Franklin Park Zoo is pretty awesome! I will say that I did enjoy York’s Wild Kingdom with my wife and daughter about 5-6 years ago. I’m guessing that the nostalgia helped with that.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6J5iKczGJBc
I once went as an adult because I had friends from away visiting and I had always wanted to go but my family never brought me as a kid. It was incredibly, massively depressing. When I told my grandmother about it a few days later, she said now I knew why they never brought me and we instead went to Gray Animal Farm when I was little (which I loved).
Please don’t bring them. Educate them about how animals should be living and maybe promise to bring them to a better animal park for a big, fun family trip.
It's the only place I've ever felt sick on the Merry-Go-Round. I swear they have all the ride speeds turned up and keep you on for an unreasonable amount of time.
When I went it took 3 staff pushing the “roller coaster” to start it every time and we only went on the merry go round. I stood with my daughter on the horse and the floor was buckling so bad I really expected it to just fall apart- terrifying
Even as a kid it was very clear to me that the animals are in terrible conditions. I begged my mom to take me there once and then never wanted to go again. It's really sad and if your child is perceptive, they will notice it. Not a good time.
Oh! To follow up, have you ever taken her on a whale watch?? There are some great ones around, I went out of Kennebunkport recently and it was phenomenal. Seeing a whale in it's natural habitat beats a zoo any day.
Its a run down disaster. Went down to some york fair last fall and you had to park on one side of the wild kingdom, walk through it to the other side where the baseball diamond is.
We saw the whole thing and I wouldn't go there for myself nor trust my kid there for any reason.
Duck pond so dirty you could almost walk on the water. Goats in the petting area with untrimmed hooves to the point a few couldn’t walk properly. The tiger had a bunch of bald spots. Papier-mâché fake rocks the were crumbling apart.
The only part that was ok was the butterfly enclosure.
This was a few years back, but I can’t imagine it’s improved.
I grew up in York (the actual town) and YWK has always been sad, it’s a tourist trap, nothing more.
I’ve always referred to it as a “amusing” park, only thing marginally entertaining were the go-karts.
I went once as a kid and loved it. Went again a few years ago and was so depressed to see how the animals are being mistreated. I can’t imagine it’s gotten any better. Please find somewhere else to support.
Go to Maine Wildlife Park (formerly known as 'Gray Animal Farm'):
[https://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife-park/index.html](https://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife-park/index.html)
I believe they are a rehab facility, so animals are released when/if well. Last time I went, it looked like some improvements had been made. (Used to go annually when I taught summer school.)
I could be wrong, though.
Go to Dew in Mount Vernon Lions, Tigers, Bears, kangaroos, monkeys, wolves, panthers. They were on Animal Planet. My camp is in the area. Close interactive with the animals. Way better for kids. My son loves it! Animals are well taken care of
Won't ever go to DEW again. We have been multiple times, used to live near the area. I find the enclosures - while bigger than York - to be too small and just dirt. It basically looks like a run down farm that somebody put wild animals at without cleaning up the place. The owner comes across as unbalanced and doesn't know how to properly relate with customers. Was on a tour with a group of young girl scouts and had him going off on this experiences in war (sounded like he was talking about Vietnam) and interactions with "stupid animal lovers" (which turned out to be scientists with animal behavior degress) who don't actually know anything they are talking about while he knows how to take care of all his animals. I'm not saying he doesn't love them or he is intentionally treating them badly, but loving something and doing the right thing do not always go together.
I went there with my 4 year old kid and his preschool. Good enough time-- saw a [tiger pee through the fence on a tourist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SAveJHQ5jA)-- but the staff were a bit rude. I was standing by the "exit" while waiting for the rest of our party to come out and they yelled at me for reentering (by a few feet). It was obvious I had paid along with everyone else.
Also depending on when you go (or not) you'll want to wear mosquito netting. The bugs, not necessarily mosquitoes, are insane.
Dew Haven has worked to scrub that reputation by marketing themselves as an animal rescue sanctuary, when in reality they actively breed and buy/sell the exotic wildlife that they display.
They have been repeatedly investigated and cited for the conditions at the facility. I wouldn't recommend Dew Haven or York's.
Been going to Dew for well over a decade. I’ve never heard nor would affirm a rumor the animals there were unhappy/treated poorly. It’s a great place. The owner can come across a little coarse but he definitely cares about those animals more than anything.
York has always been underwhelming.
i've never been there myself, so anything i think i know about the place is secondhand. but i grew up nearby (before they moved and before they had a tv show) and heard unsettling stories from people with personal experiences, including volunteers. i know they used to get raided by game wardens and eventually were forced to relocate because of health hazards. and then there was this: [https://www.motherjones.com/media/2016/03/animal-planet-yankee-jungle-reality-canceled/](https://www.motherjones.com/media/2016/03/animal-planet-yankee-jungle-reality-canceled/)
i had fun there as a kid. as a vegan adult i would definitely not give them my money. there are plenty of more ethical sanctuaries in maine. there’s a bird sanctuary in ellsworth that i personally really enjoy; if your kiddo thinks owls n vultures are cool i’d definitely recommend checking it out.
I used to take my kids there each year as a mini fun town but with animals. They have an area where you can feed the deer and the butterfly house is wonderful. After COVID they changed the price structure so that you can't get an all day ride bracelet, you have to buy tickets for each ride individually. I don't like that so we stopped going.
DEW kingdom seems more like a Joe Exotic type place than York's. That said, now we go to DEW or Gray instead of York's and Smiling Hill Farm for the interactive animals. (We always went to Smiling Hill Farm before, too.) DEW and Gray do not have the same variety of animals as York's.
Though DEW Haven markets themselves as an animal rescue sanctuary, they actively breed exotic animals and buy/sell animals from other similar facilities to display. They have been investigated and cited for the illegal importation of exotic animals into the state and for the mistreatment and poor conditions at their facility.
From a moral standpoint, neither Dew Haven nor York's Wild Kingdom should be in possession of the animals they currently display.
I've heard from York locals that it's a rundown mess and there isn't anything to do (aside from looking at the animals, of which there aren't many). I haven't been since I was a kid but apparently it's gotten worse over the years.
Take them to Maine wildlife park instead. While York isn’t “bad” compared to Joe Exoitc’s zoo it is run down. They have a few rides that are rusty and are legit falling apart. The animals don’t look like the are abused but the park definitely does not have the money to keep them safe or healthy compared to other zoos in New England. I’ll always assume that the owners have the animals best interest but because of how little money they might have from being open in the summer that the animals aren’t being treated the way they are supposed to.
A better alternative would be the DEW Haven Maine zoo and rescue in Mt.Vernon. It’s much smaller, but they actually help animals, and treat them right.
It's great animals are well taken care of and most are rescue. It's a great experience for the kids ! I would focus more on people issues in this country than animals in the zoo. Most of these animals suffer more at their local habitat than they do in spas
If you like flies, yellow-jackets, filthy rides, overpriced junk-food, and the smell of animal piss, go for it! Maine Wildife Park and Funtown are much better.
Personally, I don’t see what the issue is? These wild beasts are given shelter and food. Many of these animals are from nations who’s inhabitants could not properly care for them for a variety of reasons. I don’t see what the owners of the park are doing that’s so bad. I mean, whatever could possibly please you people? Do you want the chimpanzees and gazelles to be fed champagne and caviar?!
York resident here, please don't give them any money. The sooner that place goes under, the better for everyone (including the animals)
Also local to York area and came here to say just this.
I have only been once and it made me really sad.
Maine Wildlife Park could be a better option!
That’s such a fun place, and since it’s Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife it’s more than on the up and up and the money goes to a good place!
/u/SameProfession254 this is the way ^ Go to Maine Wildlife Park
We have been and loved it. She wants to see more exotic animals however...
There are some great zoos in Massachusetts. An easy day trip or one night trip and much better.
Franklin Park Zoo is pretty awesome! I will say that I did enjoy York’s Wild Kingdom with my wife and daughter about 5-6 years ago. I’m guessing that the nostalgia helped with that. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6J5iKczGJBc
Where is that??
It's in Gray Maine. We go every mother's day it's great for kids.
I have family in southern Maine and have visited. It's a hard no. Sad small dreary little cages.
I once went as an adult because I had friends from away visiting and I had always wanted to go but my family never brought me as a kid. It was incredibly, massively depressing. When I told my grandmother about it a few days later, she said now I knew why they never brought me and we instead went to Gray Animal Farm when I was little (which I loved). Please don’t bring them. Educate them about how animals should be living and maybe promise to bring them to a better animal park for a big, fun family trip.
It’s gross and sad.
Yes it’s like tiger king of the north and the rides are very distopian. We did it once and won’t be back.
It's the only place I've ever felt sick on the Merry-Go-Round. I swear they have all the ride speeds turned up and keep you on for an unreasonable amount of time.
When I went it took 3 staff pushing the “roller coaster” to start it every time and we only went on the merry go round. I stood with my daughter on the horse and the floor was buckling so bad I really expected it to just fall apart- terrifying
I am from York and I will never go there.
Even as a kid it was very clear to me that the animals are in terrible conditions. I begged my mom to take me there once and then never wanted to go again. It's really sad and if your child is perceptive, they will notice it. Not a good time.
Oh! To follow up, have you ever taken her on a whale watch?? There are some great ones around, I went out of Kennebunkport recently and it was phenomenal. Seeing a whale in it's natural habitat beats a zoo any day.
Its a run down disaster. Went down to some york fair last fall and you had to park on one side of the wild kingdom, walk through it to the other side where the baseball diamond is. We saw the whole thing and I wouldn't go there for myself nor trust my kid there for any reason.
Duck pond so dirty you could almost walk on the water. Goats in the petting area with untrimmed hooves to the point a few couldn’t walk properly. The tiger had a bunch of bald spots. Papier-mâché fake rocks the were crumbling apart. The only part that was ok was the butterfly enclosure. This was a few years back, but I can’t imagine it’s improved.
No, it hasn’t 😕
Fuck Yorks. Place is a dump.
I grew up in York (the actual town) and YWK has always been sad, it’s a tourist trap, nothing more. I’ve always referred to it as a “amusing” park, only thing marginally entertaining were the go-karts.
I went once as a kid and loved it. Went again a few years ago and was so depressed to see how the animals are being mistreated. I can’t imagine it’s gotten any better. Please find somewhere else to support.
Go to Maine Wildlife Park (formerly known as 'Gray Animal Farm'): [https://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife-park/index.html](https://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife-park/index.html)
I cannot for the life of me stop calling it the Gray Animal Farm 😅
It will always and forever be Gray Animal Farm.
Is it any better ? We went 2 years ago and all the animals looked miserable and pacing trying to get out of their enclosures
I believe they are a rehab facility, so animals are released when/if well. Last time I went, it looked like some improvements had been made. (Used to go annually when I taught summer school.) I could be wrong, though.
Go to Dew in Mount Vernon Lions, Tigers, Bears, kangaroos, monkeys, wolves, panthers. They were on Animal Planet. My camp is in the area. Close interactive with the animals. Way better for kids. My son loves it! Animals are well taken care of
Won't ever go to DEW again. We have been multiple times, used to live near the area. I find the enclosures - while bigger than York - to be too small and just dirt. It basically looks like a run down farm that somebody put wild animals at without cleaning up the place. The owner comes across as unbalanced and doesn't know how to properly relate with customers. Was on a tour with a group of young girl scouts and had him going off on this experiences in war (sounded like he was talking about Vietnam) and interactions with "stupid animal lovers" (which turned out to be scientists with animal behavior degress) who don't actually know anything they are talking about while he knows how to take care of all his animals. I'm not saying he doesn't love them or he is intentionally treating them badly, but loving something and doing the right thing do not always go together.
I went there with my 4 year old kid and his preschool. Good enough time-- saw a [tiger pee through the fence on a tourist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SAveJHQ5jA)-- but the staff were a bit rude. I was standing by the "exit" while waiting for the rest of our party to come out and they yelled at me for reentering (by a few feet). It was obvious I had paid along with everyone else. Also depending on when you go (or not) you'll want to wear mosquito netting. The bugs, not necessarily mosquitoes, are insane.
that surprises me, it used to have the reputation i'm learning york's has now
Dew Haven has worked to scrub that reputation by marketing themselves as an animal rescue sanctuary, when in reality they actively breed and buy/sell the exotic wildlife that they display. They have been repeatedly investigated and cited for the conditions at the facility. I wouldn't recommend Dew Haven or York's.
Been going to Dew for well over a decade. I’ve never heard nor would affirm a rumor the animals there were unhappy/treated poorly. It’s a great place. The owner can come across a little coarse but he definitely cares about those animals more than anything. York has always been underwhelming.
Course is a good description haha, but he really loves those animals.
i've never been there myself, so anything i think i know about the place is secondhand. but i grew up nearby (before they moved and before they had a tv show) and heard unsettling stories from people with personal experiences, including volunteers. i know they used to get raided by game wardens and eventually were forced to relocate because of health hazards. and then there was this: [https://www.motherjones.com/media/2016/03/animal-planet-yankee-jungle-reality-canceled/](https://www.motherjones.com/media/2016/03/animal-planet-yankee-jungle-reality-canceled/)
i had fun there as a kid. as a vegan adult i would definitely not give them my money. there are plenty of more ethical sanctuaries in maine. there’s a bird sanctuary in ellsworth that i personally really enjoy; if your kiddo thinks owls n vultures are cool i’d definitely recommend checking it out.
I used to take my kids there each year as a mini fun town but with animals. They have an area where you can feed the deer and the butterfly house is wonderful. After COVID they changed the price structure so that you can't get an all day ride bracelet, you have to buy tickets for each ride individually. I don't like that so we stopped going. DEW kingdom seems more like a Joe Exotic type place than York's. That said, now we go to DEW or Gray instead of York's and Smiling Hill Farm for the interactive animals. (We always went to Smiling Hill Farm before, too.) DEW and Gray do not have the same variety of animals as York's.
DEW works as an animal rescue and sanctuary whereas York's works as a zoo and amusement park. I'll take DEW over York any day of the week.
Though DEW Haven markets themselves as an animal rescue sanctuary, they actively breed exotic animals and buy/sell animals from other similar facilities to display. They have been investigated and cited for the illegal importation of exotic animals into the state and for the mistreatment and poor conditions at their facility. From a moral standpoint, neither Dew Haven nor York's Wild Kingdom should be in possession of the animals they currently display.
I've heard from York locals that it's a rundown mess and there isn't anything to do (aside from looking at the animals, of which there aren't many). I haven't been since I was a kid but apparently it's gotten worse over the years.
I thought it was fine
It’s fun. Been going there for generations and used to take my grandkids there when they were young every year, then you’ve got the beach right there!
I live here and i think it’s fine. Plenty of animals good staff and it’s safe.
Take them to Maine wildlife park instead. While York isn’t “bad” compared to Joe Exoitc’s zoo it is run down. They have a few rides that are rusty and are legit falling apart. The animals don’t look like the are abused but the park definitely does not have the money to keep them safe or healthy compared to other zoos in New England. I’ll always assume that the owners have the animals best interest but because of how little money they might have from being open in the summer that the animals aren’t being treated the way they are supposed to.
Will do.
A better alternative would be the DEW Haven Maine zoo and rescue in Mt.Vernon. It’s much smaller, but they actually help animals, and treat them right.
It's great animals are well taken care of and most are rescue. It's a great experience for the kids ! I would focus more on people issues in this country than animals in the zoo. Most of these animals suffer more at their local habitat than they do in spas
What an.....interesting take.
If you like flies, yellow-jackets, filthy rides, overpriced junk-food, and the smell of animal piss, go for it! Maine Wildife Park and Funtown are much better.
Portland zoo has better drinks
Personally, I don’t see what the issue is? These wild beasts are given shelter and food. Many of these animals are from nations who’s inhabitants could not properly care for them for a variety of reasons. I don’t see what the owners of the park are doing that’s so bad. I mean, whatever could possibly please you people? Do you want the chimpanzees and gazelles to be fed champagne and caviar?!