The Jungle Habitat

West Milford, New Jersey

Did you know that there was once a zoo and safari theme park in West Milford, New Jersey?

The Jungle Habitat was operated by the Warner Brothers from 1972 to 1976 and housed over 1,500 animals.The 800 acre park was divided into two sections: a walking section and a drive-thru safari.

The walking section, known as Jungle Junction, featured the standard family zoo fare of the time, such as elephant rides, snack bars, a reptile house, a petting zoo, and even “Bugs Bunny and Friends” live shows.

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Jungle Junction

Photos courtesy of westmilfordjunglehabitat.com/

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The drive-thru safari was the real draw though, as visitors could get up close and personal with the animals.

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Drive-Thru Safari

Photos courtesy of westmilfordjunglehabitat.com/

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Unfortunately, Jungle Habitat was not without its share of problems. Shortly after the park opened, a visitor was mauled by a lion after they rolled down their car window. Another man was injured while“roughhousing” with a 6 month old Tiger cub. Additionally, a woman was bitten and slammed against a fence by a baby elephant. There were also multiple reports of animals escaping into town.

In addition to the safety concerns, Jungle Habitat was also struggling financially. The park was losing visitors over time, mainly due to competition with Great Adventure. In 1975, Warner Bros. proposed a $10 million expansion of the theme park. However, the people of West Milford voted against the expansion over concerns of increased traffic. In 1976, Warner Brothers decided to close the park for good.

In 1988, the state of New Jersey purchased the property for $1.45 million. Today, the former site of Jungle Habitat is now a popular mountain biking spot. Only a few remnants of the park can still be found. This includes, animal pools, enclosures, ride tracks, and platforms.

Here are some tips for visiting the Jungle Habitat:

👉🏻Wear comfortable shoes! (There are around 12 miles of trails)

👉🏻Bring bug spray! (It was super buggy the last time I visited)

👉🏻 Be aware that the park is still in a state of decay, so there may be some hazards

📍190 Airport Road, West Milford, New Jersey

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