Clark's Trading Post

INTRODUCTION

Ursa International was asked to develop an Area Master Plan for an existing Tourist Attraction - Clark’s Trading Post, on the Kangamangus Highway in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. For the past 80 years, The Clark family has entertained the “Leaf Peepers” in October, Skiers in the winter, and Families in the Spring and everyone in the summer. They started with Husky sled dogs, and progressed into Black Bear shows. Overtime the message of the show has changed - and they now believe they need a modern facility, with natural habitats for the show bears, not just concrete dens.

The program included two new outdoor natural habitats for the bears used in the three time daily Bear Show. Also included is the holding, transfer and management area for the, up to six, American Black Bear. It also intergrates a 1000 person Amphitheater, and viewing areas into the bear habitats.

The Amphitheater, or Bear Theater, is over 100’ in diameter, and standing over 40’ tall from a 10’ tall overall platform with the 40’ diameter Bear Stage and access to the holding areas. From the lower level, aside from the Bear indoor and outdoor holding area, there are several management areas for keeper work rooms, storage, and access to the service yard. At that level, there are also public spaces that are accessed from above or by ramp for close-up viewing into the bear habitats. The upper level is dedicated to access to the Bear Theater or to the upper plaza with a reused “Main Street” house re-purposed into an interpretive building overlooking the Bear Habitat #1, access to the major Gift Shop, restrooms and ramps down to the Bear Habitat #2.

The family is planning to begin work this fall on this long term development project.