Forked River, New Jersey: Popcorn Park Zoo

All the animals have been rescued from neglect and/or abuse and are living out their years at Popcorn Park. You can purchase popcorn and peanuts for a few dollars a bag and feed the animals through the fence. The park is very shady and family friendly. No outside food/drinks are allowed.

This zoo has a wonderous mix of farm and exotic animals. Our 2 yr old loved being able to feed them all popcorn, and our 10 yr old enjoyed learning the stories of how they made their way to the zoo. We used this as our wiggle stop between Atlantic City and NYC and it was perfect! They have picnic tables outside the zoo area too. Note: There is a VFW relatively nearby which has a shooting range, which could be heard from this site.

Anne alert: If your child is that allergic to peanuts, send them to an isolated island. We can call it Peanut Island.

Allergy alert: The zoo offers bags of peanuts to feed the animals, so the place is teeming with dropped peanuts.

A haven since 1977 for abandoned and/or abused animals, or for those whose owners moved and found out they can't keep them in that State. Still open and a treat for mostly youngsters, but I'm in my 50's and go there every year or so.

Check out the cathouse while you are there; no, it is not a house of ill repute, but a small home for felines.

For railfans, the access road, Lacey Rd, parallels the abandoned right of way of the Tuckerton RR.