by Spencer Bollettieri, freelance writer for Theme Park Magazine
In Yorktown Heights, New York, the Wizarding World comes alive in Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. Blending technology, ecology, and the magic of Hogwarts, the Forbidden Forest allows curiosity to soar and a love of nature to grow. With the environment in mind and fans at the heart of the experience, visitors can let their imaginations run wild as they explore the incredible worlds of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts.
Harry Potter Nature Trail of Magic
Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment, in partnership with Thinkwell, Unify, and Fever has created a nighttime outdoor nature trail that takes guests into the wilds of the Wizarding World. Utilizing life-sized models, animatronics, and theatrical magic, the family-friendly experience is just one of multiple, with the others found in Leesburg, VA, and Manchester, UK. Harry Potter fans, nature enthusiasts, and people of all ages watch as the forests light up with sights, sounds, and all the enchantment Hogwarts has to offer as part of a 60-90 minute adventure that allows them to interact with the Wizarding World in a new way.
When first arriving, guests explore a small shopping village where they can stock up on merchandise and grab something to eat before embarking on their journey. Featuring stands like The Fat Friar, The Bowtruckle Bar, and what appears to be a Honeyduke’s “pick ‘n mix,” Wizarding World-inspired favorites such as Butterbeer are on the menu and ready to order. The shopping village and concession stands along the trail may not be Hogsmeade, but they offer a wide variety of goods for visitors to begin, end, and celebrate their time in the Wizarding World.
The Forbidden Forest Adventure
The experience begins within a circle of lanterns where guests gather. Being met by a friendly park attendant, younger spellcasters are encouraged to answer questions of Harry Potter trivia and share their favorite magical creatures with the rest of the group while they wait. However, once everyone assembles and gets ready to go, they get their first taste of magic. Fans of Harry Potter will recognize a deluminator as it dims the lanterns around them and transforms Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park into the enchanted grounds surrounding Hogwarts in a brilliant display of lights. As the soundtrack plays and character voices echo from beyond the forest, visitors are welcomed and fully immersed in their magical world.
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is a mostly self-guided outdoor tour where visitors venture into the night on a magical safari. Throughout the night, guests relive some of their favorite moments from the Harry Potter series, cast spells, and meet fantastic creatures. However, what separates Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience from any other light show or nature trail is its interactive exhibits and stops along the way. Visitors in the Forbidden Forest can meet Buckbeak, the resident Hippogriff, conjure their Patronus with a magic wand, or duel each other just off the main path. However, the highlights of the experience come in a delightfully frightening encounter with the giant spider Aragog (which arachnophobes can thankfully bypass) and a grand finale where Harry Potter fends off Dementors descending on the forest. Overall it’s a magical spectacle that brings out the beauty of nature, tells a story and entertains explorers of all ages.
An Environmentally Friendly Experience
However, what most people notice is that every Forbidden Forest is unique. That’s because each experience works closely with ecologists, experts, and estate managers to ensure that the attraction’s impact on the environment is minimal and wildlife isn’t disturbed.
“The forest tells where to put things,” says Heather McGill, one of the executive producers and creative directors, elaborating that they wish to complement the surrounding wilderness, using its beauty as a backdrop without upsetting it. Additionally, McGill cites the attraction, and all those who visit it made the 43,000 trees planted in the UK and US possible.
True to magizoologist Newt Scamander’s philosophies, Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience reinforces respect and love for all the fantastic creatures within our world.
Experience the Magic of the Forbidden Forest
Whether a Wizarding World fan or a lover of the outdoors, Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience prides itself on being an attraction appropriate for everyone. There’s a lot to appreciate, if not from its colorful cast of critters, then certainly from the beauty of the wilderness at night and the noble goal to preserve it. After all, magic isn’t necessarily something that’s taught in Hogwarts; it’s also experienced alive and thriving in the wonders of nature.
The Harry Potter Forbidden Forest experience is located on the grounds of the Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park. The experience is cashless, so you must purchase your tickets online. As of the time of this writing (November 2022), tickets are $36 for adults and $25 for children.
Explore More (Videos)
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience Coming to New York
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience: Full Tour
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience Montage (Halloween)
Explore More (Resources)
- New York Website (Westchester): Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
- Leesburg, VA Website: Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
- Cheshire, UK Website: Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
- Groenenberg, Belgium: Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
About Spencer Bollettieri: As a biologist, journalist, and writer, Spencer Bollettieri has written for sites such as Screen Rant. Although mostly based out of New York, he’s traveled the world in pursuit of new stories.
