The Wild Center — Attraction in Town of Tupper Lake

I was a little apprehensive about going to the Wild Center because the $25 adult admission seemed a bit much. After spending the day there, however, I discovered that it is money well spent. The indoor exhibits were excellent. There was a combination of nature/science exhibits and a few things about Adirondack history. We saw a live otter, plenty of fish, frogs, turtles, snakes, a kestrel, a raven, and lots of animal skeletons and taxidermy as well. Signage and displays were appealing to both kids and adults. I really appreciated that the museum did an outstanding job of integrating Iroquois/Six Nations/Haudosaunee history and culture into the exhibits. The outdoor areas were cool and had creative structures and some good lookouts of the Raquette River. All of the facilities from the parking lot to the bathrooms were clean, modern, and environmentally friendly.

We really enjoyed the guided presentations thanks to the highly motivated and knowledgeable staff. We visited in the early off-season so there weren't many crowds but the presenters still gave full and detailed lessons even when there was only a few of us attending. I really learned a lot of new things from them that I never learned in college even though I studied history. Not to take away from the fantastic staff, but the otter was the star of the show.

My favorite part of the Wild Center was the climate change displays, which account for a huge area in the center of the museum. The lessons taught were presented in an easy-to-understand way that incorporated personal stories of local Adirondack residents and beautiful art and poetry. They taught that being an environmentally-conscious person does not mean you need to give up your cellphone, electronics, or car. All you need to do is put a little thought in the the decisions you make about the food you eat, the things you buy, and and the lifestyle you live. By taking a few moments to consider how your decisions play a role in determining the future of the world we are leaving for future generations, you can make a huge difference. You absolutely do not need to be a tree-hugging electric-car-driving vegan to be an environmentalist and the museum makes this point very clear.

Probably the only negative thing about the Wild Center was that since we visited in the off season, a few of the video presentations were not running. Overall I am very proud that this museum exists in my home state of New York and anyone with the opportunity to visit should do...

This is a great place for all ages, and abilities! I brought my 92 year old Grandma, in a wheelchair, on oxygen...I myself am disabled, and need assistance with walking. We were able to access everything, except for the big cutout tree, with the swaying, narrow bridges. They also have a large, BEAUTIFUL, gift shop where I spent quite a bit buying unique gifts for family members! The otters really are a joy to watch in their large, nice, tank! They have other animals too.... Lots of fish, and turtles! All of this is indoors! They have a little movie theater that shows films about the adks, sky, and others! They have an indoor restaurant. They have otter feeding shows too! There are many hands on activities for kids! When you're done with everything inside, you go back where the parking lot is and the wild walk is on the other side of the parking lot... You could do walk first if you want.. There is a booth when you first pull in, where you buy tickets. It was 50.00 for Gram and I ($26.00 adult, and $24.00 senior)... You can buy the tickets online if you want and save $1.00 per ticket! I was able to push my Gram right up the wild walk and we got to see the large "bald eagle nest", and the huge spiderweb that kids were having so much fun on! This place is so educational... Even along the walk, there are signs about different birds, and how stuff is made. One section has a cool game with spinners, you can play! The also have a mini gift shop along the walk! I highly recommend visiting this place! My Grandma thought it was pricey to get in, until she started seeing everything, and after we left she said she would have paid double to go!...

We were a little disappointed in what we discovered here. We knew there would definitely be attractions for children, but this is almost 100% geared for kids. If we knew that, we probably wouldn't have come, but we can see that kids would enjoy this place. We did enjoy the trails around the property. We liked seeing the animals outside (the ravens, porcupine, and the falcon), the artwork around the pond, the Forest Music. It's a beautiful property. The outdoor bathrooms could use improvement. They were not pleasant to use. The indoor space harbors a smell that smacks you in the face when you walk in. We were told it's from Otter waste, and decay that certain types of bugs are eating. I'm not sure what could be done to have that more under control, but it made us not want to stay inside the building too long. We did get used to it after a while, but is it safe to breathe in? We managed to catch a discussion about the Otter. The young lady presenting did a great job. It was fun to see the Otter in action. The space is hard to accommodate a lot of people, however. The information provided for kids along the Wild Walk is severely lacking. I think it could definitely use more "zoo" like placards with some more in depth information about what you're trying to exhibit. I can't see the kids learning a ton of new information out there. The indoor exhibits were a little bit better, information wise, but still felt a little lacking. All in all, I'd say if you had kids, sure, this would be a fun place to visit. For just adults, though... I'd find something else...