cheryl December 12, 2011 07:42:47 (EDT)

box turtles live forever...
hope you kept it alive....

Craig Johnston December 11, 2011 21:31:00 (EDT)

Life long NH native here. I remember Benson's fondly as a kid. I had almost gotten a job working with the primates right before they closed.. in fact I would have had it if it were not for the closure. I went to the auction for the animals. I'll never forget how sad a day that way. I bought their Eastern Box Turtle for $20. A zebra painted jeep drove around the park with a loudspeaker with the crowd following it as they auctioned off the animals at each exihibit. The elepahant auction was the saddest. They made one last performance in the ring before the auction started. The announcer asked whoever bought the adults elephants (they auctioned them together) that they consider hiring the trainer who worked with them at Bensons. Before the performance started, the announcer said "Ladies and Gentleman" the last performance of the Benson's elephants. What was really sad for the whole audience was that the baby elephant was auctioned seperately and sold to another person. (I think the Shriner's Circus got the adults). Prior to the auction the government who helped fund public zoos threatened funding cuts to zoos who bought at the auction.. so not many organizations were bidding on the elephants.. everyone wanted to see the baby go with the adults.. I think Shriners was bidding on Tanya the baby elephant and someone else.. it got to the point the whole audience and the auctioneer was pleading with Shriners not to seperate them.. but they did not go for it and SOLD to the other person... the whole audience gave a big sigh.. it was a sad day..

cheryl December 6, 2011 13:19:16 (EDT)

Took my grandkids to the playground and for a walk around the pond. Very, Very nice !

Jennifer November 30, 2011 18:19:23 (EDT)

My mother's wallet was lost at the park today, If anyone finds it please email me at niff03060@yahoo.com

David Stanford November 28, 2011 16:38:30 (EDT)

I'm Karen's brother, she e-mailed the link to all of us. I loved Benson's WAF, and especially the pond at the gate full of turtles! I watched the elephants poop basket loads, and pitied the cleaners. I got a small sheath knife, with decorations and thought it was like Dan'l Boone's! I think I went there 3 times; I always wished we lived closer. I remember trying to find Hudson on a map so I could go there if I found a ride. I also liked the little buildings.

Karen Stanford November 25, 2011 01:32:26 (EDT)

In the sixties my school would take field trips to Benson's. My youngest 4 siblings ended not going because we moved away and the middle kid in the family has always pouted because we moved the year she would have gone.

Yvon Hawke November 19, 2011 18:27:34 (EDT)

It's me again. :) Was just there today with my girlfriend and she loved it. SHe was there in either 1980 or 1981 and all she could remember was The Old Lady In The Shoe. She liked seing it restored. Snapped a few pics and just went back through my 2007 Visit photos; a huge difference! It was great! Fantastic restoration work for just a year's worth of work. Great job to all that worked on the grounds.

Any word about the merchandise that is over at Grandview Flea Market? It would be a shame for it to go to waste with the place shut down now. The owners should donate it all back to Hudson! That pink elephant, also!

cheryl November 17, 2011 08:11:52 (EDT)

Amanda,
why not just donate the halter to Benson park ?

Robbie, My husband and I went to school with Roger.
My husband remembers your grandfather being quite a
musician !

Sorry you are learning of his passing just now.

Andrew November 16, 2011 16:10:48 (EDT)

Im sorry Robbie, but Roger passed away the week of June 15th 2007. I believe it was from complications of diabetes. I have an email address for a woman who was friends with him who had sent me an email with some of the details. Im not sure if she still uses the address, but I will give it to you if you want.

Amanda November 15, 2011 13:09:18 (EDT)

I have a elepahnt halter with Benson's Wild Animal Farm on it. Want to sell it. Any ideas? Thanks.

Mike Val November 13, 2011 14:07:18 (EDT)

Hi Everyone!
I am a newcomer here who has just purchased a wooden carousel horse. I was told that the horse came from a carousel at Benson's but have been unable to verify that. In my research I discovered that there was a metal carousel there and it is now in Scottsdale AZ, but I have no information about a wooden carousel. I even purchased the auction list from Norton of Michigan when the Benson's farm was closed. Does any one have information or pictures of the wooden carousel? It would make me very happy if I could confirm this because, as a kid in the 50s I visited often.

Robbie Rodrigues October 26, 2011 00:06:17 (EDT)

My cousin was Benny B. the Magic Clown. Anyone seen him around? I loved this place as a kid. If I could just turn back time.

jerry October 23, 2011 11:07:55 (EDT)

EMU roaming the Park yesterday ! Like old times ! he was lost but is safely back home now. go to facebook for pictures.

cheryl October 18, 2011 13:02:34 (EDT)

wow.... imagine that it's at Tufts !
thanks for the info Jay.

I saw pictures of the playground.
It looks like lots of fun !

Great job everyone !

Jay October 16, 2011 07:15:30 (EDT)

Cheryl, the pink elephant is not the one that was in front of stand 4, that elephant is at Tufts University !!

Debbie October 12, 2011 07:16:08 (EDT)

I agree that soemone from Benson's should contact the owner of Grnadview and get the Benson Merchandise back. They may be willing to donate it...I hope. It would be nice to see it back at the Benson Park.

cheryl October 10, 2011 14:13:11 (EDT)

Is the pink elephant the same as the Lucky Elephant
that once stood near stand 4 ?

Yvon Hawke October 7, 2011 17:31:33 (EDT)

Just in case folks hadn't seen my notation from earlier this week(there's way too much focus on the negative sides of things, so here's something good... or could be good if...)...

Hi Folks.

Yvon Hawke here, author of the "2007 Visit" photo shoot and essay on display here. I've been gone from this site for a long time, but I've just learned of some information from the Eagle Tribune that may affect many of the Bensons' merchandise and other items that Grand View became the owners of.

In a lawsuit brought on to the flee market by Coach over the sale of Coach knockoff merchandise, a deal made resulted in the flee market closing down for good this past Sunday (last week) as part of the deal/agreement made between Coach and Grand View.

The article can be found at http://www.eagletribune.com/newhampshire/x555346132/Flea-market-closes-after-Coach-lawsuit

What does this mean for Bensons' merchandise and other items (ie- the pink elephant) that are still there? I believe that someone from the park organization should make an attempt to obtian them via donation from the flee market owners. It would be great to get them and utilize a Benson's building, in part of in whole, as a museum of sorts for the old park and the merchandise/items. Myself, I am not in a position where I could lead such an initiative, but I did want to get the word out.

I'm also trying to find some time to return to the property and bring my kids along as well. There are some spots I'd like to take pictures of my kids in the same spots I was in for pictures during my visits when I was young.

cheryl October 5, 2011 12:05:51 (EDT)

Sara,

Have you had a chance to look at the pictures Brett Bronson
has posted on this site ?

Check them out !
You'll feel better !!!