**Please check the Space Farms website for the most accurate ticket information and operating hours!
Disclaimer: All opinions in this post are my own. It is NOT a sponsored post and no one paid me or provided me with anything for free to write it. Happy Reading!
Space Farms Zoo and Museum in Wantage holds many memories for me. I recall going there on a field trip as a child, and seeing the great bear Goliath with my own little eyes (I even bought a stuffed animal of him in the souvenir shop). Here's Goliath now, which is a little sad in some ways, but I guess I understand the zoo's desire to keep his memory alive, so to speak.
I was always fascinated by the name of this place. It sounds kind of like an interstellar animal haven or something, but really it's named after its owners, the Space Family. It has a rich history that you can read about on their website. They house over 500 animals and 100 different species. There is a museum on site where you can see antique cars, farm equipment, artifacts and more. There are free roaming ducks and chickens and even a playground. They are typically open April through October. This year they are celebrating their 95th year!!
Space Farms is located on Rt 519 in Wantage, NJ. It's "out there" in true Jersey farmland! But it's a nice ride, very scenic and you will spend enough time there to make the drive worthwhile.
How Much Will it Cost Me?
Always check their website for accurate pricing info, but as of the publication date of this blog entry, tickets for adults (ages 13-64) are $22.00, children under 3 are free, children 3-12 are $18.00, Seniors 65 and up are $21.00. If you plan on visiting often, they also sell season passes. Parking is free.
What Will I See There?
There is honestly so much to see, I don't know where to start. Space Farms is composed of dirt paths and large stretches of land where you can walk and see a variety of different animals fairly close up. When we visited, there were bears, tigers, deer, prairie dogs, birds, snakes, pigs, and deer, just to name a few. Check out some of these photos to see what I mean.
There is also a fun playground, which is a nice break from the walking and animal viewing.
The Museum
Okay, here's where you'll laugh, but I don't have a single photo of the museum and antique cars. Why, you ask? Because my nephew and the Jersey Momma's Boy had so much fun in this section that they were literally disappearing around every corner to see all the cool things. I had to move fast to keep up with them, I tell you! Anyway, there are buildings filled with old cars, farm equipment, rocks and minerals, Native American artifacts and so much more. The cars were really cool and most of them have little stories about where they came from.
Where Can We Eat at Space Farms?
Space Farms opened a pizzeria on site called Extreme Pizza. I haven't eaten there yet so I can't tell you much about it. Space Farms has tons of picnic areas and benches so you are also permitted to bring your own food.
Space Farms is over 90 years old. It is family owned and operated. It is old (I just said that, right?). There is history here. So you can't go in there expecting a brand new, shiny facility. If you were there 30 years ago like me, you'll find it largely unchanged. Take, for example, their 'stroller' rental (**and this was a while ago so I can't say if these ancient looking strollers are still available!)
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| Vintage! |
And when I was there, we found one bear still in an old-school cage.
I felt sorry for this big guy. I don't believe in caging wild animals or making them perform for guests. If they are in a zoo for educational or rehabilitation purposes, then they should be in a natural setting behind secure fences, in my opinion.
You'll find mixed reviews online about Space Farms, and most people who complain are complaining about how the animals are kept (like the bear above). Some complained about the taxidermy in the main entrance hall (but I can understand the taxidermy, as some of the Space animals had been in this zoo for decades and they were part of the zoo's history. I can understand the Space family wanting to preserve their memories).
Space Farms has some of the longest living wild animals in captivity, so they must be doing something right. I would hope the state would not let an institution like this mistreat its animals for 95 years. I am not an animal expert or a zoologist, but I would think that if the state knew something was wrong, they would have shut this place down years ago. At least I hope they would have.
So if you plan on visiting, know that you are going to an 'old-school' zoo. That means you will find animals in cages or areas with cement flooring. If this is something that offends you, you might want to reconsider your trip.
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Jersey Momma Tips:
*Call ahead, check their social channels or website for any new procedures or rules since the pandemic.
*There's a lot of walking involved, so wear comfy shoes.
*Bring your own stroller or even a wagon (we had one of those Little Tikes wagons for the boys at the time. It was very helpful!)
*You are permitted to picnic here (according to their Facebook page) so it is okay to bring your own food and drink!
*Bring hand-sanitizer, just in case you wind up feeding some of the animals!
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"It must be okay or the state would have shut them down..." Please reconsider this attitude, especially as a mother. Depending on the ages of kids, it would be worth a conversation and maybe some action.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine went there and felt really uncomfortable with the animal welfare. After thinking about it, the car conversation went like, "What did you see?"
The end result was an objective list of observances: conditions, behaviors. And a report to the state.
How would you like your children to travel through the world?
"It feels yucky, but it must be okay, or else someone else would have done something about it..."?
Thanks for taking the time to comment. This post was originally written over ten years ago, and my son is grown now. I did not say in my post "it must be okay," nor is that the attitude I conveyed here. I said, "Space Farms has some of the longest living wild animals in captivity, so they must be doing something right. I would hope the state would not let an institution like this mistreat its animals for 95 years. I am not an animal expert or a zoologist, but I would think that if the state knew something was wrong, they would have shut this place down years ago. At least I hope they would have." After investigating, I found that the state does have their eye on Space Farms and you can google what they've been cited for. People have mixed feelings about zoos in general. Some love them, some hate them. I fall somewhere in between, because I do see the importance of them from an educational standpoint and a preservational standpoint, too. I think I was pretty honest in this post, and provided people with enough information to decide whether or not to visit, or even whether or not to report them. Space Farms has been operational for 99 years.
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