Roger Tofte and The Handmade Magic Of Oregon’s Enchanted Forest

Send us Fan MailStart with a finish-line smile and a hand-built castle. We open by honoring Jeff Galloway—the Olympian and Run-Walk-Run mentor whose you can do it turned marathons into memories for everyday runners—then spend most of this short episode saluting another architect of joy: Roger Tofte, the craftsman behind Oregon’s Enchanted Forest.Roger was a draftsman, sign maker, and watch repairer who saw a quiet forest near Salem and imagined a fairy tale carved into concrete and trees. He bought twenty acres on a shoestring, spent seven years shaping Storybook Lane by hand, and opened with a butcher-paper sign.We celebrate Roger’s life at ninety-six and the ongoing stewardship of his family, who still run the park with the same hands-on care. If you’re mapping an Oregon road trip, looking for family-friendly attractions near Salem, or chasing the charm of indie amusement parks, this story is your guide to what handmade wonder looks like—and why it endures. Press play, then share this with someone who loves small, magical places.Two great men have passed. We were so lucky to share the planet with them.Thanks for listening!We'd love it if you would give us a review on your podcast platform of choice: iTunes, Spotify, etc... They're really helpful.And get in touch and let us know about YOUR Plus-Ups for the attractions we've talked about!  We'd love to tell them on the air.Come visit us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, or whatever social media you like. Just look up Lowdown on the Plus-Up and you'll probably find us.  Or drop us a note to [email protected] and let us know any questions or comments about how YOU would like to plus-something-up! We are a Boardwalk Times production.Boardwalk Times, https://boardwalktimes.net/Boardwalk Times store, https://boardwalktimes.store .