It’s no secret that I love animals. I grew up with dogs and guinea pigs, and I’m a sort uncle to my roommate’s cat. So after my trip to The Maine Wildlife Park, I decided to visit York’s Wild Kingdom. Their website boasts that they are New England’s only zoo and amusement park, and I wasn’t disappointed.
York’s Wild Kingdom is open from late May to mid-September. The zoo opens at 10am and the amusement park opens at 11am. During peak summer months, admissions will close at 4pm, but much like The Maine Wildlife Park, visitors can stay until 6pm, while the amusement park closes at 8pm. I pulled into the compound at 11am, and I discovered that the main parking lot was already full. However York’s Wild Kingdom has a contingency plan for such an event, and they have secondary lots were people can park, along with transportation to and from the park. The ride to the park was enjoyable and lined with trees, making for a smooth trip.
After disembarking from the shuttle, I decided to tour the amusement park. The rides were varied, ranging from the tame for little one’s, to a ride that spins on its axis. Watching some of the more intense rides turned my stomach, but much like my trip to the pier in June, I could see the popularity of such rides. There were batting cages with varying speeds, fun houses and haunted houses, and there were carnival games galore. There were even games that were “play-till-you-win,” which was a nice touch. There is a stall that does temporary tattoos as well bumper cars, go karts, and there’s even a ride that can be described as bumper boats.
Furthermore, an amusement park is not complete without food. There are a couple of food establishments that serve a selection of lunch and dinner options, like burgers and chicken tenders, as well as food stands that serve ice cream, fried dough and other such goodies. While there are picnic tables scattered around the park, some of the restaurants provide a deck of sorts with a whole slew of picnic tables. The park even provides umbrellas to shield patrons from the sun.
After I finished lunch, I made my way to the zoo. The first thing I noticed was that there were camel and pony rides. It looked like a lot of fun, and it provided parents with a photo opportunity. After some exploring, I found myself at a pond full of ducks. There were food dispensers that for a quarter you could feed the ducks. As the park had much to offer, I ventured deeper into the zoo. As I walked by the swan enclosure and the aoudad exhibit, I found myself amongst a herd of goat.
As with the ducks, there were food dispensaries present so that the guests could feed the goats. There were goats of different sizes, and I had a lot of fun feeding them. Some of the bigger goats could stand on their hind legs and prop themselves on the fence in such a way that their heads could clear the top of the fence. There’s even an area where guests can enter an enclosure and mingle with some of the goats.
Being a zoo, York’s Wild Kingdom doesn’t disappoint when it comes to exotic animals. I found a Bengal Tiger napping in the sun, and as I watched, he got up and began to walk about the enclosure. I was so taken aback by such a creature, that I almost missed the white tiger sleeping in the next pen. There were zebras, a vast variety of monkeys, emus, and a lion.
As my day was coming to a close, I happened across a small theatre facing two enclosures. A sign told me that in ten minutes a presentation on animals from different habitats would begin. The women who made the presentation was knowledgeable and was able to engage the crowed, which was a mix of children and adults. As the woman spoke about different animals, the subject of her presentation would enter one of pen as a way to provide a visual for the guests. Visitors can catch presentations at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, and it takes about fifteen minutes for the show to run its course.
Like in any other park, York’s Wild Kingdom has much to offer. While I mentioned some of the highlights of my trip, there is still a lot to explore. I do want to mention that weather can affect how long the park stays open, so if the weather is not ideal, make sure that the park’s hours haven’t changed. Visitors can find York’s Wild Kingdom can be found herewhile pricingand hourscan be found on their respective words. The pricing and hours and operation mentioned are for the 2018 season; so if you’re looking to visit in later years, make sure to check back for updated information. So once again, I ask, where should I go next?
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