Eric Foster October 24, 2022 17:16:21 (EDT)

Does anyone have an image or recollect an Indian statue at Benson's?

The Indian statue on 2A in Shirley, MA. reports to have been purchased in 1986. It's currently decaying in front of an Auto Auction business.

Chris DeMarco December 23, 2021 21:33:36 (EDT)

It's a great park, even with Covid the place Is booming!

Glen C Longstreet July 18, 2021 18:36:03 (EDT)

I remember there being a Big Slide. That would have been in the early 60's. Is my memory playing tricks on me?

Steve (Webmaster) May 19, 2021 12:55:47 (EDT)

Here's a link to a terrific 18 minute interview with former Park Magician Jim Leach. The video aired on the Town of Hudson Public Access Channel HCTV-20.

Donnie Almeida March 23, 2021 07:45:37 (EDT)

I recently bought a Frog boat and am in the process of restoring it. I'm looking for pictures and info on the boats if anyone has anything that would be helpful, Thanks

Cliff November 25, 2020 15:33:56 (EDT)

I have a brass camel Its base is 2 1/4 inches 2 inches tall

One side says Bensons Wild Animal Farm Nashua

Other side says made especially for

Anyone have any info ?

Thanks

Rita Wroe September 13, 2020 05:35:01 (EDT)

So sad it closed I loved going there as a kid and seeing all the animals.Just breaks my heart that they closed will never forget that place it leaves a special place in my heart. I only wished my grandkids could of seen it.

Deb Robertson May 25, 2020 10:46:21 (EDT)

Just picked up a gorgeous old steamer trunk at a barn sale - painted orange and stenciled in black "BENSON'S ANIMAL FARM" "HUDSON, NH" - Beautiful conversation piece for sure!

Kelly April 18, 2020 21:13:44 (EDT)

Is the park open for walking?

Kevin Fowler April 5, 2020 10:18:05 (EDT)

I worked two seasons at Bensons right after it was acquired by the Provenchers. I was hired because they had found out, just before opening, that the train ride required a licensed driver and they had hired nothing but 14-15 year olds to be the ride operators. They still had the fire engine but had not planned on using it but now that they had to have licensed drivers for the train they brought that out as well. So for two summers (79 & 80) I drove the train and the fire engine.

Steve (Webmaster) March 19, 2020 22:52:05 (EDT)

Website is back after a hard drive failure.

R.B. February 10, 2020 01:02:10 (EDT)

Does anyone remember, or have any pictures of the animatronic monkey that was near the entrance? Any help or information it would be greatly appreciated.

Joyce R. September 13, 2019 14:30:47 (EDT)

Hi,
Is Cindy Provencher in this group?
I'd like to talk to her about Benson's and about Ruth, an elephant at Benson's between1963 & 1978.
Thanks!

David August 21, 2019 12:57:38 (EDT)

Aaahhh nostalgia! Sad that these kinds of places are disappearing. A 1950s day at Benson's is a well-remembered annual family tradition from when I was a kid. By the time I was a 60s teen I'd 'forgotten' all about it. As a parent in the mid-70s took my own kids a couple of times. The trestle piers for the weekly Boston train still stand in the Merrimack River, a bit downstream from the Bridge St bridges.

Steve May 7, 2019 20:28:19 (EDT)

From what I can determine, the animatronic band was called "The Beagles". It probably was originally in a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant. I don't know how it ended up at Benson's. You can read more about "The Beagles" show here.

And from Wikipedia: The Rock-afire Explosion is an animatronic robot band that played in Showbiz Pizza Place from 1980 to 1992. In 1992 when they rebranded the band was replaced by Chuck E. Cheese characters.[1] The show was created and manufactured by inventor Aaron Fechter, creator of Whac-A-Mole, through his company Creative Engineering, Inc. in Orlando, Florida; in addition to overseeing the production of the animatronics, Fechter also provided the voices for several characters.

Gaspar May 7, 2019 09:00:19 (EDT)

Does anyone have pictures of the animatronic band that was at Bensons in 1987? I believe it was the rock afire explosion

Dana Sion August 27, 2018 14:43:33 (EDT)

Dave,
Feel free to send it to The Friends of Benson Park, Inc. who are building th BWAR museum in 5e former Elephnt Barn at the park. info@friendsofbensonpark.org or P.O. Box 91Hudson NH 03051
1 (978) 788-5193
Thanks,
Dana

dave August 14, 2018 12:41:37 (EDT)

I have a photo of Mightymouse you might like. DO not know where to send. I would send it for your use and not to be duplicated. DAve

Roger Smith April 9, 2018 20:19:27 (EDT)

Looking for all history on Mabel Stark training tigers there in 1937--she got her SS card in NH that year. Mabel was my mentor for 3.5 years at Jungleland, late of Thousand Oaks, CA, an animal training compound much like Benson's. I worked for 2 years with Leslie Zemeckis on the documentary MABEL, MABEL, TIGER TRAINER, which you may like to have in memory of her season there. It comes out tomorrow, Tuesday, April 10, 2018, from Cinema Libre Films.

Also want history of Joe Arcaris, who trained wild animal acts there. Joe was awarded the Carnegie Hero Medal in 1940 for saving a man from 5 attacking lions at the Clyde Beatty Jungle Zoo, then of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Your slide show has him training a barrel-rolling lion at the Beatty Circus winterquarters, then in Deming, NM. We had a long correspondence, and I returned all his pictures he had loaned to me. For these histories, I'm looking for photos, contracts, payroll data, all for the complete story of their seasons at Benson's.

Congratulations on re-opening. I visited in 1981, and the manager wanted to hire me to train new cat acts, but I was contracted to the Beatty show that season. Hope one day to re-visit. Wish you every success.