Space Farms Zoo and Museum

About Space Farms Zoo and Museum

Space Farms Zoo and Museum is a 100-acre zoo and museum complex in Wantage, New Jersey, listed under the community of Beemerville, and has been operating since 1927. The property combines a walk-through animal park with a nine-building museum complex, along with a picnic area, a playground, and a lake set against a mountain backdrop. It describes itself as caring for more than 500 live wild animals across more than 100 species.

The zoo's animal collection spans large carnivores and farm-style species side by side: lions, tigers, bears, leopards, jaguars, and hyenas share the grounds with lemurs, kangaroos, monkeys, llamas, and more domestic animals including buffalo, sheep, deer, goats, and pigs. Snakes are also part of the collection. Alongside the animals, the museum wing houses more than 50 antique cars and motorcycles, horse-drawn carriages and sleighs, antique dolls, old farm machinery, Native American artifacts, and what the zoo describes as one of the largest private antique firearms collections on display anywhere.

History

Space Farms Zoo and Museum dates to 1927, giving it just short of a century of continuous operation in northwestern New Jersey. Detailed year-by-year history was not available for this page beyond that founding date, but the zoo describes its animal work as including long-running breeding programs for bears and lion cubs.

Exhibits and habitats

The zoo is a self-guided walk-through experience, with the animal park laid out across grassy grounds that let visitors stroll among enclosures at their own pace. Certain areas allow direct guest interaction with farm animals, and free-roaming chickens, ducks, and geese are part of the walk-through experience as well, drawing particular interest from younger children. The grounds include a lake and picnic area, with mountains visible in the distance, and at least one visitor account describes an indoor waterfall feature on the property. The museum side of the complex is spread across nine separate buildings, each holding a different slice of the collection, from antique automobiles and motorcycles to farm equipment and firearms.

Animal highlights

Space Farms lists more than 500 live animals representing more than 100 species, a figure that functions as the zoo's own published floor rather than an itemized inventory, since no species-by-species list was available for this page. Named animal types include lions, tigers, bears, leopards, jaguars, hyenas, lemurs, kangaroos, monkeys, llamas, buffalo, sheep, deer, goats, pigs, and snakes, along with free-roaming chickens, ducks, and geese in the walk-through areas. The zoo highlights its bear and lion cub breeding programs as a distinguishing part of its animal operations.

Planning your visit

For the 2026 season, Space Farms Zoo and Museum is open daily from Saturday, March 28 through Sunday, November 1, meaning it operates seasonally rather than year-round. As listed on the zoo's website, hours run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entrance at 4 p.m. A single Zoo Walk-Through Daily Ticket covers admission to both the animal park and the museum buildings, and a 2026 season pass is also available for purchase, valid on any day the zoo is open during that window; specific prices for either were not available for this page. The grounds include a picnic area and playground, and food options mentioned include on-site pizza. Because the season, hours, and ticket pricing are subject to change year to year, visitors should confirm current details on the zoo's official website before planning a trip.