West Milford Jungle Habitat - The Story and The Rumors

Music: Creative Commons - Scott Holmes

Footage:

Guitar Lessons, Piano Lessons, Singing Lessons, and More!
Online, Webcam, In Home, On Site

[njerzee]

Lived in West Milford ( and miss it) from 96-06; hiked throughout the JHab area long before it was well known as a "biking, hiking" destination; Was never any state park signs etc; Did not see those until I visited in 2009 and onwards; Back then there were remnants of old records, bldgs and even boxes of old bumper stickers advertising J.H; ( wonder were they went🤔🤔) Beautiful views and normally quiet; You will run into a bear or two on occasion ; one chased my dog, then I chased him.

[betornween]

My neighbor took (or stole) two peacocks when they closed. They lived quite a few years afterwards.

[josephshulman]

How the hell could those tropical birds survive those New Jersey winters ???

[jamesseda]

i was there as a kid in the 70"s... i even have a couple of pix

[roddywilliams]

I just was looking at a pic of me and my sister in a pic with big parrots. I remember this place like it was yesterday. Circa 1975

[deidreholladay]

I went there as a kid when it was open

[erichughes]

I grew up in West Milford and was 11 when Jungle Habitat opened. I can attest to animals getting loose, and my brother still has the detention slip for the discipline he received with a couple friends for leaving a school bus to chase an ostrich through the woods. We grew up on Kitchell Lake.

[roddywilliams]

I’m taking my German Shepard…Stella here! I’d love to see it. I have a great memory of my childhood.

[ricklegendary]

I went as a kid, my dad took me there I was in awe. Never saw a place like that

[coyotedogwolf-zmot]

I mean they didn't build proper houses for them which is abuse. the should have known what the animals they cared for needed so it was their fault that they died

[Etten]

I remember a hot summer day bringing a Group of Day Care Pre-Schoolers in the early 70’s to Warner Brothers Jungle Habitat in a chartered bus. A woman in a vinyl top mid size car broke-down in front of our bus and the Baboons (in a large group), attacked the car roof of the Women’s car!! Our bus honked the horn to scare the Baboons away and attract the attendant. We were signaled by the attendant to drive around and the woman looked like she’d fainted! The Baboons were tearing the vinyl off the car and jumping up and down on the roof. Our pre-schoolers were terrified and crying, so we left (never knowing the fate of that poor Woman)!

[harrythomasgross]

I grew up in Andover and so glad I was able to visit jungle Habitat as a child. It was amazing. That and the Playboy Club are hidden gems of NJ history you never hear much about anyone.

[tomb]

I was there at my aunt and uncle and family in 73 I believe I've been back there riding my bike through the ruins brought back a lot of memories all overgrown parking lot trees are coming through and there's still the tunnel

[Joypyf]

Thanks for setting the record straight!

[Maranatha-]

It's true that the local people didn't like the traffic. It shut down their main roads, and I'm told that tourists would help themselves to people's water hoses and even use their yards for a bathroom stop. And the people who lived nearby said that they had to go home from school early because of baboons getting loose. They would also hear the lions roaring at feeding time.

[roddywilliams]

Address?? What should I google fir directions

[alexsessa]

Animals absolutely DID escape! I grew up in neighbouring Bloomingdale, and the woman who used to cut my hair (a lifelong resident) swore to me that as a child she once saw a monkey on the roof of her neighbour’s house!

[ronaldkrurk]

Good video you're very informative.

[JakeHoffmansYouTube]

I was biking there today. Apparently they left a black bear.

[missrah]

It’s sad to hear that Warner brothers didn’t put up shelter for the animals that don’t dwell well in the heat. I’m sure the keepers did there best to keep them healthy.