Lincoln, New Hampshire - Clark's Trading Post

Lincoln, New Hampshire - Clark's Trading Post

New England's best roadside attraction, where bears eat ice cream and a train full of tourists is attacked by a hairy mutant. Roadsideamerica.com Report...

Lincoln, New Hampshire - Clark's Trading Post - Moxie Car

The rare Moxie Car is on exhibit at Clark's Trading Post. Roadsideamerica.com Report...

Lincoln, New Hampshire - Clark's Trading Post - White Mountain Central Railroad Day

At Clark's Trading Post, extremely rare steam logging locomotives and log haulers are out on display for one day per year. The Climax hauls passengers all year. Some are 100 years old: Heisler, Climax, Shay, Porter, log haulers, rail bus, etc. Steam train rides. Sign up for the Locomotive package and you can be in the cab. [Peter Bramah, 07/19/2007]

Lincoln, New Hampshire - Clark's Trading Post

On a trip back from Quebec yesterday, the '30s vintage sign for Clark's Trading Post called out to us. This place was great! There were the bears of course, which would be worth the $7 alone, but there was so much more. The love and attention paid by the Clark family to their roadside attraction is more than obvious, and everything is clean and in perfect order. We wandered through the "museum," which appears to consist of Mr. Clark's souvenirs of a lifetime visiting roadside attractions.

Our admission included a ride on the train through "2-1/2 miles of New Hampshire Woodland." So we hopped on board, and watched the staff load wood and water into the old-time steam train. After a few awful puns from our guide, we got underway. The guide warned us that after we went over the covered bridge, we would be in "wolfman territory." Sure enough, the wolfman, a product of generations of carefully planned inbreeding, attacked our train.

"Merlin's Mansion" gives the illusion that you are spinning upside down in a Victorian living room (a very well done version of the haunted swing of old Coney Island fame). And there is the obligatory slanted shack familiar to all mystery hill fans. The usual teenaged employees were actually enthused and pleasant, and really added to the experience.

By 2:30, the three p.m. bear show it was standing room only. Precisely on the stroke of three, Mr. Clark appeared in the ring. Looking remarkably like everyone's grandpa, and reciting jokes that were old fifty years ago in an authentic "Down East" accent, we "flatlanders" were treated to the sight of three bears eating ice cream and drinking from "bear cans" for the tourists. A few rounds of "bearsketball" just added to the show.

Normally, I have a hard time with animal acts, but the bears were literally shoving one another out of the way to perform. I think that the ice cream had a wee bit to do with that, but the obvious respect and affection between Mr. Clark and his bears was certainly the main reason for the show's success.

I think that this is one roadside attraction that will be around for quite a while. [Kathy Nicklas-Varraso, 06/28/1998]

[RA: Clark's is practically the only reason to go to New Hampshire! Here's a peek at the Wolfman who menaced the train during one of early visits.]