To remind, or maybe initiate, Opportunity Village is a grassroots Las Vegas nonprofit organization that serves adults and children who have intellectual disabilities. ![]() Adults who want the whole shebang, general admission with rides included, pay $21.99 kids pay $18.99 (for information, hit the Magical Forest website). The cost is $11.99 for adults 13 and older kids 12 and under are $9.99 (ride tickets sold separately). The park is in operation nightly at 5:3o (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). ![]() Located on the O.V.’s West Oakey Campus at 6300 West Oakey Blvd., the Magical Forest again opened for the holidays Friday night. Also on the grounds is nightly entertainment, and a lotta eggnog, cider and frosted noshes. The wondrous holiday attraction features the Holiday Express party train and hundreds of decorated trees and rides (including the Enchanted Carousel, which is actually, verifiably enchanted). The Opportunity Village Magical Forest turns 25 this year. The holiday attraction opened Friday night and is in operation through New Year's Day. It's really important.A look at the Opportunity Village Magical Forest train station. “Whether it's Opportunity Village or any other charity, just give this year. Helping people with that safety net, “ says Brown. “We've got to work on keeping the community whole. Here, and for charities across the valley. Their communication skills, their physical skills because they’re not as active and doing as much during the day.”īrown says the plan is to re-light the forest next year.īut for now, the pathways are quiet, and the train sits empty.Įxpect a tough holiday season. “And what we really saw a lot of our clients when they’re at home, their skills degrade. The world has changed and they're not quite sure why,” says Brown. “Our clients, a lot of them have a hard time understanding what's going on. In the meantime, the OV campuses themselves can only operate at 50% capacity by state mandate. Another big fundraiser, the annual Santa Run, will be a virtual event this year. Without money from the Magical Forest, it’s hoped the community will support Opportunity Village in other ways: a purchase at the thrift store, or an online donation. “Everything goes to pay them, and keep them employed and give them the training they need to succeed in the community,” adds store manager, Todd Riechers. “They hang the clothes and then bring them to us right here and we tag and size them.” “There's a lot to do,” she says, while helping sort through donations. ![]() Money raised through both events helps provide vocational training and job placement for people with intellectual disabilities.Ĭlients like Gracie Salazar who’s worked at the Opportunity Village Thrift store on South Decatur for ten years. “We were halfway through that project and it just wasn't right, we can't do it.” ![]() “We had a really exciting haunted house we were going to do,” says Brown. The annual HallOVeen celebration is canceled too. “This is such a community event, the Magical Forest is a gift we give the Las Vegas community every holiday season.”īrown says it came down to safety, with major concerns about social distancing and crowd control. “This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” says President & CEO Bob Brown. The popular attraction has been welcoming families for more than 30 years and generates nearly $1 million a season for the non-profit. The Magical Forest at Opportunity Village won’t be opening in 2020 due to COVID-19. LAS VEGAS (KSNV) - Talk about a year without a Santa Claus.
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