Shade Swamp Sanctuary – Farmington, Connecticut - Atlas Obscura

The entrance to the Shade Swamp Nature Trail right off US Route 84

There are many random, beaten off the trail locations that host abandoned sites in Connecticut. One of these locations is the 800 acre Shade Swamp Sanctuary. This sanctuary was a depression era zoo based in Farmington, Connecticut. The zoo was in function between 1934 and the 1960’s. The zoo fell into decline after Route 84, a dense stretch of road, began construction in the area. The cages lie only about 50 feet away from the road, now owned by nature. 

Over the years, there was quite a collection of animals ranging from birds and bear, to more exotic animals that people no longer wanted to care for. For example, an owner, who somehow had their hands on a giraffe, dropped it off one day. You can see by the cages that these animals were not treated well or given a sufficient home. Further into the years of operation, raccoon breeding and other types of breeding were used to study the animals. The propagation of the cotton-tail rabbit species for selling was a goal of the sanctuary.

Shade Swamp Sanctuary, “The Abandoned Zoo,” Farmington – Damned Connecticut

Some of the cages still standing at the sanctuary.

The original use was to help animals in the area recover from injury, and then release them back in the wild. For example if a bird had a broken wing or a bear had an illness. However, once the zoo became more mainstream, the original goal to set the animals free was lost.

Now, the experience of visiting the abandoned zoo. It obviously is not hard to find, but it definitely comes up quick on the side of the road, so you need to be careful of directions. Parking was surprisingly easy to find and the trail starts right away. You first come up to the old ticket booth with the sign with the words “Shade Swamp Nature Trail”. The paths are not paved and they are littered with debris and poison ivy, so long pants and shoes are definitely necessary.

All of a sudden if you look to your right you see the cages start to appear between trees and emerge from the ivy growing between the iron. You can walk right on into them, and they look even smaller from the inside. You see the broken and rusting locks on the cages and it is definitely an eerie feeling. It gave me such a different perspective of even modern zoos which feature appropriate habits and larger spaces. These animals were really forced into a 10×10 space and stared at for hours.

Shade Swamp Bird and Animal Sanctuary Improvements (former) - Farmington CT - Living New Deal

older photo of the sanctuary land.

As you walk down the path there are cages and enclosures up and down the hills. You can see where the famous giraffe was kept based on the dug in hole so it could sit there with his neck raised above ground.

Though the area is not haunted in comparison to other locations I’ve written about, or will write about, there is an equally chilling feeling here when you look at the enclosures and realizing the harm done to innocent creatures. The Shade Swamp Sanctuary was definitely one of the hardest abandoned places to visit because it doesn’t really feel abandoned in spirit.

Into the Cages – The Abandoned Shade Swamp Shelter | Abandoned Wonders

Cages lined up next to each other.

Like I’ve said before, if you choose to go, treat the sanctuary with respect knowing the harm that was done there. In terms of necessities: long pants, closed toe shoes, water, snacks, and bug spray are definitely needed. It is located by a swamp so it gets very buggy in the summer months.

Good luck!