Hamburg, New Jersey, USA

Closed 1991

The Gingerbread Castle was a fairytale village anchored by a beautiful castle which overlooked an amusement park. It featured such childhood figures as Humpty Dumpty and Little Bo Peep. It was a wonderful step back into a living storybook, leaving children in awe and adults mesmerized and entertained by the glee the place inspired in children. So immersed in the culture of fairytales, the town itself had streets with names such as King Cole, Cinderella, Wishing Well which added to the mystique of finding a castle in Sussex County NJ. The Castle was, truly, present in many dreams of children of the 20th century. Maureen Z.

The Gingerbread Castle was originally a fairy tale-themed amusement park located in Hamburg, New Jersey. The castle was designed in 1928 by the Austrian architect and set designer Joseph Urban. It was commissioned by F.H. Bennett, who was the owner of F.H. Bennett Biscuit Company. The castle opened in 1930 and quickly became a popular tourist destination. Unfortunately, by the early 1980s, the castle began its decline from a beloved amusement park to a decrepit castle. Throughout the years, the castle and its surrounding property have gone through many transformations, including being a nightclub and at another point a haunted house. In 2004, New Jersey resident Frank Hinger purchased the property and began to restore the castle but was unsuccessful. It is currently owned by Don Oriolo who plans to restore it.

The painting is based on a photograph credited to Gary M. Lintzenich/NorthJersey.com.

No. 315