Woodridge native builds reputation as Legoland New York's only female master builder

Danielle Ross is one of seven master builders at the theme park in Goshen, but she's the only woman.

News 12 Staff

Mar 29, 2022, 2:27 AM

Updated 990 days ago

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A Sullivan County woman has built a reputation as a master builder at Legoland New York in Goshen.
Danielle Ross is one of seven master builders at the theme park in Goshen, but she's the only woman.
"I tried to increase the diversity of the population of people of all different creeds, religions and races," the 25-year-old Woodridge native says. "I remember being inside one of the mini land clusters and a mom pointed to me and said to her little girl, 'Look! There's a girl here. You can do this too. You can be a master model builder.'"
Ross helped create the Lego designs featured in the park and made many of the figurines featured in the displays.
Before the longtime artist landed the role of master builder in 2021, she never worked with Lego.
"I had some pretty mundane jobs. I worked in sales, at a bank, but I always was in the background sculpting, wood carving, sewing and painting," Ross says.
She even handmade a working mermaid tail.
"I started my own business as a mermaid. I took it with me to kids' parties and events and I swam in tanks," Ross says and adds that it was that creativity and connection with kids that made her a perfect fit at Legoland.
"It's really kind of the same experience here. When I'm out in the park walking around, I get to see how excited and happy the kids are to see the magic that you can make with Lego," she says.
Legoland officially re-opens this spring on April 8 for its second season.