Charles R. Wood (1914-2004) was the founder of the Double "H" Hole in the Woods Ranch and Chairman of the Charles R. Wood Foundation. As founding father of an amusement park empire headquartered in Lake George, NY, Mr. Wood was known as the "Father of Theme Parks."

In October 2001, Mr. Wood donated $1.4 million -- the largest charitable gift from an individual in the institution’s history -- toward a $3.85 million fund-raising goal for a new linear accelerator to administer radiation oncology treatments. In recognition of this significant contribution, hospital officials renamed the hospital’s community cancer center in his honor.

His Mother Goose nursery theme attraction, Storytown (now known as The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom Fun Park), was the nation’s first theme park. The park was sold in 1996 but Mr. Wood is still involved with the park and is a member of the board of directors.

He developed several motels and restaurants, all in the Lake George area.

In 1991, Mr. Wood purchased a 300-acre dude ranch in Lake Luzerne, NY. It is a facility for children with cancer and blood-related diseases. The Ranch welcomes children from 6 to 16 years of age at no cost to them or their families. Today, the Double "H" Hole in the Woods Ranch has gained wide recognition for hosting more than 900 children, mainly with cancer and other blood-related disorders.

Mr. Wood served as President of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. He was inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame in 1992. He served on the Board of Directors of the Hyde Museum in Glens Falls, NY; the International Board of the Naples Philharmonic Center of the Arts in Naples, Fla.; Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg, NY; and the Board of the Saratoga Performance Arts Center (SPAC). He was also an avid collector of Frederic Remington’s sculptures and many other famous works of art.

Mr. Wood’s most famous statement is "that we do what we can for society but it must come from our heart."