History / Inspiration
Way back in 1948 — before Disneyland, before Six Flags — an Oakland businessman named Arthur Navlet convinced the Lake Merritt Breakfast club to help him establish a storybook theme park in Oakland. Together, they raised $50,000, and Fairyland was born. For over 60 years, Fairyland has been dedicated to maintaining a world of pure imagination for local kids. The park keeps admission low — and even free — for children in Oakland.
The park quickly became known for its "Magic Keys," which unlocked talking storybooks throughough the park. Soon afterward, over 40 zoos across the country adopted their own version of the key. The keys came in a variety of colors, and some even glowed in the dark. To maximize profits, most zoos began making magnetic keys that expired after a year.
At Fairyland, though, you can still use any Magic Key to unlock the secrets of the talking boxes. On behalf of the imagination industry, sales of this "Fairylandish" shirt will help Fairyland provide more years of "happily ever after.
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