Benson's Wild Animal Farm: Hudson, NH’s Legendary "Strangest Farm on Earth" – Exotic Zoo, Rides, Shows & Hands-On Adventures (1926–1987), a Cherished New England Memory That Still Roars
For anyone who grew up in southern New Hampshire, greater Boston, or anywhere in New England during the 1950s through the 1980s, summer weekends often meant one magical destination: Benson's Wild Animal Farm in Hudson, NH. Billed as the "Strangest Farm on Earth," this sprawling 166-acre wonderland wasn't your typical zoo—it was a wild mash-up of exotic animal exhibits, amusement park rides, circus-style shows, storybook attractions, and hands-on experiences that let kids get startlingly close to lions, elephants, gorillas, tigers, and more.
Picture this: families piling out of station wagons after a scenic drive up Route 111, the air buzzing with animal calls, carousel music, and the scent of popcorn and hay. Children fed giraffes by hand, petted baby animals in the nursery, rode the miniature railroad chugging through the grounds, watched performing chimps and elephants in the circus ring, and marveled at the massive gorilla "Colossus" (Tony) pacing his enclosure. Storybook Hill featured the giant Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe house kids could climb into, fairy-tale castles, and whimsical structures that felt like stepping into a living storybook. Lines formed for pony rides, bumper cars, and the thrill of seeing a real tiger up close—often closer than safety standards would allow today.
It was affordable, accessible (free for Hudson locals in the early days), and utterly immersive: no glass barriers in many spots, just chain-link fences or open viewing that made the animals feel part of your world. For kids, it was pure wonder—petting zoos where you could bottle-feed lambs, elephant rides (in earlier years), and shows that brought circus excitement to a rural farm. For parents, it was a full-day escape: picnic areas, concessions, and the rare chance to see exotic creatures without a long trip to a big-city zoo. Benson's wasn't polished or corporate; it was quirky, gritty, and full of heart—a place where New England families created lifelong memories amid the roars and laughter.
Yet this beloved attraction—which opened to the public in 1926 and closed at the end of the 1987 season—faded amid financial struggles, changing animal welfare standards, competition from theme parks, and ownership changes. The site sat abandoned and overgrown for years, vandalized and forgotten, until the town of Hudson transformed it into today's free public Benson Park in 2010. Relics remain—the Old Lady in the Shoe, the gorilla cage, the elephant barn, miniature train tracks—but the animals, rides, and shows are gone. In 2026, nearly 40 years after closure, nostalgia burns bright: Facebook groups, Reddit threads, and local blogs overflow with faded Polaroids, ticket stubs, and tearful stories of childhood visits. Benson's endures as proof that a humble "farm" could become a regional phenomenon, blending zoo magic with amusement-park joy in ways modern attractions rarely match.
The Origins: From Circus Trainer to "The Strangest Farm on Earth" (1920s–1940s)
John T. Benson, born in England in 1879, ran away at age eight to join the circus, launching a lifelong career as an animal trainer, importer, and dealer. He worked with Hagenbeck (a famed German animal firm), helped establish Boston's Franklin Park Zoo as its first curator, and befriended Theodore Roosevelt during big-game hunting days. In 1922, seeking a quiet base, Benson bought over 200 acres of farmland in Hudson, NH—conveniently near Boston via the Boston & Maine Railroad.
Initially a private training center for circus animals, Benson opened it to the public in 1924 (some sources cite 1926 for full operations) as Benson's Wild Animal Farm. He charged a small fee but let Hudson residents in free, quickly turning the quiet farming town into a tourist draw. The slogan "The Strangest Farm on Earth" captured its oddball charm: exotic animals on a New England farm, plus early additions like a permanent Wild Animal Circus (added 1932–33), a miniature train, games, and concessions.
Benson expanded yearly: elephant barns, lion cages, a gorilla house, storybook structures, and rides. Special "Jungle Trains" ran from Boston on Sundays, ticket including park admission. By the 1930s–40s, it boasted hundreds of animals—elephants, lions, tigers, bears, chimps—and attractions like performing animal shows. Benson died in 1943, but the park lived on under new owners, remaining a major draw through the post-war boom.
Peak Years: Hands-On Magic, Circus Thrills & Family Pilgrimages (1950s–1980s)
The 1950s–80s marked Benson's golden era, when it peaked as a must-visit spot for New England families. Ownership changed hands multiple times, but the spirit endured: over 100 animal exhibits, 50+ rides and attractions, daily circus shows, and unparalleled hands-on access. Kids fed giraffes, bottle-nursed baby animals, petted deer and goats in open areas, and rode ponies or (earlier) elephants. The miniature railroad looped through the grounds, bumper cars spun, and the carousel twirled.
Highlights included the massive gorilla Tony ("Colossus"), who drew crowds; performing elephants and chimps; big cats prowling close; and Storybook Hill's whimsical builds like the giant shoe house and fairy-tale castle. Exotic birds, reptiles, and farm animals rounded out the mix. Shows featured trained acts—elephants balancing, chimps riding bikes—that thrilled audiences. It combined zoo education with amusement-park fun: affordable admission, picnic spots, and a sense of adventure rare in sanitized modern parks.
Crowds came from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine—generations returned yearly. It crossed demographics: working-class families, school trips, tourists. The hands-on ethos—touching, feeding, proximity—created emotional bonds kids remembered vividly. For many, Benson's was the highlight of childhood summers: first glimpses of lions, laughter on rides, wonder at exotic creatures in a New England field.
The End: Decline, Bankruptcy & Closure (Late 1970s–1987)
By the late 1960s–70s, challenges mounted. Competition from Disney, Six Flags, and modern zoos grew; animal welfare concerns rose (closer scrutiny of close-contact exhibits); costs soared for care and maintenance. Visitation declined gradually.
In 1979, Arthur Provencher bought it, rebranding briefly as New England Playworld in 1987 with hopes of revival—new animals, attractions—but financial woes proved terminal. Bankruptcy hit; debts overwhelmed. At the 1987 season's end, Benson's closed forever after 60+ years. All 550 animals needed rehoming (many to other zoos); the site fell into disrepair—overgrown, vandalized, abandoned.
The state acquired it in 1989; after years of neglect, Hudson transformed it into Benson Park (reopened 2010)—a passive recreation area with trails, picnic spots, and preserved relics like the gorilla cage, elephant barn, Old Lady in the Shoe, and train tracks. No animals or rides returned, but the land lives on as public green space.
Nostalgia in 2026: Why Benson's Still Captivates
In 2026, Benson's legacy thrives in memory. Facebook groups like "Benson's Wild Animal Farm Memories" share vintage photos, stories of feeding giraffes, and childhood photos in the shoe house. Blogs, YouTube retrospectives, and local articles recount the magic; visitors to Benson Park seek out remnants, feeling ghosts of past joy. Many tear up recalling the "Strangest Farm"—its quirky charm, hands-on thrills, and unfiltered wonder.
The loss reflects shifts: stricter animal regulations, rise of theme parks, decline of small independent attractions. Modern zoos are safer, more educational, but lack Benson's raw intimacy and eccentricity. Yet its story endures as proof a rural "farm" could become legendary—fostering wonder, family bonds, and regional pride without corporate gloss.
If Benson's lives in your memory, visiting Benson Park or sharing stories keeps the spirit alive.
Benson's Wild Animal Farm may be gone, but for anyone who fed a giraffe, rode the train, or felt the thrill of the "Strangest Farm on Earth," it will always roar.
Michael DeLude is a Northeast-based writer specializing in regional nostalgia, lost landmarks, and cultural traditions. He contributes to Northeast Legends and Stories, uncovering the tales that shaped New York, New Jersey, and New England. Shop podcast-inspired merch celebrating Northeast nostalgia at https://northeastlegends.etsy.com.