Ripley's Believe It or Not! — Attraction in Saint Augustine

St. Augustine, Florida, is a city steeped in history and charm, with its cobblestone streets, Spanish colonial architecture, and picturesque waterfront. Amidst the rich tapestry of this historic city lies a unique and intriguing attraction - Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum. My experience at Ripley's Believe It or Not! in St. Augustine was nothing short of extraordinary, as I embarked on a journey through the bizarre, the unusual, and the downright unbelievable.

As I entered the museum, I was immediately struck by the eclectic collection of oddities and curiosities that greeted me. From shrunken heads and bizarre artifacts to optical illusions and interactive exhibits, Ripley's Believe It or Not! offered a sensory overload of the strange and the wondrous. Each corner I turned revealed a new marvel, a new mystery waiting to be unraveled.

One of the highlights of my visit was the collection of unusual artifacts from around the world. From a two-headed calf to a genuine vampire killing kit, each item sparked my curiosity and left me in awe of the diversity and complexity of the natural world. The museum's dedication to showcasing the weird and the wonderful was evident in every display, inviting visitors to suspend their disbelief and embrace the extraordinary.

As I navigated through the museum, I found myself drawn to the interactive exhibits that challenged my perceptions and tested my senses. From a room that defied gravity to a mirror maze that left me disoriented and bewildered, Ripley's Believe It or Not! offered a hands-on experience that engaged both my mind and my imagination. I felt like a child again, marveling at the wonders of the world and reveling in the joy of discovery.

One of the most memorable moments of my visit was encountering the legendary Robert Ripley himself. Through multimedia presentations and personal anecdotes, I learned about the life and adventures of this intrepid explorer and collector of oddities. His spirit of curiosity and his passion for the extraordinary inspired me to embrace the unknown and to seek out the wonders that lie beyond the boundaries of the ordinary.

As I emerged from Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum, my mind was buzzing with the sights and sounds of the bizarre and the fantastical. The experience had left an indelible mark on me, igniting a sense of wonder and awe that would stay with me long after I had left the museum's hallowed halls. St. Augustine, with its rich history and vibrant culture, had once again proven itself to be a city of surprises...

If you're looking for a shining example of corporate greed, look no further than Ripley's. As a native Florida resident, growing up in Saint Augustine, I have been to this privately owned museum several times. Once upon a time, it was $12-$15 a person, and parking was free - as it should be for paying customers. Now, in the last two years, they have made several changes motivated by greed and greed only: There is no more resident discount, even though the resident discount was always paltry at best . Rates have skyrocketed - nearly $30 a person now ($26, to be exact). It's double what they were even a decade ago. They have decided that EVERYONE - even paying customers that are paying the exorbitant $30 a head - must pay for parking at $5 an hour (it takes 1-2 hours to go through the museum).

I could understand charging those that are not patronizing the museum for parking. But there is not, nor will there ever be, a reason other than greed for charging customers - literally there to buy already - nearly half the cost of a ticket simply to park.

This museum sees thousands of people a week. Corporations will cite "rising costs" as a reason for increasing the prices, hiding the fact that they're making record profits while more and more people fall into poverty. They will say, "Oh, it is only $25 more dollars", as if money is not exponential; as if it is not, overall, triple the price it used to be. As if that $25 per person does not account for millions more in revenue for them. As if $25 - enough for 5 servings of food or more- is not far more meaningful for the shrinking middle class than it is for people who are sitting on millions - even billions of dollars.

What Ripley's is doing is nothing less than taking advantage of those who are not aware of their previous prices. It is nothing less than theft and needless, villainous greed.

If it was a rise of even 10%, I would have understood. I would have grumbled but I would have gotten over it. But there is no excuse for this, and it is legitimately evil behavior- as we've come to expect from corporations. After all, the root of all evil is selfishness.

And for those who would say, "just don't go, then" - don't worry, I didn't.

This time, I walked away. I would encourage you to do the same. While the museum can be an enjoyable experience, it is nothing that can't be replicated with interest and an internet connection for a fraction...

Very crowded for a place that's open during the covid pandemic. Everyone is required to wear masks and is practicing that, but there's not enough space in the rooms and hallways for social distancing. Managed to grab photos of displays between groups of people.

Areas were relatively clean but you should definitely wear gloves if you plan to visit since touching things is inevitable (from displays to the doors). There was also a very strong fruity flowery odor from the wax hands / paraffin room so if you have scent allergies, avoid this tourist attraction.

Kids seem to have more fun here than adults, but it's made for all ages. There's even an employee elevator for handicapped or mobility challenged people, but that's sparsely offered since I was next to a family with a baby in a stroller and the clerk told the parents they'd have to haul the stroller up all the flights of stairs (what a workout for the dad!). There are also many areas that are very narrow and darkly lit so bring a reliable friend to keep you company as your hallway guide.

I had fun here with my hubby but would've had a better time if it wasn't as packed with people and if all the displays actually worked. Fortunately, the wizard and Zoltar fortune machines were fully functional so I was able to get my silly fortune card as a memento of the trip.

The cleaning staff seems to be only handling the bathrooms since some glass/plexi areas had a fair amount of fingerprints and there was trash here and there near the displays. The best area was the end of the museum where there's a vertigo tunnel that severely amplifies your sense of tipping over using repetitive patterns and lights in walkway thru a tube. It's more fun than it sounds and only works if you don't have vertigo to begin with.

Overall conclusion: probably the last time we'll visit a Ripley's location; the novelty has simply worn off...But if you find yourself with nothing to do in St. Augustine and an extra $22 burning a hole in your pocket, take a walk thru Ripley's BoN for the unique photo...