Are you ready for an adventure that's truly prehistoric? Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville is currently hosting the impressive Ice Age Experience. Plan your trip soon before it melts away on August 25, 2025!
My family and I recently had the chance to step back in time, and our kiddos were so intrigued, they insisted on a few pass-throughs. This immersive exhibit features ten life-size animatronic prehistoric creatures, transporting you right into the last major Ice Age, 20,000 years ago.
For transparency, our family enjoyed this experience with complimentary dual memberships to Animal Adventure Park (walk-thru park) and The Preserve (drive-thru experience).
As we approached the section of the park filled with these ancient beasts, my four-year-old slowed down and declared he didn't want to go in there. And honestly, I don't blame him! These aren't your typical cuddly zoo animals. The animatronics make a lot of noise, from deep growls to piercing shrieks, echoing sounds that could easily be mistaken for a haunted house.
But after a quick explanation that these were just realistic robots of animals that roamed the Earth a very long time ago, he proceeded, albeit clutching my hand tightly. The exhibit features some truly impressive and realistic creatures, including the the iconic Mammoth, Andrewsarchus, Dinornis, the armored Doedicurus, Entelodon, Macrauchenia Patagonica, Megaloceros Giganteus, Mesohippus, Smilodon, and the colossal Megatherium. Some of their faces are quite "angry" with menacing teeth, so younger kids might hesitate or feel a bit of fear.
![]() Entelodon |
![]() Megatherium |
![]() Wooly Mammoth |
![]() Doedicurus |
![]() Smilodon |
![]() Andrewsarchus |
![]() Macrauchenia Patagonica |
![]() Dinoris |
![]() Mesohippus |
![]() Megaloceros Giganteus |
For our four-year-old, after completing the first loop around all the creatures, a transformation occurred. He was then brave enough to do the loop without holding my hand. It was fun to see his initial apprehension turn into genuine fascination.
The Ice Age Experience is both educating and entertaining for all ages. It offers a mesmerizing tour through history, allowing you to imagine what life might have been like alongside these incredible creatures.
The exhibit is included with general admission to Animal Adventure Park.
Plan Your Visit:
Location: Animal Adventure Park, 85 Martin Hill Rd, Harpursville, NY
Exhibit End Date: August 25, 2025
Park Hours: Daily, 10am - 5pm (Last Admission 4 pm)
Admission:
Members & Children Under 3: FREE Guests Ages 3 - 11: $18.99 Guests Ages 12 & Up: $21.99 Seniors Ages 65 & Up: $19.99 |
Whether you have a budding paleontologist in the family or are just looking for an adventure to enjoy together, the Ice Age Experience at Animal Adventure Park offers fun memories and photo opps. Don't miss your chance to go back in time!
After our own journey through the Ice Age, we rounded out our trip with a walk around Animal Adventure Park to feed and visit all of the live, real animals. Then, for even more animal fun, we drove through The Preserve. The kids were particularly impressed to see Tank the huge rhino, and it was truly enjoyable to hear them shrieking and laughing when the emus, bison, donkeys, and all of the other animals came right up to our car windows. Yes, you can choose to leave your windows down and feed them, but we've decided our kids aren't quite ready for that much excitement, so our windows stayed up! They giggle so much, and it's such a fun drive-thru experience.
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For more information about Animal Adventure Park and The Preserve, visit visitaap.com.
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