A midmorning bomb threat cut short the magic at Enchanted Forest in Turner on Thursday, sending families, kids, and staff out of the storybook setting and into the parking lot while authorities swept the grounds. Marion County deputies responded around 11:30 a.m., called in state police bomb-detection dogs, and ultimately found no suspicious devices. Even so, the park stayed closed for the rest of the day while investigators kept working. Park officials later apologized and shared details on refunds and replacement admission passes for cut-short visits.
How Deputies Handled The Threat
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said dispatchers first got the report at about 11:30 a.m., and deputies quickly evacuated the park as a precaution while they searched the property, according to KXL. Oregon State Police’s Bomb Detection K-9 Team joined the sweep of the grounds, checking for any suspicious items. After a full search, officials confirmed that nothing dangerous was found. Deputies thanked guests and staff for staying calm and cooperative and stressed that shutting the park for the day was a safety-first decision.
Park’s Message To Visitors
On social media, park leaders apologized to visitors whose day was abruptly cut off and posted instructions on how to get refunds or replacement tickets, as reported by Cleveland.com. The Enchanted Forest website lists the Turner address and a phone number for ticket questions, and management urged guests to check the site for updates on when operations would resume. Staff told visitors the choice to stay closed after the sweep was made out of an abundance of caution while law enforcement wrapped up its checks.
Why Parks Treat Threats So Seriously
Temporary shutdowns like this have played out at much larger parks this year, too. Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California delayed opening after multiple threats in May, highlighting why theme parks move fast on any similar call, according to CBS Los Angeles. Agencies say trained search teams and detection dogs are the fastest way to clear big properties and reassure the public. For the families at Enchanted Forest, that meant a tense wait in the lot instead of rides and fairy-tale sets, but officials reported no injuries.
Investigation Still Open
Marion County deputies said the investigation into the threat was ongoing and asked anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office, per Cleveland.com. Park officials indicated they expected to reopen the next day, but urged guests to keep an eye on official channels for confirmed hours and ticketing details.
