Clark's Bears facts for kids
| Previously known as Clark's Trading Post | |
 |
|
| Location | Lincoln, New Hampshire, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°2′54″N 71°41′8″W / 44.04833°N 71.68556°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Owner | Privately owned |
| Slogan | "Family Fun and Family Run Since 1928" |
| Operating season | mid-May to mid-October |
| Attractions | |
| Total | Merlin's Mystical Mansion |
| Water rides | Anaconda Escape, Blaster Boats |
| Other rides | White Mountain Central Railroad |
| Shows | Summer Circus |
Clark's Bears, which was called Clark's Trading Post until 2019, is a popular place to visit in Lincoln, New Hampshire, USA. It's located in the beautiful White Mountains. This attraction is well-known for its amazing trained black bears. It also has the White Mountain Central Railroad, a fun 30-minute train ride. This ride covers about 2.5 miles (4 km) on a real steam-powered train. Clark's Bears is found along U.S. Route 3. It's about one mile (1.6 km) north of North Woodstock village. It's also about 9 miles (14 km) south of Franconia Notch.
History of Clark's Bears
This fun place first opened in 1928. It started as a small roadside stand. Back then, it was known as "Ed Clark's Eskimo Sled Dog Ranch." Visitors could buy souvenirs there. They could also see Florence and Ed Clark's Labrador sled dogs.
The Clarks bought their very first black bear in 1931. They used the bear to attract more tourists. Later, in 1949, the Clarks' sons, Edward and Murray, started training the bears. They soon created the famous bear show that Clark's Bears is known for today.
In the 1950s, the Clark brothers began collecting old steam locomotives. They put these trains on display at the Trading Post. This led to building the White Mountain Central Railroad. This was a special tourist railroad made just for rides. It uses a standard-gauge track. Building the railroad started in 1955. The very first train ride happened on July 30, 1958.
The railroad has a special covered bridge from 1904. It's a Howe truss bridge. This bridge was first in East Montpelier, Vermont. It crossed the Winooski River and carried trains for another railroad. The Clark brothers bought this bridge in 1964. They took it apart, moved it, and put it back together. Now it crosses the Pemigewasset River near Clark's Bears.
Today, the train ride usually uses a 1920 Climax steam locomotive. During some mid-week days in the fall, a 1943 GE 65-ton switcher (a diesel train) is used. The 30-minute train ride includes a fun character called the Wolfman. He pretends to be a wild gold prospector. He tries to protect his mine, which supposedly has a rare, fictional material called "unobtainium."
Cool Museums to Explore
Clark's Bears has several interesting museums for you to visit:
- Americana Museum – This museum has collections of old American items. You can see steam and gas engines, early home appliances, and old advertisements.
- 1884 Pemigewasset Hook and Ladder Fire Station – Here, you can see old horse-drawn fire engines. There are also wagons and other firefighting tools from the past.
- Clark History Museum – This museum tells the story of Clark's Trading Post. It also shares the history of the Clark family who started it all.
- Florence Murray Museum – This museum displays antique games, old guns, and swords. You can also see souvenir china, typewriters, and railroad items.
- Avery's Garage – This is a copy of an old gas station. It has cool items from early driving days. You can see vintage motorcycles and antique cars.
See also
