as Paul Bunyan Center - was built. The park grew steadily from that point on and eventually came to include more than 40 different rides. However, eventually the cost of running the park became too much for the owners in 2003 and it was sold to a business called This Old Farm along with the famous Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues and moved to its current location in Brainerd on Highway 18.

The rides at Paul Bunyan Land cover all the bases when it comes to the classics with everything you would expect to find at an amusement park represented and accounted for. These include but are not limited to a beautiful painted carousel, a classic tilt-a-whirl, a ferris wheel that offers riders a breathtaking bird's eye view of the entire park, and even a family-appropriate roller coaster.

However, it's important to note that Paul Bunyan Land has much more to offer visitors beyond just amusement park rides. There are also a number of other attractions to explore that fit into the theme of the park, each offering a unique experience. Visit a chilling haunted house and enjoy a few fun scares and thrills. Marvel over the mysterious magnetic properties of Mine No. 1where anything can happen. Visit Paul's Arcade and enjoy a variety of video and arcade games both old and new. Grab a snack or a tasty bite to eat at either the Lumberjack Cafy or the Old Fashioned Candy Store. Get an old-fashioned photo taken or get a fun spray-on tattoo at the Old Tyme Photo & Tattoo Shop. Don't forget to pick up a t-shirt or souvenir at the souvenir shop to remember your visit by as well!

Before park goers leave the grounds, they shouldn't forget to visit the This Old Farm Pioneer Village for an exciting walk through authentic history. The barn was once actually used to house beef cattle and sheep. Today's visitor can visit it and see functional items like separators and horse-drawn buggies. The blacksmith shop houses a variety of ferrier and blacksmithing tools for your viewing pleasure. Plus, visitors can visit a doctor's office, a filling station, a fire station, a granary, a post office, a print shop, a school house, a saloon, and much, much more - all filled with interesting and authentic pieces of memorabilia.