Lincoln, New Hampshire: Clark's Bears

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.