The Enchanted Forest and Its Family

Book excerpt: Free enterprise is not dead! It still lives in the hearts and souls of those who dare to dream and believe in their dreams. An inspiring story, The Enchanted Forest and Its Family, gives the history of Oregon's oldest family owned theme park and of the family that made it possible. The pitfalls of starting a business from scratch are sometimes overwhelming to a young person or family trying to make their mark in the world. This book tells of the struggles of such a family with meager resources who relied on their love of family, many talents, desire, and hard work. Roger Tofte spearheaded the drive to fulfill his dream. He had a vision and with his artistic skills nothing seemed impossible. The young family, including four children, struggled and did without in order to overcome adversities. it was often a bag of cement at a time. But it could be done! From humble beginnings, the theme park flourished to become one of Oregon's leading attractions. The author, Mavis Tofte, knows her subject well. As the wife of Roger Tofte, she ran the business during the early years and helped where needed. When cancer threatened her life in 1978, it only meant another challenge to overcome. Responsibilities were delegated to the children who assumed more than their share of duties to help the family. After retirement, the author turned to writing with a passion.