Clark’s Bears in Lincoln, New Hampshire Is a Summer Tradition

Clark’s Bears Is One of New Hampshire’s Most Nostalgic Summer Traditions.

Everyday I find something new that should shock me, but doesn't.

I think that we all have those certain places in New Hampshire that just feel like summer.

Maybe it's Hampton Beach. Lake Winnipesaukee. Story Land or for you it might be Clark’s Bears in Lincoln.

Credit: Clark's Trading Post via Facebook

If you grew up in New England, there’s a decent chance you remember it by its former name, Clark’s Trading Post. Either way, this place has been creating some wonderfully weird childhood memories for generations. I'm here for it.

Oh... when I say generations, I mean it. Clark’s has been around since 1928.

Yes, the bears are still the stars.

ll I think about is the video... "Can I Pet That Dog???"

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There’s the White Mountain Central Railroad, where you may encounter one of the strangest and most beloved characters in New Hampshire tourism history: the Wolfman.

Try explaining the Wolfman to someone who didn’t grow up around here (like me). This is what I was told.

“So you get on an old train in the White Mountains, and eventually a wild mountain man starts chasing and yelling at you.”

That sounds like good family friendly fun right there. Not emotionally scarring at all. LOL.

There are plenty of other things to keep you entertained and not fearing for your life... water rides, museums, Merlin’s Mystical Mansion, shops, food and other attractions that give Clark’s that old-school roadside-attraction feeling that’s getting harder and harder to find.

Is Clark’s Bears open year-round?

NO. Here’s the important part if you’re thinking about making the trip: Clark’s Bears is seasonal.

The Lincoln attraction operates primarily during the warmer months, with its schedule changing as summer winds down and fall approaches.

That means right now (August)... is actually a great time to go, especially if you want the full Clark’s experience.

People around the office say that Clark's is one of those places that feels uniquely New England. You don't just decide to go whenever. There's a "Clark's season."

And before long, summer is over, the leaves change, the White Mountains get cold and we start counting down until we can once again watch a grown man in the woods yell at a train full of families.

Say Hi to the Wolfman for me.

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