Unlike big city zoos, you can visit our animals up close. Who knows, maybe you'll even be joined by a friendly goose, llama or chicken during your walk around a few of our 100 acres. With over 500 animals to discover, you can enjoy a full day of fun with your entire family. We have the largest private collection of North American animals in their natural surroundings in the entire United States! But that's not all. The zoo has exotic species from around the world as well, including lions, tigers, hyenas, lemurs and much more! You'll even have the chance to feed some of our friendlier residents with your bare hands. Now that's something to go wild over!
We are proud to be internationally famous for our bear and lion cub breeding programs, which have helped restore endangered populations all over the world.
Back in 1927, the last thing Ralph and Elizabeth Space were thinking of was opening up a zoo. In fact, when they bought their first quarter acre of land the only thing on their minds was figuring out a way to support their growing family. And that they quickly did. Thanks to Ralph's mechanical ingenuity and keen business sense, they opened a small repair shop. The business took off and so did the idea to build on it. This time it was Elizabeth's plan - a small general store where locals could frequent for their small, basic necessities. This business too soon blossomed.
A few years later, Ralph was offered a job by the New Jersey State Game Department to trap predators killing local farm animals. Ralph, being an avid sportsman, businessman (and opportunist), quickly agreed. Most of the calls came from local farmers in the springtime. Raccoons, foxes and even bobcats had young to feed and preyed on the plentiful farm goats, sheep, chickens and ducks. But rather than kill the animals caught, Ralph built small enclosures around his garage. Ralph's plan was to keep the animals until the fall when the furs were valuable and sell them. But that plan fell apart when his three small children, Loretta, Edna and Fred, cried and begged their father to keep the animals.
By the following spring the animals had multiplied and the collection of animals grew. People in the area soon heard about the Space family's wild collection and came to see for themselves. They'd buy some gas, maybe some candy and soda and visit the animals. Although he never intended for it, Ralph Space soon had a zoo!
The Space children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren continue the family tradition of conserving wildlife and preserving American history to this day.
Our Museum is made up of more than 50,000 pieces of Americana! Antique cars, bikes and motorcycles, farm implements, tools, dolls, clocks and Native American artifacts are just a few examples of the enormous range of history we have on display here at Space Farms Museum. We even have an authentic covered wagon from the turn of the century, not to mention the second largest privately owned collection of antique firearms in the entire United States! Explore the Eskimo exhibit, florescent mineral theatre, authentic blacksmith shop and more than 100,000 other unique items.
Eleven buildings are exclusively dedicated to showcasing thousands of items representing American History.
When the Great Depression hit the country, local farmers in Sussex faced very difficult times. But they still needed supplies and repairs, so the farmers coming to Elizabeth's shop paid with family heirlooms like firearms, dolls, tools, cradles and other items of local Americana. The antiquities were given in good faith; all parties agreed that the items would be given back when bills could be paid. In the meantime, they were placed on the walls of the general store. Visitors began to stop by to check out the animals and the growing display of antiques, marking the beginning of Space Farms Zoo and Museum. As the years passed, the Space kids worked diligently with their parents creating a truly American family business. Fred Space took a keen interest in building up the zoo, while Ralph's enthusiasm for collecting and history spurred the museum's growth. Grandma Elizabeth worked in her store right through its evolution into the current restaurant. Although sisters Loretta and Edna have since left the farm, they still live nearby and can often be spotted in the dining room chatting with family members. Today, Fred's son Parker and his wife Jill, daughter Lori and her husband Doug, are the third generation of the Space Family and are handling the lion's share of the day-to-day work!
Eleven buildings are exclusively dedicated to showcasing thousands of items representing American History.
1928: The Spaces buy one acre from John and Sarah Compton, build a garage, collect more animals and start raising fox and mink for fur.
1929: Admission is charged to enter the zoo.
1929: Ralph Space is hired as 'vermin hunter and guard' of High Point Park Commission, State of New Jersey.
1934: Certified as a collector of artifacts, Ralph Space works with the Museum of the American Indian, Haye Foundation, in New York City.
1938: Space buys the Beemerville School House, moves the mink farm across the street and expands the zoo.
1944: Space buys the Hockenberry Farm, also known as the Nursery Farm, where poppy flowers were the main crop of pipe-irrigated fields.
1952: Space buys the Ayers Farm, site of Ayer's Pond on Crigger Road.
1963: While building the Free Stall Dairy Barn, a thunderstorm come through and knocks it down again.
1969: Goliath, an orphan Kodiak bear cub, comes to Space Farms from the Alaska Division of Fish and Wildlife.
1973: The year's crop of mink furs are stolen.
1978: Spaces acquire the State Experimental Dairy Research Farm (Belle Ellen).
1983: Space Farms receives the last breeding pair of endangered Hokkaido Bears and sends cubs to the Uneo Zoo in Japan. The species continues in Japan, due to the expertise of Fred T. Space.
1987: The mink ranching business ends. In its heyday, The Space Farms Mink Ranch was the largest mink-farming ranch east of the Mississippi.
1991: Fred Space's house catches on fire and destroys the first floor and one upstairs bedroom.
1997: Founder Elizabeth Space dies at age 94.
2007: Space Farms celebrates 80 years, making Space Farms Zoo and Museum the oldest family attraction in the State of New Jersey still owned and operated by the original family.
1927: Ralph and Elizabeth Space buy Mrs. Pinkney's house and half acre from Anna Medaugh for $1,200. Ralph builds a small store next to it and starts his wild animal collection.
1928: For a $5 fee, Ralph Space receives a permit from the State of New Jersey Fish and Game Commission to keep game animals and birds and opens the Blue Ridge Wild Animal Farm and Indian Museum. Fred T. Space is born.
1930's: The family survives the Great Depression.
1932: Ralph Space leases land from the State Experimental Dairy Research Farm (Belle Ellen) to expand the zoo and fox/mink farm.
1939: Space buys the 85-acre Christy Farm with a team of horses and 17 cows. The Spaces are the fourth family to own this farm that was deeded to William Crigger from King George of England prior to the American Revolution.
1946: Space buys the Compton Farm, where the zoo pond is now.
1963: Elizabeth Space's country store moves across the street and the current main building is built. The Free Stall Barn and Dairy Milking Parlor with visitor viewing area is also added.
1963: The Governor appoints Fred Space (through 1971) to the New Jersey Fish and Game Council where he helps establish the criteria for keeping wild animals in captivity in the state.
1971: The Atlas African Lion comes to Space Farms Zoo, the first exotic specie at the Zoo.
1973: The cows are sold, but the land and barn of Christy Farm stay.
1979: Space Farms opens the Ralph Space Heritage Museums.
1980: Goliath (Kodiak Bear) recognized by Ripley's Believe It or Not as largest bear in the world.
1980: A tornado takes the roof off of the Main Building Museum and destroys enclosures at the zoo.
1986: Space Farms Zoo sends Fallow deer to Taiwan.
1989: Space Farms Zoo and Museum hits 100,000 visitors per year.
1990: Goliath is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest bear in the world.
1991: Goliath dies at age 24 (equal to a 96 year old man).
1998: Space Farms sends Atlas African Cubs to the Philippines.
2003: First set of Tiger Cubs is born at Space Farms Zoo.
