Love it. We went when the Dambo Trolls were there so that fully shapes my experience. Even without the Trolls it would be a fun place to visit. Walk all the trails - it's fun. The ball run was even surprisingly fun. Get a ball! Even adults - just do it. It was a lot of fun taking turns and watching the ball go down. The inside was also interesting- watching the river otter swim loops. The gift shop is large and full of great items with a huge variety. Books and clothes and gifts. And of course the Trolls were the best part: absolutely stunning and magical read more

It's a wonderful place to visit, I saw people of all ages here to enjoy the beauty of this area. Just a note that they do not let anyone in even to park, before their posted hours. The entry works pretty smoothly though, and since we had prepaid tickets, they were able to look us up, give us a map and we were parked quickly. I was there specifically for the Thomas Dambo exhibit. He is a Danish sculpture artist known for his giant trolls made out of recycled wood. Each troll is unique and has a name and purpose....to save the Humans and teach them about sustainability. The trails are beautiful in the woods and clearly marked. There was a beautiful section of the forest where an original piece of music was being played from 24 speakers as you followed the trail. An enchanting small lake filled with water lilies was out the back door of the main building. They have a small cafeteria and a nice gift shop.The building was full of interesting exhibits, including a tank with otters. read more

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I had a wonderful time here with a friend recently. Even adults an enjoy the experience! Here are some highlights: 1. The otters! They were so active and playful, I could have watched them for hours. 2. Daily critter encounters - not sure what it's called exactly, but they have multiple opportunities throughout the day to hear a presentation and see an animal up close. On our visit we got to see the Kestrel. The presentation was quite interested. The small theater area is quite nice. 3. The Wild Walk is so nice and accessible! The interactive opportunities along the walk are great as well. 4. Lots and Lots of things to look at and explore inside and outside. Many trails. Tons of artifacts. The Troll exhibit was so cool. You really could spend an entire day here and still not do everything. 5. Lastly - THE GIFT SHOP. Seriously? I'm in love. So many wonderful, beautiful things. I had to keep myself from spending money this trip, but OH! Be still my nerdy nature-loving heart! Definitely make this a part of your next ADK adventure. read more

We came up for the visiting Trolls exhibit and had a great time! We had actually visited the first time the year after The Wild Center had opened, so it was very cool to see all the new additions and updated exhibits. Walking the whole museum and trail loop to see all the trolls (including the new permanent one Patrick Sapling) took about 2.5 hrs, but we had great weather and the trails are very easy to navigate. We went on a Friday morning and were surprised at how busy it was, but it's also nice to see so many people getting out to explore nature and the Adirondacks. We didn't due any of the special presentations or canoe trips, but I can easily see how people could spend half a day to even a full day here if the weather is nice. read more

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My wife and I were looking for something to do while we were in the area. We had seen a wild center advertised in different media and thought we would give it a shot. We arrived and were surprised that it was $30 a person to get into the parking lot and the rest of the center. The displays inside of the natural history museum were absolutely top-notch! You truly enjoyed the aquariums and the river otter exhibit! There is a nice gift store as well. On a down check, they need to clean their restrooms on a regular basis. It's not fun to clean up a toilet in order to go. That said the overall experience was four stars, but could've been five. The troll exhibit was rather interesting and lovely all at the same time! read more

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The last time I was here it was smaller, just the wild walk and the indoor museum. This time theres a while walkable forest, so cool, and for a short time the wooden trolls everyone is stopping to see. A beautiful place for the whole family. I've been coming to Tupper for a decade, and it keeps getting more interesting. Kudos!!! read more

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The Wild Center is an amazing place indeed! Loved the outdoor exhibits- the Raquette River Roll where you use a wooden ball to roll down various wooden Rube Goldberg-like pathways. The Wild Walk is a suspended bridge walkway over the forest floor and includes a couple of nail-biting suspended pathways! And for the Summer 2026 you can also hunt for the six Dambo trolls located in various sections of the trail pathways. Inside activities include a museum and various lectures showcasing wildlife- owls, porcupines, etc. You could spend all day here if you wanted! We really enjoyed our visit today. read more

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I visited this unique museum and interactive exhibit on a rainy day in the Adirondacks because I wanted something with a solid indoor option. Ironically, the weather ended up being beautiful, so I spent a lot of time exploring the outdoor area instead and had an absolute blast. I went with one other adult and no children, and I can confidently say this is a place people of any age would enjoy. The exhibits are genuinely engaging and hands on without feeling childish. There were some incredibly unique features, including an outdoor treehouse style structure, bones and skulls you could actually hold and examine yourself, and even a small exhibit showing decomposing animals being broken down by beetles. That was something I had never seen in a museum before and found surprisingly fascinating. Overall, this was not a filler stop at all. It ended up being one of the highlights of the trip and was far more fun and interesting than I expected. Whether you have kids or not, this place is absolutely worth a visit. read more

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Our first time here was for The Wild Lights on NYE! It's an incredible photo op, there is hot chocolate available inside, s'mores & fire pits, delicate lights, amazing winter vibes.. all of the things! I purchased tickets online beforehand, making for a very easy check in. A map of lights display was provided. Plenty of parking. We had so much fun. I look forward to coming back here in the summer! read more

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A must visit in any season! (Features photos from many trips) So much to explore both indoors and out! read more

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Extremely well laid out, plenty of people their with an abundance of knowledge and of course the trails with the Trolls, I was solo and loved every minute, great for all ages with easy access to all the outside exhibits, I would thoroughly recommend... read more

The Wild Center - Museums Near Me - Tupper Lake, New York

Great outdoor educational adventure the trails there can take you everywhere and the trolls that where made were beautiful. read more

The Wild Center - Here's a different angle - Museums Near Me - Tupper Lake, New York

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Great family fun. Plenty of interactive things to do. Very Educational! The staff were all very friendly and if you had questions they would spend time answering them. read more

The beauty of the Adirondacks! What an amazing place for children and adults to learn more about the nature around us. There are so many huge aquariums with sturgeons, salmon, fish, frogs and salamanders! They also have OTTERS!!! The greatest museum and center here in the North Country! There are multiple movies you can watch throughout the day and animal talks where they bring out animals for the children! Outside they have a nature wild walk where you can explore tree houses, an eagles nest and a spiders web! Very interactive for everyone! If you want to visit the river walk you can wear snowshoes and push sleds! The prices are completely worth it- giving back your community and educating the public to recycle, and protect the gorgeous nature we call home! Infinite stars for this museum and highly recommend for the curious minds of nature explorers! Enjoy we had an amazing time here! read more

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My four year old loved all of the outdoor activities here. The raised outdoor walk with the Eagle's nest is really pretty cool, even from an adult perspective. The indoor museum is also very neat. They have huge fish tanks and even an area with a few otters. We paid $48 for two adults because 4 and under are free. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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The Wild Center is such a fun place to visit in the Adks in every season, especially for families with young kids. There are plenty of animals to learn about and see inside. The property is stunning. There is a huge climbable tree house / play area for kids in the back that also has learning stops along the way. There is a large "spiderweb" trampoline and at the very end, you can get into a giant bird nest to catch the veiw! I did a behind the scenes tour once and they showed us how they care for all the animals and what a large space they have downstairs for them. In the winter, this place gets extra magical. The nature walk has soothing music playing while you walk through a mini festival of lights in the trees! This place is a gem and a must for any families visiting the area. read more

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The only thing I can say bad about this place is the price. $20 a person, woof. If you come here try to figure out some discounts. It's a pretty fun spot if you are coming with kids! When you park your car you have two choices, spend time outdoor first or go inside to explore. We went inside first. Plenty of picture opportunities. Fun stuff for the kids to see, touch and learn! The ice glacier was a fave for my toddler. Don't worry about checking out the gift shop until the end. You will get there, trust me. There is a middle section to do some crafts and play with trinkets, which you can spend a good amount of time in, which was nice. But be aware your kid might not want to leave the area. Now on to the outdoors. It's a fun little walk, but be aware of mosquitos, my legs collected them like I was collecting badges. Ouch! The walk had some fun stuff on the way for the kids to play, like a balance beam, swing, and a birds nest play place. Then you come up to a building (tree house) with stairs and bridges. Kind of nerve wrecking but really fun! There was a big spider statue with a jumping web for the kids. Further down the walk you'll pass by trees and stumps to play with. Please monitor your kids! The branches that were built into forts were pretty dangerous when kids pulled them apart, for it to topple over. I saw many kids almost get hurt with parents not around and sitting on their phones. After that you walk up to the music forest. Would have been really relaxing if I wasn't getting eaten alive by the mosquitoes. Also the music was really cool, BUT imagine if they changed it for Halloween! Would be an epic forest of horror! After the forest you come upon the pond which I find impressive as it's leveled and when you're inside it seems really cool to see it at almost eye level. As I said you come back full course to the GIFT SHOP. Little trinkets etc to buy for the kids. But also a cafeteria to get some lunch or snacks. Overall a good time. read more

The Wild Center - Museums Near Me - Tupper Lake, New York

We came here for the solar eclipse event and honestly was not expecting much for a nature center in a small mountain town in upstate New York. I was very impressed at the indoor and outdoor exhibits as well as the thought that went into planning the event. They were ready for crowd control, had plenty of entertainment, and had a good amount of trails to explore. We will definitely make use of our membership and return soon to visit the otters again! read more

Great place to spend a morning or afternoon. My husband and I came on a misty/rainy day and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We spent time indoors enjoying the displays and attended one of the movies in the panoramic theater. The movie was on global warming and well produced. We enjoyed the gift shop, but didn't eat in the cafe since we packed our own lunch. We spent time on all the trails and enjoyed the Wild Walk, climbing on structures, including the spider web and tree platforms taking in the view. I especially enjoyed the Forest Music which made me feel like I was walking through a magical place. I noticed a lot of older people enjoying this place, so am not sure if everyone would have the same experience. read more

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This was a wonderful experience! The inside was so informative and they had a lot of animals on display. The outside was also cool with many different attractions. We did the wild walk and it was so cool! Like nothing we've done before. Would absolutely recommend going here while in the area read more

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Unfortunately for us, it was a grey and rainy day. However, we bought ponchos at the museum. The museum itself was exceptionally well done and interesting with a lot of live animals to watch. Our favorites were the otters. Plan on at least an hour. The outdoor walkway was varied, but we had expected that it would be much, much higher off of the ground. For little kids, it will be exciting. The best part was going into the spider's web, which was pretty darn cool. We also liked going inside of the huge tree, which was like a lighthouse. Plan on another hour of outdoor exploration. read more

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We planned a weekend trip around a visit to The Wild Center because we had it bookmarked for quite a while and there was no way to visit just for the day or overnight, coming from NJ. Well, that was our mistake because it took us just 2 hours to see the whole thing and the town of Tupper Lake didn't really have much happening for us to spend an entire day there. So this is a huge tip to consider for out-of-towners. Otherwise, just focusing on the center itself, I would describe it as an educational playground in the mountains that is fun for all ages. My group didn't have any little kids, and we still had plenty to be in awe of. This is assuming a level of interest in nature and wildlife, and even the arts. One guest artist used the forest as a gallery space, featuring sculptures and music. read more

A wonderful museum tucked away in Tupper Lake with SO much fun stuff to do. Inside, see fish, otters, and turtles plus weather like fog and glaciers. Outside, do a mini "hike" to the Wild Walk, hang out in the Eagle's Nest, and kids can play in the spider web. It will keep any family entertained for hours. We had a wonderful time. The gift shop is also fantastic. Also, a major plus - I lost my earring here and the staff went looking for it and found it 2 days later - awesome people working here! read more

This place has been on my radar for quite some time , but being 5 hours away from home has had made it difficult to attend without planning an overnight trip. Come to find out it's only about 40 minutes from Lake Placid, where I already had a trip planned, so I managed to squeeze a visit in and I'm so glad I did. Here are the top reasons - 1. The wild walk - great photo opps here - you get to climb rope bridges, crawl on a giant spider web , stand in a birds nest - all while overlooking the mountains! 2. The Wildlife- I got to see a porcupine up close and personal , sea otters being very playful and red squirrels chattering and chasing one another! It was educational and fun. 3. The staff was great- informative and friendly and all while following COVID standards and procedures. Hike the trails for further exercise and fun facts! Perfect for the young and old alike! read more

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Our family had a blast at The Wild Center today. We started outside on the Wild Walk- a raised boardwalk- and it was amazing! Such creative ideas that made it fun for kids of all ages and adults as well. There were suspension bridges and a giant tree that you could walk inside, a giant bird's nest that you could climb into and look at the distant mountains, and an enormous spiderweb that you could crawl around on. You also could go on lots of nature walks on the property. There's a path around the pond and more leading down to the river. They also offer a canoe river trip. Near the elevated boardwalk they built an interesting structure made entirely of branches that you can walk through. Amazing! The inside building exhibits were very interesting and informative - they focused on the environment and ecology of the area. And there was an impressive nature/water display created by a native American artist that included beautiful wall and ceiling murals. We really enjoyed the theater as well. It was a lovely visit! read more

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My grandson and I got tickets online so I saved some money by doing that. We spent the whole day there and walked every trail. It was so beautiful there, and I really enjoyed the musical forest. We watched a couple of the live animal shows. My grandson just loved the otters. Going up to the eagles nest was a great experience and all the photos we took will be shared with lots of family and friends. We had never seen anything like the stick huts which were so cool. We also learned a lot about the Adirondack region. This day was a great experience. I would suggest to anyone traveling to Tupper Lake area to make time to spend at the Wild Center. It's well worth it. read more

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Know before you go: - Need a timed reservation to enter It's all done online through their website. It's advised to do it beforehand, but they do have a spot to park and sign up by the attendant if needed. - Great for kids, but also good for adults Initially, I thought it was more geared towards kids. But even as an adult, I found that I had things to learn, explore and much to see. In fact, there are some adults just walking around without any kids. So, it's really great for all ages. - They follow COVID precautions That means everyone is required to wear mask & stay 6ft away from other parties. Everyone seemed to be following the rules. Due to COVID, most of the indoor facilities/gift shops are closed. It's unfortunate that we can't see/access some of animals that are kept in the indoor facilities. But, there are a few animals viewable outside. Bathrooms are still opened though. Interesting spots to see: Wild Walk - This is the area that most attracted me to this place. It is very unique to this wild center. Although it seems like an kid's playground (with a treehouse, giant birds nest & trampoline-like spider web), there is a lot to be learned along the way if you take your time to read the signs. It has much more meaning than what it seems. But overall, a very cool place to walk around and feel like a kid again. Forest Music - I fell in love with the genre of forest music here. The whole concept of filling an area with 24 speakers playing gentle beautiful music while walking around a forest is so clever. The whole forest area is very cool & peaceful. Creature Feature At the Patio - One trainer/staff member brings out one animal to feature & educate about. It's quite informative/educational. And it's a chance to see & take pictures of them up close without any cage/barrier in the way. Otter Play Yard - We went right after they got their lunch. So, they were ready to snuggle and sleep. But we came back after exploring most of the center and they were playful & active as can be. It's very cool to see them interact with each other & the environment they live in. Trails - There are walking trails outside the general area of the center leading to the Raquette river. It's pretty nice that there is an extension of the center if you do choose to get the most out of your admission fee. Less people tend to walk out there, so it's a nice quiet stroll. Overall, my friends and I spent hours just exploring everything that they had to offer (that was opened). It was more time consuming than I expected in a good way. I left satisfied with my visit. read more

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What can I say, saw them grow from a twinkle in the communities eye to a major attraction. WC is fantastic, I never tire from multiple visits. The walks the tree experience, the otters, a must see, the Wild Center is a Wow! read more

The experience was enjoyable for a three hour adventure. Kids had fun with the interactive rooms. My son spent time studying the active bee hive. My daughter loved the otters. read more

Awesome place with great mission & staff. Worth the drive no matter where you are coming from. Fun and educational for all ages! My wife and I had a lot of fun and so did our 18-month-old. Plenty of animals that you can check out, tons of exhibits that allow you to get up close and personal with the learning. The Wild Walk was the absolute best part. So many routes and ways to explore. The walk is inclusive so that the vast majority of the walk and things to do during the walk are able to be accessed by wheelchair or stroller, so thoughtful to bring nature to as many different people as possible. Everyone needs to come to the Wild Center! read more

My friends and I visited here on Friday, September 16th. What an amazing place! We started with the outdoor trails, thoroughly enjoying the Stickworks, the Wild Walk, and the lake trails. The Center itself was fantastic, with the river exhibits, the otters, and Luna the Owl being particular standouts. We spent hours here having a great time learning and exploring without realizing how quickly the time flew by. I cannot recommend this enough if you have the time to explore at your own pace. Also, after meeting the ravens and learning about crows, all of us found ourselves wanting to befriend some corvids. read more

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This is the second time we've visited The Wild Center and the first time with the new Tree Top exhibit! This is only about 30 minutes from our cabin in Long Lake so we spent one afternoon here when the kids needed to do something else. This is really great place, but the biggest problem I have is the price. It is so EXPENSIVE! Like way more then any of the museums, zoos, or centers in Ohio. I also do not think it's worth the price when they have very little in terms of attractions. The inside area is very small and while the trails and other outdoor stuff is great, it does not mean you can charge as much as they do. We spent way more time outside at the Tree Top, which was AMAZING as well as the nature play area then indoors. The Tree Top exhibit is super cool. You can learn all about different animals and environments that are in the trees. They also had some tables set out with people telling you about different birds and life of trees. We all especially liked the spider web you can climb and lay in. Overall we had a good time, but it is definitely not something we'd do every year we go to our cabin. Way too expensive for that. read more

Very cool museum and nature trails! Exhibits are wonderful and engaging for kids and adults! The gift shop is beautiful! Love it here!

This is perhaps the crown jewel facility of the Adirondacks. A fantastic place to take the family, I visit any time I have an opportunity.

Just the snack bar every museum needs! Slightly overpriced food offerings with free water. The view of the pond is clearly the best part of the snack bar. 175 pennies for my small, locally sourced coffee. read more

A great choice for a quick visit today! This place has something for the entire family - definitely child friendly, but plenty of interest for the mature visitor as well. Enjoyable exhibits of live fish and plants. Very nice shop on premises with a nice variety of everything from souvenirs to serious books. We want to return and do some serious hiking here. read more

This place got really good reviews and maybe being from NYC a 5 Star museum/center like this would be the NYC Museum of Natural History for me. That's probably an unfair comparison but while this place had really nice presentations my rating is for overall value. While it may seem unfair to rate this so poorly I would have given it 3 stars had the entrance fee been a little cheaper for the size of the place. The exhibits are made with amazing quality and design but unless you read literally every plaque you could be done visiting this place in about 2.5hrs. They try to keep visitors entertained with live exhibits at the lobby during certain times and they even have a theater but for price & size I honestly didn't find this to be the best place I've visited. While the family & I did enjoy ourselves I would not revisit unless I got entrance at a discounted price. read more

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Excellent Museum. 1) It is a very unique museum. 2) Great way to spend the day, if you are burnt from the hike the day before. 3) It is a must visit. read more

I had so much fun here (oh and so did my six year old daughter!) we got there a little late but we were still allowed some time. I can't wait to go back and see everything! Some cool points: the wild walk is awesome! Very interactive and and everything was in working order. Nice clean bathrooms nearby Educational and fun I do wish it stayed open longer but imagine someone telling you to add a few hours to your workday! Can't wait to go back! read more

Tupper Lake Wild Center is world class environmental museum in heart of Adirondacks comparable to anything Nationally. The exhibits and nature walk is incredible. Not to be missed if you travel to area read more