PHOTOS: The Amazing Free Zoo Hidden in the Hudson Valley

Unlocking a memory is a strange thing. One sound, smell, or word can bring images flooding back into your mind that you had completely forgot were there in the first place. It happened to me yesterday when someone mentioned the zoo that's hidden in one of the biggest cities in the Hudson Valley.

The strangest part was that I'd been there before on school field trips as a child, but as time wore on, I either forgot it existed or figured the resource that was there for me as a young student had certainly since closed its doors. I was so happy to hear that I was wrong.

(Forsyth Nature Center via Facebook)

Animal Education Resources in the Hudson Valley

Animal education has been in the spotlight more than usual this week after the passing of the legendary Jane Goodall (she even made some stops in the Hudson Valley, check out the link below). The zoo in my memory, however, was tucked quietly in a park in Kingston, NY in Ulster County.

The Forsyth Nature Center in Kingston, NY

The zoo, which doesn't call itself a zoo at all, is the Forsyth Nature Center (although it was called Forsyth Park Zoo when it first opened in 1936). Located in Forsyth Park and next to one of the most classic playgrounds in the Hudson Valley, the entire park played a huge role in my childhood... how could I possibly have forgot that this resource existed?

Forsyth Nature Center is located in Forsyth Park in Kingston, NY (Google Maps)

Activities at Forsyth Park in Kingston, NY

Even as I write this, more memories are flooding in. Playing on the wooden playground before breaking for lunch, making the short walk over to the nature center, and being led through exhibits of animals both familiar and exotic (I'm pretty sure the FNC showed me my first peacock). The good news is that this destination is still open to the public... and it's free.

The FNC hosts many events, including collaborations with other animal groups in the Hudson Valley (Forsyth Nature Center via Facebook)

Visit the Forsyth Nature Center in Kingston, NY

The Forsyth Nature Center is located on Lucas Avenue in Kingston, NY, next to the Dietz Stadium complex and is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm. In addition to their extensive array of animals, the FNC hosts events ranging from special guest speakers to outdoor movie nights.

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Hudson Valley residents don't have to look far to get a blast from the past. Check out what our famous Thruway rest stops looked like back in the 1950s below, and keep scrolling to see the evolution of our local fast food restaurants.

Then And Now: How Fast Food Restaurants in The Hudson Valley Have Changed

While many of your favorite Hudson Valley fast-food restaurants have remained in the same spot for decades, their buildings are almost unrecognizable from what they used to look like.

Gallery Credit: Boris

What New York State Thruway Rest Stops Looked Like in the 1950s

According to the Thruway Authority, the very first rest stops were erected in the mid-1950s offering travelers cafeteria-style food, coffee, and snacks. Today, these rest stops are going through their second major remodel which will bring new restaurants and amenities for Thruway travelers. According to these old images from the Thruway Authority, our local rest stops have come a long way in seventy years.

Gallery Credit: Boris

Source: PHOTOS: Who Remembers the Free Zoo Hidden in the Hudson Valley?

Filed Under: Kingston

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