The baby strollers are a little more aerodynamic and wandering members of a group can be rounded up via cell phone nowadays, but families who remember say Story Book Forest in Ligonier still can take you back to when today's grandparents were kids and the park was new.

Opened in June 1956 and created by Arthur Jennings, an engineer who also enjoyed being a clown at Idlewild Park in the summertime, the original park had 15 sights and attractions, all of which are duly marked this year as its 50th anniversary is celebrated.

	V.W.H. Campbell, Post-Gazette Story Book Forest at Idlewild Park is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Kids who visited the park in the 1950s are now taking their grandchildren. Duane Walker, of Hickory, watches as his grandson, Nathan Grimer, 1, of Allison Park, visits with The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, Theresa Rohaly. Click photo for larger image.

A total of 44 stops are now open, but families still slowly make their way along the shady, winding paths on which their toddlers and preschoolers can watch the rabbits at Peter Rabbit's house or visit with the old woman who lives in a shoe of fairy tale lore.

Some come every year and some travel hundreds of miles to do so, as did Barbara and Paul Lazor, of Katy, Texas. They grew up in the Greensburg area and were visiting the park with their daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, Kennedy.

"We came here as kids. We had family reunions here," Mr. Lazor said.

At least once a summer, the Lazors packed picnic hampers and reserved a pavilion so the family could gather to play games, share gossip and visit the park.

"It was a quiet park for family reunions," he said, and all age groups enjoyed it.

They still do.

In the area for a wedding, the Lazors said they wouldn't have missed the chance to visit the park.

Daughter Courtney Hatten and her husband, Chris, thought it was a perfect excuse to bring 21-month-old Kennedy to this place, where the child could stick her head through the giant size swiss cheese holes and pretend to ride the Little Train That Could. Mrs. Hatten remembers when she was little and did that.

The Lazors say they usually make the trip to the area once a year and Story Book Forest is always on the agenda.

Last summer, park workers noted the states of origin of license plates on cars parked in the parking lots for Story Book Forest and nearby Idlewild and Soak Zone, said Jeff Croushore, public relations manager. Through the course of the summer, plates from all 50 states were spotted, he said.

Dorothy and Jack O'Leary, of Fairfax, Va., were out-of-state visitors last week, but they are originally from Munhall.

"We grew up in Kennywood," Mr. O'Leary said.

They had their two grandchildren, Jacob, 5, and Molly O'Leary, 2, with them for a few weeks and they thought Story Book Forest was the perfect place to visit on this little vacation.

So did Linda Dorenkamp, who was visiting the park with her grandson, Brayden Povlick, 2; her daughter, Lisa Povlick; their friend, Tiffany Arblaster; and her son, Logan, all of Butler.

Ms. Dorenkamp remembered the park from at least one visit when her daughter was a child. When Mrs. Arblaster brought up the idea to take the day and visit again, she was all for it.

"Oh, yes," she laughed when she was asked whether the children were having a good time.

They planned to spend the whole day or "until [the children] give out," Mrs. Arblaster said.

At one time, Idlewild Park and Story Book Forest were separate entities. When Kennywood Park Corp. bought Idlewild and Story Book Forest in 1983, they became one.

Little changed, though, as the owners kept the quaint feel of Story Book Forest, even as new attractions were added.

Mother Goose, Mary Quite Contrary and Snow White still sit near their cottages and gardens ready to answer children's questions. Lollipops are still handed out to children and adults alike at the Good Ship Lollipop, which is permanently docked on the park lagoon's shore.

Once they've seen the shoe, youngsters wonder where all the children of the Old Woman sleep. It seems too small for more than one or two.

"They question everything about the shoe," said Theresa Rohaly, of Pleasant Unity. She is the current Old Woman, one of only a handful who have held the position in the park's history. She's had the job for eight years.

She figures she sees hundreds of children daily, a thousand on a nice, hot weekend.

Ms. Rohaly loves every minute of it.

"I've had good jobs all along," she said, noting they included being a secretary, working in sales and for a bank. "But this is the best."

Mother Goose agrees.

She greets visitors as they enter the park through the signature huge storybook.

Beverly Leonatti, of Irwin, has held her job as Mother Goose for 11 years. She chats with people who enter and finds out little things about them, such as welcoming the 99-year-old who was visiting the park for the day.

"I just love my job," Ms. Leonatti said.

Mr. Croushore said Story Book Forest employs between 18 and 20 people a season. About 800 people are hired for the entire park over the course of a summer.

The Idlewild attractions and Story Book Forest are open seven days a week through Labor Day. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Story Book Forest, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Idlewild and its attractions with the Idlewild water park, Soak Zone, closing at 7 p.m.

The parks reopen for Idlewild's Halloboo fall festival in October. Dates are Oct 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29.

Mr. Croushore said the Story Book Forest celebration is perfect for small children because it isn't as scary as some public Halloween attractions can be. They rely more on fun decorations rather than frightening creatures for the event.

All children who visit will be invited to take trick-or-treat bags along on their journey through the park, while storybook characters provide the treats.

The park, in the middle of the Laurel Highlands, is dressed in its finest fall foliage at that time of the year.