San Jose’s Magical Park

Tucked into Kelley Park since 1961, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo has been sparking wonder for generations — blending imagination, education, and play into one of San Jose’s most beloved spaces.

Inspired in part by Walt Disney’s early vision for Disneyland, Happy Hollow was created to bring storytelling and themed family fun to a local audience. And it delivered — with hand-built rides, a whimsical fairytale setting, and one of the oldest continuously running live puppet shows in the United States. Long before screens took over storytime, Happy Hollow’s puppet theater brought fairy tales to life with live performance, artistry, and care.

Over the years, the park was home to beloved features now lost to time: the giant crooked house, the historic dragon slide, and Danny the Dragon, a rideable train with a smiling green face that became a rite of passage for San Jose kids. While some of those early attractions have since been retired, they live on in memory — passed down through family stories and faded Polaroids.

Today, Happy Hollow continues to evolve, blending its retro charm with modern conservation — featuring a mini-zoo with rescued animals, updated rides, and play areas that honor its past while serving the next generation.

In a city that keeps changing, Happy Hollow remains a constant: a place where imagination still runs free.

WATCH THIS RETRO FOOTAGE FROM ITS OPENING YEAR!