This Wild New Jersey Zoo And Museum Is Home To One Of The World’s Largest Bear Collections

Some zoos brag about lions, others about giraffes, but this New Jersey spot flexes with bears.

Space Farms Zoo & Museum has one of the world’s largest bear collections, and yes, they’re as cuddly as they are intimidating.

It’s part zoo, part museum, part “wait, did I just see a bear eating lunch next to a vintage fire truck?”

The place feels like a mash-up of Animal Planet and Antiques Roadshow, with a dash of Jersey attitude.

If you’ve ever wondered where wild history meets wild animals, Space Farms is the quirky answer you didn’t know you needed.

The Legendary Bear Collection at Space Farms

Standing just a few feet from a full-grown Kodiak bear is one of those experiences that rewires your brain a little. Space Farms is widely recognized as home to one of the largest bear collections in the world, and walking through that section of the zoo makes that claim feel completely real.

There are brown bears, black bears, and Kodiak bears, all living in spacious enclosures where you can actually watch them move around, interact, and show off their personalities.

Feeding time is the highlight for most visitors. You can purchase bags of corn or animal crackers and toss them toward the bears, who will stand up, wave their enormous paws, and practically perform for you.

It is genuinely funny and a little awe-inspiring at the same time.

What makes this collection so special is how close you can actually get. Unlike many larger zoos where animals feel miles away behind thick glass, here the experience feels personal and immediate.

Kids absolutely lose their minds over it in the best way. The bears are healthy, active, and full of character.

If you only have one reason to visit Space Farms, this is it, though you will quickly find dozens more once you arrive.

Big Cats That Will Make Your Heart Race

There is something completely primal about hearing a lion growl when you are standing just yards away from it. At Space Farms, the big cat exhibits bring that raw, electric energy that is hard to find anywhere else in New Jersey.

Tigers, lions, and panthers all call this place home, and their enclosures are set up in a way that lets you observe them from multiple angles rather than just a single viewing window.

Visiting during feeding time cranks the excitement up to another level entirely. The cats become incredibly active, vocalizing and moving with purpose, which gives you a real sense of how powerful these animals are.

I remember watching the tiger pace along the fence line and feeling genuinely impressed by its sheer size.

What stands out here compared to bigger, more corporate zoos is the intimacy of the experience. The staff clearly knows these animals well, and that familiarity shows in how the cats behave around feeding routines.

There is no rushed feeling, no massive crowd pushing you along. You can linger, watch, and really absorb the moment.

For wildlife lovers of any age, the big cat section at Space Farms is an unforgettable stop on the tour.

Feeding the Deer and Goats: A Crowd Favorite

Few things in life are as purely joyful as a deer gently eating corn right out of your hand. The deer and goat feeding areas at Space Farms are where the younger visitors tend to plant themselves for an embarrassingly long time, and honestly, the adults are not far behind them.

It is tactile, immediate, and sweet in a way that no screen can replicate.

Bags of corn are available for purchase throughout the property and are incredibly affordable. The animals here are clearly comfortable around people, which makes the interaction feel relaxed and natural rather than stressful.

Goats will nudge your hand, deer will look up at you with those enormous eyes, and the whole thing turns into a genuinely warm memory fast.

For families with young children, this section of the zoo is pure gold. Kids who might feel a little uncertain around the larger predator exhibits find their confidence here among the friendlier farm animals.

Parents appreciate that the area is easy to navigate and never feels chaotic. Bringing a few extra bags of corn is strongly recommended because you will run out faster than you expect.

It is one of those simple pleasures that somehow feels better in person than it ever sounds on paper.

The Antique Car Museum: A Step Back in Time

Walking into the antique car museum at Space Farms feels like stumbling into someone’s incredibly well-stocked time capsule. Rows of vintage vehicles sit in various states of preservation, each one telling a story about a different era of American transportation.

Car enthusiasts will want to linger here for a long while, but even casual visitors tend to get pulled in by the sheer variety on display.

There is something charming about seeing machines that are nearly a century old sitting quietly under the same roof, each one a reminder of how dramatically everyday life has changed. The museum is part of a larger complex of buildings that together form the museum side of Space Farms, so the cars are just one chapter in a much bigger story.

The collection reflects decades of deliberate gathering by the Space family, who have been running this property since the 1920s. That personal history gives the car museum a warmth that more institutional collections sometimes lack.

You are not just looking at objects behind velvet ropes. You are walking through someone’s life work.

Pairing the car museum with the rest of the property makes for a full, satisfying day that manages to feel both educational and genuinely entertaining throughout.

Early American Artifacts and Americana Exhibits

The Americana exhibits at Space Farms are the kind of thing history buffs dream about stumbling onto by accident. Spread across several buildings, the collections include weapons, clocks, dolls, farm tools, memorabilia, and hundreds of other objects that paint a vivid picture of everyday American life across different centuries.

It is genuinely impressive how much has been gathered and preserved in one place.

Each building focuses on a different theme or era, which keeps the exploration from feeling repetitive. You might move from a room full of antique toys to a building packed with early agricultural equipment, and the transitions feel natural rather than jarring.

The variety is part of what makes the museum side of Space Farms so engaging for groups with mixed interests.

Families with kids who are studying American history will find the exhibits surprisingly relevant and tangible. Seeing a real object from a specific time period hits differently than reading about it in a textbook.

Adults who grew up with certain toys or household items will experience waves of nostalgia walking through these rooms. The Space family has preserved a remarkable slice of American material culture here in the New Jersey hills, and that effort deserves real recognition from anyone who visits.

Bison, Llamas, and Animals You Did Not Expect to See

Bison are not exactly a common sight in New Jersey, which makes stumbling across them at Space Farms feel like a pleasant shock to the system. The property includes a solid variety of animals beyond the headlining bears and big cats, and that range is part of what makes a full day here feel so rewarding.

Llamas, peacocks, alligators, deer, horses, and even a monkey round out a roster that keeps surprising you around every corner.

The peacocks, in particular, have a habit of wandering somewhat freely near certain areas of the property, which adds a delightfully unpredictable element to the visit. Seeing one fan out its feathers unexpectedly while you are eating a snack is exactly the kind of moment that sticks with you.

The bison enclosure gives you a real sense of scale when you see how massive these animals actually are up close.

Space Farms manages to pack an impressive diversity of wildlife into a property that still feels open and breathable rather than cramped. The self-guided format means you can spend as much time as you want with any particular animal without feeling rushed by a crowd or a tour schedule.

That freedom is genuinely one of the best things about visiting this unique corner of New Jersey.

The Snack Bar and Picnic Experience

Spending a full day at Space Farms means you are going to get hungry, and the property has a practical and welcoming setup for exactly that. There is a snack bar near the entrance that serves pizza and other casual food options, giving you a quick and satisfying way to refuel without having to leave the property.

The prices are reasonable and the food hits the spot after a long morning of walking.

One of the things visitors consistently appreciate is the abundance of picnic tables scattered throughout the grounds. The zoo actively encourages guests to bring their own food, which is a refreshingly family-friendly policy that saves money and lets you eat at your own pace.

Spreading out a lunch under the trees while animals make noise in the background is a genuinely lovely experience.

There are also indoor seating areas for days when the weather does not cooperate, so rain does not have to ruin the plan. Grabbing a few snacks from the bar and then wandering over to a shaded picnic table while the kids debate which animal was their favorite makes for one of those low-key perfect afternoon moments.

The whole food setup here is unpretentious and functional, which fits the overall character of Space Farms perfectly.

The Gift Shop and Affordable Souvenirs

No zoo visit feels complete without a stop at the gift shop, and Space Farms delivers a solid selection without making you feel like your wallet is under attack. The shop carries animal-themed toys, keepsakes, and novelty items at a range of price points, with plenty of options under ten dollars for families who want to let the kids pick out a small memento without a big financial commitment.

There are also tables of affordable items specifically aimed at younger visitors, which is a thoughtful touch that keeps the shopping experience fun rather than stressful. The shop sits near the entrance and exit, so it is easy to browse on your way out after a full day of exploring.

Staff in the shop are friendly and happy to help if you are looking for something specific.

Picking up a small stuffed bear or a postcard from Space Farms is a nice way to extend the memory of the visit beyond the day itself. The gift shop feels consistent with the overall vibe of the property, which is unpretentious, accessible, and genuinely focused on giving visitors a good time.

It is not the fanciest souvenir shop you will ever walk into, but it has character, and that counts for a lot.

Address: 218 County Road 519, Sussex, NJ

Planning Your Visit: Tips for Getting the Most Out of Space Farms

Space Farms is open seasonally from May through October, so timing your visit matters. Arriving on a weekday tends to mean smaller crowds, which makes the self-guided experience even more relaxed and enjoyable.

The property is large enough that it rarely feels overcrowded even on busier weekend days, but a quieter visit lets you spend more unhurried time with each exhibit.

Wearing comfortable shoes is non-negotiable. The grounds require a fair amount of walking, and you will want to be comfortable enough to wander without rushing.

Dressing in layers is smart too, especially for early morning or late afternoon visits when the temperature in Sussex County can shift quickly. Bringing a light jacket never hurts.

Purchasing a few bags of corn for animal feeding is one of the best small investments you can make on the day. The animals are responsive and interactive, and having something to offer them makes the encounters so much more engaging.

Seasonal passes are also available and represent excellent value for families who plan to visit more than once during the open months. Space Farms rewards repeat visits because there is always something new to notice, a different animal behavior, a museum corner you missed, or simply a better day of weather to enjoy the grounds fully.