Benson's Wild Animal Farm Museum & Park Store — Attraction in Hudson

Full disclosure, I went during the off season and it wasn't really put together yet, but what I had a great time! I live in Los Angeles, but I have my own Benson's Collection and have been long-time obsessed with the park! I've been following Friend's Of Benson's Park on Facebook and have seen all the amazing work they've done restoring things. I was ecstatic when I heard that they were restoring the Elephant Barn into a Benson's Museum!!! I rarely make it back east, so when I was last month, I sadly realized that they are seasonally open and were closed for the winter. However... just for the heck of it, I contacted them through facebook and they were kind enough to open it just for me and my family!!! How nice is that?!?!?

I can't give a fully authentic review because I wasn't able to see it in its full glory. Most of what is normally there is not currently there, and (as warned by the couple who run it) it wasn't set up and kind of dirty. That didn't matter to me, as I was able to see some crazy stuff that brought back some awesome memories! The highlight for me was seeing the Elephant Barn and Gorilla House large wooden signs! They were SO cool and exactly as I remembered them! Additionally, there was one of the large Toy Soldiers that they brought our during Christmas, some of the Hippo toppers that used to be on the trash bins, and even one of the old chainsaw statues. They had other stuff as well.

My imagination ran wild about what this place could be. There is still a lot of work to be done, and the next thing is that they need to raise the money to put heat and climate control in the building. So folks can work during the winter and so that they can permanently store stuff here. Before he died, Friend's Of Benson's bought Arthur Provincher's (Benson's final owner) personal HUGE Benson's Collection. The folks I spoke with said they've never even seen it because it's still in storage. I can't WAIT to see that someday! Right now, only the front of the elephant barn is open during the season, but once they work on it, there is a whole large back section that I can envision how wonderful a museum would be here. There is even the place where the penguins used to be that still has the old faux rock in it! What an amazing display that could be once they restore that!

I know this is a review, but please look them up and donate to them if you can. I'd love to see this come to be finished in my lifetime!!! When you go, make sure you check out the rest of the grounds! They have the old Gorilla house and the Woman Who Lived In A Shoe Boot all restored for folks to enjoy! It was...

Review is for Benson's Park only - not the gift shop which I haven't visited. This is a great local park, great for walking your dog within the park as well as on the various trails that lead off of it. There is also a dog park which I do not use but is a nice convenient place to let your pooch run free if s/he can't do...

Huge park with several trails, ponds, dog park, playground and old buildings structures previous the new park. Plenty of parking spaces. There are several informative signs spread along the trails and in the main areas. Bathroom seem to...