Live animals, hands-on exhibits & forest trails connect guests with the Adirondacks.
At a glance
#3 of 5 Tourist attractions in Tupper LakeLocalGuideWorld score: 4.70
Rating breakdown
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5 ★76%
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4 ★17%
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3 ★4%
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2 ★1%
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1 ★1%
What reviewers talk about
Share of 16 recent reviews that mention each topic.
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Service & staff25%
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Atmosphere25%
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View19%
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Price & value19%
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Waiting & crowds6%
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Location6%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of The Wild Center?
- The Wild Center is rated 4.7 out of 5 based on 5,770 reviews.
- How does The Wild Center rank in Tupper Lake?
- The Wild Center is #3 of 5 Tourist attractions in Tupper Lake by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
- Where is The Wild Center located?
- 45 Museum Dr, Tupper Lake, NY 12986 — 0.1 km from the center of Tupper Lake.
- What do visitors mention most about The Wild Center?
- Most often: service & staff, atmosphere, view (from 16 recent reviews).
- How can I contact The Wild Center?
- Phone: (518) 359-7800 · Website: wildcenter.org
Went here with my wife and our then 3 children. It was absolutely amazing. The views are so nice. The building is up against the lake. It looks awesome from inside and out. The man made nests were very awesome the kids like to play in them.
The Wild Lights and the Forest Music is the most magical winter experience in the Adirondacks! We went when it was single digits after a fresh snowfall (a typical winter day in the ADK!) Our group had so much fun. Dress accordingly for the weather and give yourself time to stroll around and take it all in. It’s amazing what they have created here. The staff were so helpful and kind. We enjoyed warming up after with hot cocoa and local raquette river beers inside too!
The Wild Center is a natural history museum located in Tupper Lake, NY. The museum offers both a variety of educational indoor interactive displays and outdoor recreational activities. The museum does a good job showing the joys of the Adirondacks including animal wildlife, hiking, and water sports. The museum has it's own set of hiking trails and "the Wild Walk" which a journey into the treetops, with nice views of the surrounding scenery. The best part of this museum is their holiday lights or "Wild Lights" display.
The holiday lights display goes from late November until early February. The museum decorates the "Wild Walk": and some of their hiking trails with beautiful holiday lights. Their light displays are hard to find anywhere else, and are a must see during the holidays! If you have no interest the museum, the lights are worth the price of admission.
During the year the hiking trails are fairly easy to do and provide a nice escape. The Wild Center is a good place to get an introduction to Adirondack recreational activities. The indoor museum displays are mostly for kids, and most everyone can get something out of them. If you're a serious Adirondack outdoorsman than the displays will not be that interesting because you will already have seen most the museum displays in outdoors. There is also a movie theater inside that plays movies about the Adirondacks every half hour. The gift shop is large and has much Adirondack themed merchandise. It is best to purchase tickets ahead of time online.
The holiday lights display goes from late November until early February. The museum decorates the "Wild Walk": and some of their hiking trails with beautiful holiday lights. Their light displays are hard to find anywhere else, and are a must see during the holidays! If you have no interest the museum, the lights are worth the price of admission.
During the year the hiking trails are fairly easy to do and provide a nice escape. The Wild Center is a good place to get an introduction to Adirondack recreational activities. The indoor museum displays are mostly for kids, and most everyone can get something out of them. If you're a serious Adirondack outdoorsman than the displays will not be that interesting because you will already have seen most the museum displays in outdoors. There is also a movie theater inside that plays movies about the Adirondacks every half hour. The gift shop is large and has much Adirondack themed merchandise. It is best to purchase tickets ahead of time online.
I took my parents there, and we all had a good time! The Wild Walk itself is already a major attraction. It's also very kid-friendly. The museum as well as the nature trails are good too. We saw a live showcase of a 17-year old porcupine there and local toads licking crickets lol!
Have been going there for 3 years now. This year we have bought a membership because we will just keep going there.
Exciting and educational. Kids love to explore and learn hands on. New engaging exhibits were added this year and they were soo much fun. We mostly go in summer and fall, but last year’s winter trip was also unforgettable.
Each time we go we learn something new.
Indoor exhibits also engage kids and hands on learning. We drive for over an hour each way, but it is hands down worth it.
Exciting and educational. Kids love to explore and learn hands on. New engaging exhibits were added this year and they were soo much fun. We mostly go in summer and fall, but last year’s winter trip was also unforgettable.
Each time we go we learn something new.
Indoor exhibits also engage kids and hands on learning. We drive for over an hour each way, but it is hands down worth it.
If you love the outdoors and your children do too, this is most definitely the place to take them for an educational and activity filled day of fun. Indoor and outdoor activities. The coolest spiderweb you can get into. Even cooler tree house with suspension like foot bridges to get you to and from. Every other step is a learning experience. We can also take a moment to appreciate mother nature a lot more. Understand it is us who can keep her beautiful and clean. A day you won't forget.
We had a fantastic time with kids 18mo - 10 years old. It was pretty easy to get around with a rugged style stroller as many paths are ADA compliant although some sections would be impossible with a stroller or wheelchair. The museum itself is lovely. Recommend you bring a picnic if coming from far away as they have a nice outdoor picnic area. They have lots of programming from around 10-4 so you can really make a day of it.
This place was sooo cool!! Went with an adult group of friends at night for The Wild Walk (day before New Years Eve). A lighted walk through the trails and the museum center was open to see the exhibits as well. First let me say I have visited plenty of eco-centers, natural history museums and zoo’s and this site has it all. It was perfect for families and friends off all ages. We saw young families, active adults, and family with teens and it seemed to be enjoyed at all levels (of course if you’re not into nature, it might not be your thing…. But it could also be the place that converts you to a nature lover). The displays were very interactive and could be enjoyed by all levels. The animal and plant exhibit were extremely well done. Trails and walkways were great for all levels and plenty of fun things for kids from 1-89 😊 to enjoy. Can’t wait to go back in the summer or fall during the day light hours to enjoy some of the longer trails.
Great place to bring the family to learn about nature. They have otters turtles, fish and more. Perfect for a picnic in summer. Today we went to see the winter lights it was beautiful.
What an incredible museum! The habitat exhibits are so cool for kids (and big kids) to prowl around in, but I was particularly impressed with the dedication to making the entire space interactive. The observation hive was especially cool to see, and despite being a grown man, I stuffed myself in the otter observation log like a 5 year old (The otters obliged me and came over to say hello).
Such a wonderful experience for my 3 kids (10, 8, 5)! Loved everything outdoors and indoors. Plan to spend 3+ hours your first time. The otters were so fun to watch and the staff were very helpful and friendly.
So much fun! We took our 1 year old and he was able to walk around and explore. He had a blast and so did us adults. Indoor exhibits from animals, and ecosystems to agriculture and more. Outdoor trails and the wild walk trail were well kept. The spider web was a big hit for the kids. Great attraction for families.
I've been looking at this place for years and finally was able to visit, and I wasn't disappointed! They truly are nature's best attraction, education, and fun. They have everything for kids, adults, and senior citizens. We saw all age groups touring and enjoying the finest that nature has to offer. If you have been here before, it is definitely worth taking a trip. I wish I had gone sooner! We will definitely visit again next year!
We really loved our visit here. Our group had kids ages 9-16 and everyone had a great experience. Learn about animals & the area, enjoying an easy walk to the river, explore the structures and educational displays. I'd love to come back in the winter!
Wow! So happy we took the time to visit this gem in the Adirondacks. The wild walk was so much fun and the views are amazing. This is such a great place for kids, especially to spark interest in nature and conservation. My personal favourite was the Forest Music walk - it was ethereal and I could have stayed all day.
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