If you're planning a trip to New York, there are tons of places to stay. But how many of them combine history, beauty, and charm? The Catskill Game Farm opened in the 1940s as the first privately-run zoo in America. It would later become the largest zoo in the country. It's now a hotel where you can stay overnight and explore the fascinating property!
The Catskill Game Farm would eventually grow to house well over 1,000 animals, including lions, elephants, and giraffes. One popular aspect of the zoo was that visitors could hand-feed many of the animals.
Due to declining attendance and animal welfare concerns, the zoo closed down in 2006. The property was abandoned and became quite popular with urban explorers. Most of the buildings remained standing, so there were many interesting spots to check out.
In 2012, the property was purchased and it was announced that it would be converted into a hotel. The first building to be renovated was the giraffe house, fittingly now named the Long Neck Inn.
All of the rooms exude nostalgia. The decorations speak to the property's history as a zoo, and everything has been beautifully restored.
Much of the artwork and signs in the hotel are remnants of its past as a zoo. The hotel also serves as a venue for weddings and other events.
If you're looking to rough it and sleep outdoors (after all, you are at a zoo!), the property also has a tent site available for rent. The secluded tent site is fenced and pet-friendly.
Best of all, visitors are allowed to explore the property at their leisure. Many buildings still stand from the zoo's heyday, and you can almost smell the animals as you walk through the abandoned barns.
Have you stayed at the Old Game Farm, or did you visit it when it was a zoo? Share your experiences in the comments!
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