Episode Details

In this episode of ADK Talks, we head to Tupper Lake to celebrate 20 years of The Wild Center with Nick Gunn, Director of Marketing and Visitor Experience.

Part natural history museum, part science center, part aquarium, part outdoor adventure, The Wild Center has become one of the Adirondacks’ signature destinations. Nick shares how the idea grew from post-ice storm interpretive exhibits into a nationally recognized museum rooted in the Adirondack landscape.

We talk about why Tupper Lake became the perfect home, how Wild Walk changed everything, and why experiences like Wild Lights, Forest Music, Raquette River Roll, and the new Trolls: Save the Humans exhibit help visitors connect with nature in playful, memorable ways.

What you’ll hear in this episode

• How The Wild Center began and why Tupper Lake was the right fit.
• Why Wild Walk helped launch the museum into a new era of national recognition.
• How Wild Lights turned winter into one of The Wild Center’s busiest seasons.
• What visitors can expect from Thomas Dambo’s giant recycled-material trolls.
• Nick’s insider tips for visiting The Wild Center, exploring Tupper Lake, and finding his favorite Adirondack walk.

Resources:

• The Wild Center 
• The Wild Center in Tupper Lake
• TROLLS: Save the Humans at The Wild Center
• Wild Lights at The Wild Center
• The Wild Center 20th Anniversary Celebration
• Thomas Dambo

Produced by NOVA