LaFayette, N.Y. — On paper, Wonderland Forest is a campground and concert venue. Seems simple enough.
But in person, the Wonderland team shrugs off rigid definitions of what this space is.
“People are coming for one common purpose, to enjoy themselves,” said Ricky Monroe, general manager of Wonderland Forest. “We want you to have an experience. What that experience is? Completely up to you.”
If it seems too open-ended of a concept to fit neatly in one box, that’s by design.
The venue itself is built on 400 acres of forest in the hills of Otisco, N.Y. It includes multiple stages, campgrounds, waterfalls and indoor/outdoor event spaces. Dan Mastronardi, the owner and talent buyer at The Westcott Theater, books the acts.
The new-ish concert venue opened officially this summer at 4812 South Cook Rd. in LaFayette. It’s a 10-minute drive past Beak & Skiff Apple Orchard, which also hosts its own robust lineup of concerts each year.
Ricky Monroe is the general manager of Wonderland Forest, a campground and concert venue in Lafayette, N.Y.Katrina Tulloch
Wonderland Forest’s first major show took place in June. It was a 50th anniversary party of Summer Jam with tribute bands playing the music of The Band, the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead.
Rain delayed some of activities for that first show, as storms pummeled Central New York. Some complained about muddy parking lots. But the weather cleared for Cosmic Country and headliner Dark Star Orchestra.
“We went through the fire,” Monroe said. “We had our obstacles, but people loved it. They realized this place was amazing.”
After Summer Jam, Wonderland’s second festival Tumble Down brought hundreds to see Twiddle and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong in September. Disco Biscuits and Lotus headlined Biscoland on Oct. 6 and 7. At the end of Biscoland, Disco Biscuits announced their plans to return to Wonderland in 2024.
“They called it home,” Monroe said. “Getting the next shows; we’re already on top of that.”
Wonderland also hosted their first wedding this year overlooking Apple Valley. The zombie-themed Run of the Dead brought Syracuse’s running community to Wonderland in October.
Concertgoers painted a dead tree in the woods of Wonderland Forest during the Biscoland music festival in October 2023. Disco Biscuits headlined the festival and announced a plan to return in 2024.Katrina Tulloch
Most of all, the Wonderland team hopes to set themselves apart by offering their visitors more space, time and freedom than other music venues normally allow.
Typical concertgoers block out 2-3 hours in an evening to head to a venue, grab food and drinks, watch the show, then head home.
“We want more,” Monroe said. “The show might be on Saturday, but you can come Tuesday and camp all week. You can come see the music or hike our trails. You can paint art in the woods. You can bring pets. You can create. It’s limitless. People want that. They want to feel free.”
Creative art is encouraged, and there’s plenty of it on the grounds already. Walk into the Wonderland woods and you’ll see hanging art pieces and trees glowing with neon paint, thanks to visitors from previous shows. Artist Jason Vincent brought his psychedelic live painting shows to Biscoland’s vendor village.
Visitors are encouraged to create artwork on the grounds of Wonderland Forest. This is a painted room next to one of the stages.Katrina Tulloch
Wonderland hiking trails include the historic Rattlesnake Gulf and The Blue Hole, along with other waterfalls and watering holes nearby. It feels like the middle of nowhere, but it’s not. The drive is less than 30 minutes away from downtown Syracuse. Camping fees start at $35.
During the first shows of 2023, Monroe said many out-of-town campers drove back into town to shop and visit local restaurants.
“People went into Syracuse, ate and spent money,” Monroe said. “When you build a business, it’s not just about you. How do other small business generate from what we built? By the second and third shows, we saw other businesses prospering from the events we had. It keeps everyone happy.”
In addition to various stages, the space can host multiple food trucks and events on the sprawling property. There’s a pond and saloon-style bar on the grounds. The team hopes to host chili cook-offs and catered dinner parties at a nearby manor called The White House.
Looking ahead, Monroe sees Wonderland’s immense space as a huge advantage for future growth.
“Years from now, I would love to see this place be a large amphitheater where we’re booking larger talent, but still keeping a smaller, intimate vibe,” Monroe said. “Change is good. We embrace it.”
