Kodiak bears that wave at visitors share a property with one of the largest private antique firearm collections in the country. That pairing sounds made up.
It isn’t.
The guns date back to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. A few buildings over, you’ll find antique cars, hundreds of old dolls, and a hand-built miniature circus.
I love that this New Jersey spot started with one family and never really stopped collecting. Many of the relics came from neighbors during the Great Depression.
They traded heirlooms for supplies and simply never came back for them.
So you get lions, tigers, and jaguars in the morning. Then you get muskets, sleighs, and blacksmith tools after lunch.
I can’t think of a stranger or more charming double feature. How did one family end up with all of it?
A Zoo And A Museum Sharing One Rural Address
Space Farms: Zoo & Museum sits in Wantage Township, deep in the green northwest corner of New Jersey. It’s a family-run complex spread across roughly 100 acres.
Half of the fun lives outdoors with the animals. The other half hides inside a cluster of museum buildings packed with Americana.
The zoo holds more than 500 animals from about 100 species. Space Farms also calls itself home to the largest private collection of North American animals in the United States.
Then comes the curveball. One of the biggest private antique firearm collections in the country waits in the museum, along with vintage cars and farm relics.
Most places pick a lane. Space Farms decided lanes were optional and built a whole highway of curiosities instead.
The vibe is closer to a working farm than a big city zoo. Wide outdoor trails connect everything, so you can wander at your own pace.
That relaxed layout matters for families. Little legs can stop at every enclosure without anyone rushing the group along.
It feels a long way from the Turnpike. Honestly, that may be the best part.
How A Quarter-Acre Store Grew Into A Century-Old Family Legacy
Back in 1927, Ralph and Elizabeth Space bought a tiny quarter-acre plot. They opened a general store and repair shop, and they also sheltered wild animals.
That humble start grew slowly, one animal and one heirloom at a time. Nearly a century later, the family still runs the show.
The current owner is Parker Space, a New Jersey State Senator. He belongs to the third and fourth generations keeping the tradition alive.
Think about how rare that is. Plenty of attractions change owners every few decades, but this one stayed in the family through the Depression and beyond.
You can feel that continuity in the place itself. It isn’t polished like a corporate theme park, and it doesn’t try to be.
Instead, it carries the personality of the people who built it. Ralph Space loved collecting and history, and his passion shaped what you see today.
Families who grew up visiting now bring their own kids and grandkids. That cycle fits a place built by generations.
Longevity like this deserves a little applause. Few New Jersey family businesses can claim roots stretching back to 1927.
You Can Get Surprisingly Close To Bears, Lions, And Jaguars
Good luck walking past the Kodiak bears without stopping. Some of them famously wave, and kids treat that moment like meeting a celebrity.
The animal lineup goes well beyond bears. You’ll find African lions, Bengal tigers, leopards, jaguars, bobcats, hyenas, and timber wolves.
Space Farms is also known for its bear and lion cub breeding programs. That work has earned the zoo recognition beyond New Jersey.
Hoofed animals add another layer. Buffalo, yaks, fallow deer, and Japanese Sitka deer share the grounds, along with several kinds of foxes.
The big draw is perspective. Enclosures here often let you watch animals from several angles instead of through one small window.
If you time it right, you may catch feeding time for the big cats. Watching lions, tigers, and jaguars eat can be thrilling and surprisingly educational.
Keepers sometimes share how the cats get their food. Those little lessons can turn a quick look into a real conversation with the kids.
Animal care opinions vary, so it’s smart to see it yourself and decide. Many families still leave talking about those bears all the way home.
Feeding Time Turns Kids Into Instant Zookeepers
Hand a kid a cup of animal food and watch their whole day change. At Space Farms, feeding is part of the experience, not an extra.
Visitors can buy animal food on site. Goats and deer are popular stops, and designated areas let children meet farm animals up close.
Chickens, ducks, and geese roam freely around the grounds. Little ones tend to find that hilarious, and the birds seem to know it.
Feeding the Kodiak bears ranks high on many family wish lists. Getting a bear to wave back is basically the zoo’s unofficial achievement badge.
That hands-on angle sets Space Farms apart from big city zoos. Kids aren’t just looking, they’re participating.
Watch your step on the paths, though. Free-roaming geese leave reminders behind, so sneakers beat fancy shoes every time.
Staff here earn plenty of kind words for being friendly and helpful. Keepers often answer questions with patience, which helps curious kids learn more.
A few quarters’ worth of feed can buy a memory that lasts years. That’s a pretty great trade for any New Jersey family outing.
The Antique Firearm Collection That Steals The Show
Here’s the surprise most visitors never see coming. Behind the animals sits one of the largest private antique firearm collections in the United States.
Some sources call it the second-largest privately owned collection of its kind in the country. Either way, it’s enormous.
The rifles and muskets date back to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Walking past them feels like flipping through an American history textbook.
You can trace how firearms changed over generations. Early long guns give way to later designs, and the craftsmanship stands out in many pieces.
History buffs will want extra time here. Even folks who don’t follow history may find themselves lingering longer than planned.
The best part is the story behind it all. Many pieces arrived as heirlooms from local families, not through fancy auctions.
That gives the collection a homegrown feel. These items once hung in Sussex County homes and barns before landing on these walls.
It’s a quiet, thoughtful counterpoint to the roaring lions outside. Few places pair those two worlds, and that contrast makes the visit memorable.
Cars, Dolls, And A Miniature Circus Fill The Other Buildings
Calling it a museum undersells things a bit. It’s really several museums spread across different buildings, each with its own theme.
Gearheads get more than 50 antique cars and motorcycles. Old horse-drawn carriages and sleighs round out the transportation lineup nicely.
Farm history gets serious attention too. Look for the Newton Ferrell Hay Fork and the Deckertown Plow, both local treasures.
A primitive tool barn and blacksmith shop show how earlier generations got things done. Spoiler: lots of muscle and plenty of ingenuity.
The doll museum holds more than 500 antique dolls. Some come from collections started a very long time ago.
Native American artifacts appear too, many collected locally by the Space family. An Eskimo exhibit and a fluorescent mineral theater add even more variety.
Then comes the whimsy. A complete miniature circus and a hand-built train set show remarkable attention to detail.
Clocks, plates, and taxidermy also make appearances. You’ll leave wondering whether the Space family ever threw anything away, and you’ll be glad they didn’t.
Plan Your Day Around Seasonal Hours And A Picnic Lunch
Timing matters, because Space Farms runs on a seasonal schedule. For 2026, it opens daily from March 28 through November 1.
Hours run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission is at 4 p.m., so don’t roll in too late.
You’ll find it at 218 County Road 519, Sussex, NJ 07461. The drive through Sussex County is part of the charm.
Pack a lunch if you like. A large picnic area gives families an easy, budget-friendly break between animals and exhibits.
An Extreme Pizza restaurant operates on site. There’s also a snack bar, a small gift shop, and restrooms.
Younger kids can burn off energy at the playground. That’s often the secret to a smoother car ride home.
Admission is generally considered reasonable for a full day out. A seasonal pass may pay off fast if you plan multiple trips.
Staff have been known to help guests using wheelchairs. Still, wear comfy shoes, bring water, and plan for most of a day here.
Why This Quirky Double Feature Deserves A Spot On Your List
Few outings let you feed a goat, meet a jaguar, and study Civil War rifles before dinner. Space Farms: Zoo & Museum pulls that off without blinking.
It’s old-school, family-made, and gloriously unusual. That’s exactly why it stands out.
This isn’t a glossy city zoo, and opinions about it vary. Some visitors want more modern facilities, so manage expectations accordingly.
Many families still return season after season. Grandparents bring grandkids, and the waving bears keep winning new fans.
History lovers get a genuine payoff here. Between the firearms, cars, dolls, and farm tools, there’s a story in nearly every corner.
Animal lovers get close-up views and feeding moments. Kids get room to roam, a playground, and plenty of geese to chase.
Best of all, the whole thing reflects one New Jersey family’s nearly century-long passion. Heirlooms once traded for groceries now teach new generations.
Visit on a sunny weekday for a slower pace. Then drive home through the hills, already debating whether the bears or the muskets won the day.
