{{Short description|Roadside attraction in Lincoln, New Hampshire, U.S.}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox amusement park | name = Clark's Bears | previous_names = Clark's Trading Post | status = Operating | season = mid-May to mid-October | logo = Clark's_Bears_logo.jpg | caption = Entrance in 2011, as Clark's Trading Post | location = Lincoln, New Hampshire, U.S. | coordinates = {{coord|44|2|54|N|71|41|8|W|type:landmark|display=title,inline}} | homepage = {{URL|clarksbears.com}} | owner = Privately owned | opening_date = 1928 | rides = Merlin's Mystical Mansion | shows = Summer Circus | water_rides = Anaconda Escape, Blaster Boats | other_rides = White Mountain Central Railroad | slogan = "Family Fun and Family Run Since 1928" }}
'''Clark's Bears''', named '''Clark's Trading Post''' until 2019,<ref name="clarks-bears-union-leader">{{cite web|last=Bailey|first=Kathleen D.|title=Clark's Bears: The side shows may change, but the bears remain|url=https://www.unionleader.com/nh/travel/clark-s-bears-the-side-shows-may-change-but-the/article_c946a088-2fe0-5e23-93a0-5e2a0b4ef096.html|website=New Hampshire Union Leader|url-access=limited|accessdate=2020-01-05|date=2019-07-28|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104016355/clarks-has-everything-and-something-for/ |title=Clark's has everything and something for everyone |first=Alan |last=Lessels |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=M6 |date=July 28, 2019 |accessdate=June 18, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> is a visitor attraction in Lincoln, New Hampshire, United States, in the White Mountains. It is known for its trained bears<ref name=Burmon/> and for the White Mountain Central Railroad, a 30-minute, {{convert|2.5|mi|adj=on}} steam-powered train ride. The attraction is located along U.S. Route 3, {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} north of the village of North Woodstock and {{convert|9|mi|0}} south of Franconia Notch.
==History== thumb|left|Entrance in 2011, when still known as Clark's Trading Post The property opened as a roadside stand in 1928 known as "Ed Clark's Eskimo Sled Dog Ranch", selling souvenirs and allowing visitors to view Florence and Ed Clark's Labrador sled dogs.<ref name=Burmon>{{Cite web| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/12/clarks-trading-post-black-bears_n_1960800.html| title=Clark's Trading Post's Black Bears Help Keep a Roadside Tradition Alive| author=Andrew Burmon| date=Oct 12, 2012| website=The Huffington Post| accessdate=October 15, 2013}}</ref> The Clarks purchased their first black bear in 1931 and used it to attract tourists.<ref name=history/> The Clarks' sons, Edward and Murray, began training the bears in 1949 and created a bear show.<ref name=history>{{cite web |url=https://clarksbears.com/news.php |title=History & News to Note |website=clarksbears.com |accessdate=June 18, 2022}}</ref>
In the 1950s, the Clark brothers began salvaging old steam locomotives and displaying them at the Trading Post. This led to the construction of the White Mountain Central Railroad, a purpose-built tourist railroad with a standard-gauge track. Construction on the railroad began in 1955 and the first train ride was on July 30, 1958.<ref>{{cite web |title=WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Railroad History |url=http://www.whitemountaincentralrr.com/RailroadHistory| accessdate=2011-11-04 |website=whitemountaincentralrr.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321160435/http://whitemountaincentralrr.com/RailroadHistory |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |via=Wayback Machine}}</ref>
The railroad includes a 1904 Howe truss covered bridge that was originally located in East Montpelier, Vermont, where it spanned the Winooski River and carried trains for the Montpelier and Barre Railroad.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92727776/1964-0129-vt-cb-moving-to-nh/ |title=Covered Bridge Being Moved From E. Montpelier To N. H. |first=Joe |last=Jamele |newspaper=The Times-Argus |location=Barre, Vermont |page=7 |date=January 29, 1964 |accessdate=June 18, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The bridge was purchased by the Clark brothers and dismantled in 1964,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104004932/covered-bridge-in-montpelier-being-disma/ |title=Covered Bridge In Montpelier Being Dismantled |agency=AP |newspaper=The Burlington Free Press |page=13 |date=February 3, 1964 |accessdate=June 18, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> then moved and reassembled to span the Pemigewasset River near the Trading Post.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://clarksbears.com/attractionsTrain.php|title=Take a steam-powered journey through history, but beware of the Wolfman!|website=clarksbears.com|accessdate=2013-10-15|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
The current train ride is powered during most of the season by a 1920 Climax steam locomotive, and mid-weeks during fall foliage season by a 1943 GE 65-ton switcher (diesel powered). The 30-minute train ride includes an appearance by a character known as the Wolfman, presented as a wild prospector protecting his unobtainium mine by harassing the train passengers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104015479/life-of-wolfman/ |title=Life of Wolfman |first=Melanie |last=Asmar |newspaper=Concord Monitor |location=Concord, New Hampshire |page=1 |date=August 8, 2005 |accessdate=June 18, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
==Museums== thumb|right|Avery's Garage at Clark's Clark's Bears includes several museums:
* Americana Museum – collections of American historic items including steam and gas engines, early household appliances, advertising and products * 1884 Pemigewasset Hook and Ladder Fire Station – horse-drawn fire engines, wagons and firefighting equipment * Clark History Museum – History of Clark's Trading Post and the Clark family * Florence Murray Museum – includes antique games, guns, swords, souvenir china, typewriters, railroad memorabilia * Avery's Garage – a replica gas station with early motoring memorabilia, vintage motorcycles and antique automobiles
==See also== {{Portal|New Hampshire|Trains}} *List of covered bridges in New Hampshire, which includes the Howe truss covered bridge at Clark's Other locations with historic trains in a non-historic setting: *Pioneer Park (Fairbanks, Alaska) *Rail transport in Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Clark's Bears}} *{{Official website|http://clarksbears.com}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/bridges/p107.html |title=Clark's Bridge |publisher=New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources |website=NH.gov}} *{{HAER |survey=NH-39 |id=nh0278 |title=Clark's Bridge, Spanning Pemigewasset River at Clark's Trading Post, Lincoln, Grafton County, NH |photos=10 |color=1 |data=6 |cap=2}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Grafton County, New Hampshire Category:Historic American Engineering Record in New Hampshire Category:Lincoln, New Hampshire Category:Museums in Grafton County, New Hampshire Category:Roadside attractions in New Hampshire Category:Tourist attractions in Grafton County, New Hampshire Category:Amusement parks in New Hampshire Category:1928 establishments in New Hampshire