Warner Bros. had a wild idea in 1972. They didn't just want a theme park; they wanted a literal safari in the middle of northern New Jersey. People still talk about Jungle Habitat West Milford NJ like it’s some kind of urban legend, but for four chaotic years, it was very real. If you grew up in the Tri-State area during the seventies, you probably remember the commercials. Or maybe you remember the terrifying stories of baboons ripping windshield wipers off station wagons.
It wasn't just a zoo. It was a "drive-through" experience where the animals held all the power.
Honestly, the whole concept feels like something that could never happen today. Safety regulations would have killed it in the cradle. But in the 70s? You just rolled up your windows (mostly), drove your Ford LTD into a paddock full of lions, and hoped for the best. It’s a strange, dusty corner of Garden State history that refuses to stay buried.
The Rise of a Lion in the Woods
When Jungle Habitat opened its gates in the summer of 1972, it was an immediate sensation. We're talking about massive crowds. On opening weekend, the traffic backed up for miles on Route 23 and East Shore Road. People were desperate to see "wild" animals without flying to Africa. Warner Bros. poured a massive amount of money into this—roughly $10 million back when that actually meant something—to transform 1,000 acres of rugged Jersey Highlands into a faux-savannah.
The hook was simple. You stayed in your car. The animals roamed free.
It sounds peaceful, right? Wrong. It was total mayhem. The baboons were the stars of the show, but not because they were cute. They were destructive. These primates learned very quickly that cars contained food and interesting shiny bits. They would jump on hoods, peel away chrome trim, and snap off antennas. There are countless accounts from locals who remember their parents screaming as a baboon tried to dismantle the family car.
Beyond the baboons, the park boasted over 1,500 animals. We’re talking lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, and rhinoceroses. For a few years, West Milford was the unlikely home to one of the largest collections of exotic animals on the East Coast.
What Went Wrong with Jungle Habitat West Milford NJ?
Success was huge, but the problems were bigger. You can't just drop 1,500 exotic animals into the New Jersey climate and expect everything to go smoothly. The local infrastructure wasn't built for the 50,000 visitors a weekend that the park was pulling in. Residents were rightfully annoyed. Imagine trying to go to the grocery store and getting stuck behind five miles of tourists waiting to see a zebra.
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Then there were the incidents.
In October 1972, just months after opening, a lion attacked a visitor. A man named Abraham Siems was riding in a taxi through the lion enclosure. Accounts vary on whether the window was down or if the lion managed to reach in, but the result was a serious mauling. He survived, but the headlines were devastating. It wasn't the last time the park made the news for the wrong reasons. Two years later, an elephant named Tunga reportedly tossed a woman.
Safety was a loose concept.
The cold Jersey winters also took a toll. These animals weren't built for the snow and the freezing winds of the Highlands. While the park claimed they had state-of-the-art winter quarters, rumors always swirled about the health of the creatures during the off-season. By the time 1976 rolled around, the novelty was wearing thin, and the mounting costs of animal upkeep and potential lawsuits were becoming a nightmare for Warner Bros.
The Abrupt End and the "Ghost Park" Era
The end didn't happen because of a lack of interest. In fact, Warner Bros. wanted to expand. They had plans for a massive amusement park section with rides and traditional theme park attractions to rival Great Adventure, which had opened in Jackson, NJ in 1974.
The people of West Milford said no.
In a local referendum in 1976, the town voted against the expansion. Warner Bros., realizing they couldn't compete with Great Adventure without the big rides, basically took their ball and went home. They shut down the park almost overnight in October 1976.
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This is where the real myths started.
For decades, kids in North Jersey told stories about "The Remaining." The legend was that when the park closed, they just let the animals go. People swore there were lions roaming the woods of Passaic County. Even today, you'll find locals who claim their "cousin's friend" saw a black panther in the brush near the old site.
To be clear: They didn't just turn the lions loose. The animals were sold to other zoos and parks. However, the cleanup was... messy. For years, the site remained largely untouched. The gates were locked, but the skeletons of the enclosures remained.
Hiking Through the Ruins
If you go to the site of Jungle Habitat West Milford NJ today, you won't find any lions, but you will find a lot of mountain bikers. The state eventually bought the land and turned it into part of Long Pond Ironworks State Park.
It is one of the weirdest hikes you can take in New Jersey.
You can still see the paved roads where the cars used to crawl through the enclosures. The "Lion's Den" is still recognizable to those who know where to look. There’s something incredibly eerie about walking down a wide, paved road in the middle of a dense forest, knowing that 50 years ago, a giraffe might have been standing exactly where you are.
The overgrown ticket booths and the crumbling stone foundations of the animal holdings are still there, slowly being swallowed by the woods. It’s a favorite spot for photographers and "urban explorers," though "suburban jungle explorers" is probably more accurate.
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Why the Legend Persists
Jungle Habitat sticks in the collective memory because it represents a specific era of "anything goes" entertainment. It was a time before the hyper-sanitized, corporate safety of modern Disney-style parks. It was dangerous, it was a bit dirty, and it was undeniably exciting.
There's also the genuine tragedy of the place. Beyond the human injuries, the animals suffered. The 1970s weren't exactly the golden age of animal rights or habitat design. The idea of keeping a polar bear in the humidity of a Jersey summer or an elephant in a frozen October is, in hindsight, pretty grim.
But for the kids who sat in the back of a wood-paneled station wagon and watched a baboon rip the rubber seal off the window, it was the highlight of their lives.
Mapping the Site Today
If you’re planning to visit the site, don't expect a guided tour. There are no signs pointing to the "Lion Attack Location." You have to use a bit of imagination.
- The Main Entrance: The old stone pillars are still visible near the entrance off Airport Road.
- The Paved Loops: Follow the wider paths. These aren't hiking trails; they are the original safari roads. They are oddly wide and loop back on themselves.
- The "Safari" Overlooks: Some areas open up into clearings that were once the designated zones for specific species.
- The Mountain Bike Trails: Local groups like JORBA (Jersey Off-Road Bicycle Association) have done an incredible job maintaining the area. They’ve built miles of single-track trails that weave in and out of the old park footprint.
The site is now a massive success story for New Jersey’s Green Acres program. Instead of a rotting private eyesore, it’s a thriving public space. But the ghost of the safari is always there.
Actionable Steps for Visiting
If you want to experience what's left of the park, you need to be smart about it. It's not a manicured park.
- Park at the Airport Road Lot: There is a large gravel lot specifically for hikers and bikers. Don't try to park on the shoulder of the main roads.
- Bring a Map or Use GPS: The "safari roads" can be disorienting because they loop and intersect in ways that don't always make sense for a standard hiker. Use an app like Trailforks or AllTrails; they have the Jungle Habitat loops clearly marked.
- Look for the Concrete: Keep your eyes peeled for concrete footings and rusted metal pipes. These are the last remnants of the fences that kept the predators away from the Pintos and Novas of the seventies.
- Respect the Wildlife: Ironically, the area is now home to plenty of actual local wildlife. Bears are extremely common in West Milford. Treat them with more respect than the tourists treated the lions back in '72.
- Check the Event Calendar: The site often hosts mountain bike races and cyclocross events. If you want a quiet walk through history, check online to make sure there isn't a massive race happening the day you go.
The story of Jungle Habitat is a mix of corporate ambition, local resistance, and the unpredictable nature of wild animals. It stands as a reminder that sometimes, the most interesting parts of a town's history are the ones that failed the most spectacularly. Whether you're there for the history or the bike trails, the land has a vibe you won't find anywhere else in the state. Just keep an eye out for baboons—even if they've been gone for half a century, it feels like they might still be watching from the trees.