TURNER, Ore. — The Enchanted Forest theme park south of Salem was evacuated Thursday after employees or visitors reported a bomb threat, triggering a coordinated response by the Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Police.
Quick response, thorough search
According to Marion County dispatch logs, the report came in at about 11:30 a.m.. Deputies, backed by OSP resources including a bomb detection K-9 team, cleared the grounds and conducted a detailed sweep of the property. By midafternoon, authorities announced they had located nothing suspicious.
"We appreciate the cooperation of the business and the community throughout this incident. We also want to thank the Oregon State Police Bomb Detection K-9 Team for their assistance," an MCSO spokesperson said.
Park officials confirmed that everyone evacuated was "safe and well." As a precaution, the Enchanted Forest remained closed through the rest of the day but planned to resume normal operations on Friday.
Local impact and context
The Enchanted Forest sits just off Interstate 5 in Turner and draws families and tourists across the region. An evacuation there can ripple through traffic and nearby businesses, and it tends to draw strong law enforcement resources because of the potential risk to large numbers of people.
Authorities did not release further details about the origin of the threat or whether investigators are pursuing any suspects. The sheriff's office and OSP handled the scene together, and the presence of the bomb-detection K-9 team helped officials clear the park and allow the property to reopen the next day.
What visitors should know
- The park was evacuated at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday and searched by law enforcement.
- No device or suspicious item was found; officials said everyone was safe.
- The Enchanted Forest remained closed for the rest of the day and expected to reopen Friday.
This is a developing story. Marion County and Oregon State Police have not released additional information about the report's origin or whether investigators are following leads. News Block will update this report as authorities provide new details.
