McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale, AZ; 480-312-2312 [2007]
Allan Herschell, 1950, METAL, 3 row, Portable, 30 j, 2 ch, b/o no, Comments: Newly installed carousel with aluminum horses. Two new carved chariots. History: Benson's Wild Animal Park, MA, 1950 to 1998; McCormick Railroad, Scottsdale, AZ, 1998 to present; Directions & Hours of Operation: Located at a large railroad park. Hours vary call for directions and operating hours. Mailing Address: 7301 E. Bend Road, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, AZ, 85258 Website: www.therailroadpark.com

Dot B. March 10, 2008 17:07:07 (EDT)

Hi Steve,

Thanks for responding to my post about the elephants. Since posting it, I have found my way to the sanctuary site and have read about Liz and Queenie. They have a picture there with the caption that it is of Liz and Queenie in the early 60's at Bensons. Did they live at Benson's before Betsy died? Were they the only elephants that lived at Bensons in the '70s? Thank you so much for this information.

Steve (webmaster) March 10, 2008 09:30:52 (EDT)

[reposted from July 15, 2006 19:14:07 (EDT)]

See Liz and Queenie on the Elephant-Cam

There were 2 elephants Liz & Queenie who replaced Betsy, who died in 1972. These elephants were sold to the Hawthorne Corp in 1987 when the park closed. The notorious Hawthorne Corp rented elephants to Circus's after questionable training practices,eventually the USDA confiscated all the elephants (for abusive practices & neglect) & after a 2 year court battle (which the elephants were restrained in chains) the 8 remaining elephants who survived were finally sent to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Anyone interested in seeing Liz & Queenie as well as all of the rescued elephants can view them on the Elecam daily, it is quite a rewarding experience to see these wonderful animals finally free.

Dot B. March 7, 2008 23:45:50 (EDT)

Does anyone know if the elephants from Benson's are still alive and, if so, where they are?

I used to go to Benson's frequently as a kid. I remember riding the teacups. The last time I went there I was 16 years old. It was July of 1978. I was standing in the elephant house looking at this poor elephant, chained to the floor in a small concrete room. I remember that a radio was playing "Listen To The Music" as the elephant step in a strange rythmic circle in his cramp enclosure. I will never forget the pity I felt for that poor animal.

Many years later, after I became a mother, in the late 1980's I came across some elephant rides at Kimball Farm ice cream in Westford Ma. I seem to remember someone telling me that the elephants there that day had come from Benson's. I think that that is how I found out that Benson's had closed.

Anyway, I have the idea in my head that the Benson elephants (or at least some of them) are at Southwick Zoo in Mendon MA. I have bee there a few times and I swear that I actually recognize the elephants from all those years ago. But, memories are starting to fade and am wondering if someone can confirm my recollection of where the elephants ended up.

Opie & Deb March 6, 2008 08:19:53 (EDT)

What memories I have from Benson's, driving past it today you can't tell it was even there. It's a shame, the land has gone to waste. At least they did'nt put houses on it tho.

Robert March 2, 2008 21:28:42 (EDT)

Can I come and feed a llama nuts?

MIKE MITCHELL February 21, 2008 22:56:24 (EDT)

I LIVED IN MASS (NEAR LOWELL?) WHEN I WAS A KID AND LOST ALMOST ALL OF MY EARLY CHILDHOOD MEMORY IN AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL YAEARS AGO. I LIVE IN THE MIDWEST NOW AND HAVE BEEN SURFING THE NET IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND THINGS THAT TRIGGER MY MEMORY. SO FAR, ALL I CAN REMEBER IS VISITING BENSON'S ON A FIELD TRIP FROM MRS. COON'S KINDERGARTEN CLASS FROM A SCHOOL CALLED BELVEDERE ACADEMY???- I THINK. WAS THERE SUCH A SCHOOL/TEACHER? I REMEMBER THE SCHOOL HAVING A TREEFORT THAT WAS TORN DOWN WHEN I WAS THERE(MID 60'S)I ALSO HAVE A PICTURE OF ME IN A SOX UNIFORM WAITING TO GET AN AUTOGRAPH FROM CARL YAZ, IN WHAT I REMEBER AS THE SUMMER OF '67. I GUESS ONLY YAZ, THE SOX, AND BENSON'S ARE THE ONLY THINGS I CAN REALLY REMEMBER BEFORE 2ND GRADE. STILL A SOX FAN, IS THERE ANYONE OUT THE IN RED SOX NATION WHO MIGHT HELP TRIGGER MY MEMORY WITH INFO ABOUT A SCHOOL THAT IS PROBABLY NOW CLOSED,ONCE CALLED BELVEDERE ACADEMY???? YOUR HELP WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED. THANKS-MIKE

Scott Seale February 19, 2008 01:54:46 (EDT)

I remember go-carts, an arcade, and the big IMAX type tent. Is this the place? And, wasn't/isn't it connected to York Beach via two entrances/exits? Can someone name some other landmarks to help me remember this?

Marilyn W. Cronin February 17, 2008 10:40:59 (EDT)

I have some Indian dolls from Bensons, some are probably from the 30's or 40's, they are small, composition dolls. Anyone interested?

Dana M. Sion February 15, 2008 17:28:28 (EDT)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kabir/76970493/

Here is an interesting article about the gorilla who
was at Bensons until it closed. Sadly he died at 40y/o.

The gorilla "house" still stands to this day in Hudson, NH now out in what is woods and has been cleaned up in the past(by my self and others) but us most likly over grown again. It has been used has a hang out for criminal types in the past and has stood the years as it is built stronger then a prison cell. It was strange to stand in a place I remember as a child only seeing from the other side of glass. Thinking back I felt so bad that poor gorilla was traped in there. Now we know better when it comes to caring for those great creatures.

Dana Sion February 15, 2008 17:20:38 (EDT)

I wonder when and if the city/town will ever be able to finish making the property into a public park like they started to. Turns out in the last couple of years a company thought it was a nice quiet spot to do an ilegal asbestos dump. I did have a great time helping clean up the property to be a public park as a voulunteer and am willing to help again. The property should not be let to continue to rot and die.

nick February 13, 2008 23:58:06 (EDT)

did this place have the zipper like dane cook says????

nick o February 13, 2008 23:49:12 (EDT)

wow i guess i wasn't the only one who found out about uncle bensons..thanks dane cooks comedic genius

Matthew February 8, 2008 04:12:22 (EDT)

Someone buy the property and reopen it already, take a freaking message. Benson's is like a Ninja. Dane has called for the Ninja to rise. It is time.

dillon February 7, 2008 17:44:30 (EDT)

how do you get there?

Ryan February 7, 2008 16:06:59 (EDT)

Hi, is there an email address to this site? I've just got a question.

jimmy martter and friends February 5, 2008 14:00:33 (EDT)

OMG! i was gonna go 2 benson's... my dad promised me.... we were gonna go at 8 o clock... he frickin fell asleep at 7:58 we all knew we were screwed.... we woke him up, looked like he came out of a fricken excorcist when we did, but ya he sed shut up... bensons aint goin nowhere

Mike February 5, 2008 10:08:13 (EDT)

Two elephants, Liz and Queenie, that use to live and perform at Bensons, now live a comfortable retirement at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. There is a picture of them performing at Bensons on the Elephant Sanctuary web site.

Charity February 1, 2008 12:41:36 (EDT)

I still have my stuffed polar bear from there. Can't get rid of it. I swear Dane Cook could resurrect this place!!!

Steve January 29, 2008 12:20:13 (EDT)

Man, what an incredible place. I forgot all about until the Dane Cook show. Does anyone know of any other sites about this place? All the pictures out there are from way back, I wanto see some from the 80's. Apparently, there is an exhibit going on in Nashua until March. Thanks for hosting this site. This place was always way cooler than Canobie Lake.