Benson's Wild Animal Farm facts for kids
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| Location | 27 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson, New Hampshire, United States |
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| Coordinates | 42°46′00″N 71°24′20″W / 42.76667°N 71.40556°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | 1926 |
| Closed | 1987 |
| Slogan | "The Strangest Farm on Earth" |
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N.H. State Register of Historic Places
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| Designated: | April 29, 2002 |
| Listed buildings: | Bush Hill Road Barn Office and Kitchen Hudson Center Railroad Sta. |
Benson's Wild Animal Farm was a special place in Hudson, New Hampshire, USA. It was a private zoo and amusement park where people could see amazing animals and have fun. The park first opened its doors in 1926 and welcomed visitors for many years.
Sadly, it closed in 1987, after being called New England Playworld for its last year. In 1989, the state of New Hampshire bought the land. Later, in 2009, it was given to the town of Hudson. Today, it has been turned into a wonderful public park and nature area for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
The Story of Benson's Wild Animal Farm
How It All Started
The zoo was created by a man named John Benson in 1924. At first, it was a place to train animals. But by 1926, it opened to the public with animal exhibits, a small train, games, and other fun things to see.
John Benson was born in England around 1871 and moved to the United States when he was young. He first worked at Lexington Park in Massachusetts in the early 1900s. This park also had exotic animals, a theater, and other facilities.
Growing and Changing Times
After opening his own park in New Hampshire, Benson's grew even bigger. In 1932–33, a permanent Wild Animal Circus was added. A special "Jungle Train" even brought people from Boston to Hudson on Sundays. By 1934, the park's parking lot could hold over 5,000 cars!
In 1940, a famous animal trainer named Joe Arcaris joined the zoo. He performed amazing acts with lions and other animals for many years.
John Benson passed away in September 1943. The next year, a group of business people from Boston bought the park. It was managed by Harry G. Collier, who had worked with big circuses before. The park closed during World War II but reopened in 1945.
Challenges and Closure
Starting in the 1960s, the park began to face difficulties. It needed more upkeep, and fewer people visited. In 1979, a new owner, Arthur Provencher, bought the farm. He invested money to try and make it popular again.
However, the park still struggled financially. In the 1980s, it added new attractions to attract families. Despite these efforts, the park went through bankruptcy in 1985. In 1987, it was renamed "New England's Playworld Amusement Park and Zoo." It even had a giant statue of Mighty Mouse! But this change didn't help, and the park closed for good at the end of the 1987 season.
In April 2002, three buildings at Benson's were recognized as important historical sites. These were the Bush Hill Road Barn, the Office and Kitchen, and the Hudson Center Railroad Station.
Colossus the Gorilla
One of the most famous animals at Benson's Wild Animal Farm was "Colossus." He was a huge, 500-pound silverback gorilla. Colossus lived at Benson's for about 20 years, from the 1960s until the park closed in 1987.
His real name was Tony. As a fun publicity stunt, Colossus even "ran" for president in the New Hampshire primary! He was so famous that he appeared on presidential primary trading cards. After Benson's closed, Colossus moved to the Cincinnati Zoo in 1993. He was born on May 24, 1967, and sadly passed away on April 11, 2006, at 40 years old.
Benson Park Today
Benson's Wild Animal Farm reopened in May 2010, but this time as a public park for the town. There is no fee to enter, and people can enjoy the beautiful nature. Many of the old structures, like the "Old Woman's Shoe," the elephant house, and the gorilla house, have been repaired. A grand opening for the new park was held in September 2010.
Remembering 9/11
On September 11, 2011, a special memorial was dedicated at Benson Park. It honors the tragic events of September 11, 2001. A piece of steel from the World Trade Center is part of the memorial. There are also markers that show a timeline of that day's events. The path through the memorial is shaped to look like the flight path of Flight 175.
