Exploring ABANDONED Shade Swamp Sanctuary (Farmington, CT)

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In the woods just off U.S. Route 6 in Farmington, Connecticut sits the ruins of a zoo, once housing many local critters and animals. Shade Swamp Sanctuary, originally known as "The Little Zoo", was built in 1934 as a wildlife rehabilitation center, with the goal of caring for injured local wildlife. Aside from local animals, the zoo also cared for unwanted exotic pets, which included monkeys, an alligator, and a giraffe; however, most of the animals at Shade Swamp Sanctuary were from the region, including raccoons, rabbits, possums, porcupines, bears, squirrels, and more. This zoo operated for several years in the namesake Shade Swamp forest, until it officially closed in the 1960s, primarily due to a decline in visitors as U.S. Route 6 saw less traffic thanks to competing roadways. Today, the zoo is completely abandoned, and the many ruins and remnants are dotted along the Blue Trail of the Shade Swamp Nature Trail, open to the public.

Shade Swamp Sanctuary had been on my list of abandoned sites in New England to visit for quite some time now, and I’m glad I finally made it over there! Seeing all of the old animal exhibits, cages, and dens was fascinating, from small sheet metal structures, to large iron cages. Sitting in the middle of the woods, these structures have largely succumbed to the elements, covered by overgrown foliage and deteriorating with time. Some of these cages are large enough for a human to fit inside, and you know that I had to do just that! Seeing this historic abandoned zoo was truly fascinating! If you guys liked this video, make sure to stay tuned for more exploration videos all across New England!

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/s...

00:00 J-MASS Intro
00:41 Introduction to Shade Swamp Sanctuary
03:31 Exhibits and Cages
14:41 CCC & Shade Swamp Shelter
15:44 Miscellaneous Remnants
18:58 Affordable Housing!
19:40 Final Walkthrough
21:31 Outro