Diving Horses

At the Magic Forest amusement park in upstate New York, time seems to stand still. Here the 1960s version of the American dream is still very much alive, and the carousels and roller coaster cars are kept meticulously oiled.

Yet few customers are still drawn to the attractions of this small family business, which is doomed to disappear, outcompeted by big international amusement park chains. Nevertheless, the staff pins their hope on Lightning the horse, the star of the park’s top attraction, the High Diving Horse Show. The animal that bravely glides into the water is the last of its kind—and in fact the same could be said of the staff: most are elderly enthusiasts who cherish their inner child and keep alive the memory of days gone by.

Dreamy shots of the mostly antique-looking attractions are interspersed with interviews with the staff, as they tinker with new attractions or leaf through old photos. A lighthearted, wistful ode to the romance of amusement parks and days when horses could dive.