Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Vaslev.
Hi Susan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up at Enchanted Forest. My father, Roger Tofte, began building the park by hand in 1964 with a dream of creating a place where families could step into the pages of their favorite fairy tales. When the park opened, my brother and sisters and I helped wherever we could—working in the park and learning every aspect of the business. The park wasn’t just where we worked; it was home.
My mother was the original business manager, but when she got cancer, my sister Mary and I began running the park; I was 23 and she was 17. I became involved in the upkeep, construction, artisitic, entertainment side of the park, directing live theatre productions and writing music for the park. Later, I founded the Celtic band Possibly Irish in 2015, and performing has become another way I enjoy bringing stories to life. My sister Mary runs all aspects of the business side of the park.
My father, creator of Enchanted Forest, Roger Tofte, passed away this last February. He was an incredible visionary and the person whose imagination shaped every corner of Enchanted Forest. The 2nd and 3rd generations learned from my mother and father and my parents ensured the transition to the next generation was seamless. . Today, our family remains committed to carrying on my parents’ dream so future generations can experience the same sense of wonder that has captivated visitors for more than five decades.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning and operating a family theme park has never been easy. Unlike large corporate parks, every improvement, restoration, requires hands on hard work, and careful budgeting.
We’ve faced economic downturns, changing regulations, labor shortages, supply chain issues, weather challenges, and the ongoing maintenance that comes with preserving a park filled with handcrafted buildings, animatronics, and rides in Oregon where rain and dampness take it’s toll.
One of our biggest challenges came during COVID when the park was closed by government mandate. With no money coming in, we scrambled to raise funds by auctioning off Enchanted Forest memorabilia, my father’s artwork, creating a buy-a-brick program and eventually opening a GoFundMe for a short time. We are grateful to the help people gave us during that time.
Following that, we lost several family members in the Beachie Creek Wildfire. That was followed by a huge ice/wind storm that left immense damage. We lost about 200 trees, which fell through rides and buildings, and uprooted infrastructure.
Despite the challenges, we’ve remained family-owned and family-operated, and I believe that’s one of our greatest strengths. We can make dicisions quickly to navigate changing challenges.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Enchanted Forest, Inc?
Enchanted Forest is one of the last remaining family-owned theme parks of its kind in the United States. Located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, we’ve been welcoming visitors since 1971.
What makes Enchanted Forest unique is that it wasn’t designed by a corporation—it was imagined and hand-built by one man, my father, Roger Tofte. Every path, castle, storybook scene, and whimsical detail reflects his creativity and craftsmanship. Guests don’t just ride attractions here—they discover hidden surprises around every corner.
We’re known for hand-crafter detail in our Storybook Lane, Western Town, English VIllage,Challenge of Mondor, Comedy Theater, and classic family rides, all set within a beautiful forest. Many of our attractions are original creations that can’t be found anywhere else.
As a family-owned business, we’re constantly restoring and preserving attractions that have become part of generations of family traditions while also adding new experiences. We want grandparents to bring their grandchildren and point to places they remember visiting as children themselves.
The thing I’m most proud of is that we’ve stayed true to who we are. In a world where many attractions become bigger and louder every year, Enchanted Forest continues to focus on imagination, craftsmanship, storytelling, and creating lasting memories for visitors. We hope every guest leaves feeling like they’ve found a hidden gem meant just for them.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I’ve learned that lasting success isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about staying true to your purpose while continuing to improve.
My father taught me that if you build something with genuine passion, creativity, and care, people will recognize it. He would start a project, adjust along the way, and just keep working until it was done, even if it took years. I’ve learned that preserving something special requires constant work. Whether it’s maintaining a ride, restoring a storybook scene, leading a team, or welcoming guests, it’s the small, consistent efforts every day that create something meaningful over time.
Above all, I’ve learned that Enchanted Forest isn’t really about rides or buildings. It’s about our guests making making special memories. Seeing generations sharing the adventure, friends bringing their friends, parents who visited as children now bringing their own kids—and even grandkids—is the greatest compliment we could ever receive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.enchantedforest.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enchantdforst/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnchantedForestThemePark
