Once Upon a Time’s Storybrooke: Magic Is Coming

Once upon a time…

All the fairy tale characters we know, or thought we knew, were cursed to a land without magic, our world. In the small town of Storybrooke, a boy, named Henry, makes a heroic sacrifice to bring his mother, Emma Swan, to terms with who she is…The Savior. Emma breaks the 28-year-long curse of Storybrooke, and with the cunning actions of Mr. Gold, brings magic to Storybrooke. What dangers could they be in for now?

From the creative minds of Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis comes the beloved fantasy show Once Upon A Time. This show embodies what fantasy can be and reinvents the stories I grew up hearing from books and watching VHS tapes. I have followed this show since the beginning and have seen it morph into a complex story that is incomparable to other television dramas. I recently had the opportunity to visit Steveston, the actual town where the show was filmed, and I made a great attempt at recreating the town. This model captures all of my desires and what I have loved for the past 14 years. I wholeheartedly believe this small town can become famous once more if it were made into a set. Not only does it offer endless play and storytelling for young builders, but making this project a reality would recapture the fans who still adore this show to this day.

About the Model:

Welcome to Storybrooke! This model is based on the 2011-2018 hit fantasy TV show Once Upon A Time. This model mainly portrays the town from the first three seasons but with many references to the other seasons. Storybrooke features the five most prominent locations of the town: Granny’s Diner, the Storybrooke Police Department, The Jolly Roger, Mr. Gold’s Pawn Shop, and the Storybrooke Public Library. Storybrooke features 15 minifigures that are pivotal to the show: Mary Margaret Blanchard, David Nolan, Emma Swan, Henry Mills, Regina Mills, Robin Hood, Killian Jones, Mr. Gold, Belle French, Zelena, Archie Hopper with his dog Pongo, Ruby Lucas, Widow Lucas (Granny), Leroy, and Mother Superior.

There are several little side builds to set the scene of the town: The first builds are the “Welcome to Storybrooke” entrance sign where the town line is and a streetlight as seen throughout the town. Emma Swan’s yellow car is also included that can seat two figs. The wishing well that brings magic to Storybrooke via The Potion of True Love is featured with smoky magic entering the world.

The Storybrooke Public Library offers a unique angular design. I have chosen to display the clock tower at 8:16-a reference to the end of the first episode where time started moving again in the “frozen-in-time” Storybrooke; however, the clock hands can display any time. The library is modular and can be taken apart into 4 sections. The first floor features a circulation desk with a computer and phone. A bookshelf filled with colorful volumes and a book cart for play can also be found. Two distinct items in the library are the glass coffin that is functional and minifigure compatible, and a mound of black dragon dust, signifying the battle between Emma Swan and the fire-breathing dragon in the finale of the first season. When the dust is opened, a golden egg is revealed representing the container for the Potion of True Love, which is also included. The second level is a study nook with two sofa chairs. Features are two of the storybooks from the show “Heroes and Villains” and the new “Once Upon A Time” book. Also, Page 23 is here for Regina and Robin to study. The third floor features a reference to Regina’s vault with the Magic Mirror, an array of different potions and objects, and Cora’s Spell book. The fourth floor shows the clock's inner mechanics. This is also where Mr. Gold can conjure magic with the Sorcerer’s Hat.

Solve mysteries and crimes at the two-story Storybrooke Police Department. The exterior entrance features a parking barrier, a group of trees native to the town, and rows of Snowbells, planted in honor of Queen Eva. On the inside, the bottom floor of the building features two cells for inmates with a small bed within. Also, a watch desk with boxes of research and evidence is included. The computer monitor shows the website Henry used to find Emma in the pilot episode. The top floor includes more details such as a storage box of old campaign posters for Sheriff between Emma Swan and Sidney Glass. An interrogation table is in the back where Mary Margaret is being accused of a crime by the cunning Regina. The Sheriff's Office is the last part of this floor, where Mr. Gold can be seen lurking.

Sail the realms with Captain Hook on the swashbuckling Jolly Roger. Travel to Neverland to rescue Henry and return home to Storybrooke with an unknowing villain. Capture Peter Pan’s shadow and fly the clouds between worlds. One of the sails can be swapped between a normal sail and a black enchanted sail to fly. The deck space offers plenty of play features such as swords, cannons, food, and a statue Mermaid that conjures rough seas. Below deck, a set of stairs leads to the Captain’s Cabin filled with nautical instruments and a charming dinner set for two. A couple of cupboards can easily be made into a bed for resting. The living quarters are located toward the bow of the ship. A shelving unit is featured with trinkets and treasures from adventures. Also, a bunk bed for two can be seen. There are also plenty of barrels for drinks and cupboards for storing gems. 

Granny’s Diner offers plenty of outdoor space for hanging out and meeting with friends. The mural of Storybrooke’s coastline and the sign pointing to Granny’s Bed and Breakfast is also featured here. If the outdoors is not to your liking, Granny’s hosts many indoor seating options including 2 cushioned booths, a dining table, and 2 bar stool seating chairs that await hungry guests. The serving counter also features delectable treats and delicious drinks. A jukebox-style machine allows for fan-favorite tunes. The retro clock depicts 7:15, a reference to Episode 10 of the first season when Mary Margaret watches David get coffee every morning. The side wall can open for ease of access, and the second floor can be removed. The second floor is a room in Granny’s Bed and Breakfast. A bed, couch, rug, lamp, nightstand with mirror, and a desk are found here. The desk offers a simple typewriter and a drawing of The Dark One’s dagger, along with a couple of Storybrooke postcards. The attic space serves as a storage area for all the magic effects. 

Find all of the references to the show in Mr. Gold’s Pawn Shop. The front of the shop includes items such as the glass unicorn mobile, The Enchanted Candle, wooden puppets, a windmill, Geppetto’s cuckoo clock, Red’s red cape, The Shears of Destiny, a magic bean, a mouse statue, a pirate ship, various potions, and the Snow Queen’s yellow ribbons and memory stones. The back of the shop also features some treasurable artifacts such as Rumpelstiltskin’s spinning wheel, Baelfire’s scarf, The Mad Hatter’s magic hat, a chipped teacup, and a clear jar of invisible chalk that can be used to create a barrier between you and your enemies. Also hung on the walls are pages from the storybook that was pivotal in the TV series: Snow and Charming’s wedding and the birth of Emma Swan. The side wall, back wall, and roof can all be removed for ease of access and play. 

This 4,988-piece set offers endless play for storytelling and makes a great addition to any city or fantasy world! Will you help break the next curse and bring this idea to reality?