20160620 Trip to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium

One week ago my family headed out to check out the Ripley’s attractions in Niagara Falls. These include Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks, Ripley’s Moving Theater, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium. Our last stop was Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium.

Note: To view images from our trip, visit the 20160620 Trip to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium – Image Gallery posting.

This was the attraction that we were most anxious to visit as it had just re-opened after many months of renovations. I had been to the old Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum several times over the years. Although the attraction was always interesting, it just had kind of an old/dated feel to it. We were really looking forward to seeing the new Odditorium. We were not disappointed!

[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7wqMSs_dDJ8/V21NVFShmpI/AAAAAAAAAYo/4eHUIbHhlikzd4kXX3TolI1iy99cquQowCHM/s144-o/20160620_190829.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/109947520709267474738/6299776477408914065#6299776478353660562″ caption=”Lobby of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” type=”image” alt=”20160620_190829.jpg” image_size=”4032×3024″ peg_single_image_size=”w133″ peg_img_align=”left” peg_img_style=”float: left; margin-left: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;margin-right:5px;margin-top:5px;” ] The entire attraction has been completely redone, and it looks fantastic. It has been enlarged, the ceilings seem higher, and everything is much brighter.

The odditorium has been divided into a variety of different rooms with similar themes. There are rooms that focus on strange animals, odd habits, art, and many other oddities. There are classic exhibits (shrunken heads, lint art, etc), and much more modern exhibits. It truly is filled with interactive displays, starting right in the lobby. My daughter loved the water pipe display. You can press buttons and turn knobs to make water flow, stop, change colour, and more. There was a place where you could try to fold yourself into a box, sit in Robert Wadlow’s giant chair, and stand next to the world’s shortest person.

[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CHAAdZ_HjvY/V21NVD47DHI/AAAAAAAAAYo/cNQmb544AJMAOlHnxF1oOi2QiCX47MAggCHM/s144-o/20160620_191757.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/109947520709267474738/6299776477408914065#6299776477977840754″ caption=”Lizardman Erik Sprague” type=”image” alt=”20160620_191757.jpg” image_size=”4032×3024″ peg_single_image_size=”w133″ peg_img_align=”left” peg_img_style=”float: left; margin-left: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;margin-right:5px;margin-top:5px;”] The Erik Sprague exhibit is a great example of the layout. Erik Sprague is also called the Lizardman and he has done some extreme body modification. The exhibit is brightly lit, has a life-sized figure of him, and shows a video of some of his performances. It’s amazing. My wife also liked some of the classic exhibits that show the African neck rings, stretched lips andears and foot binding.

[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rcCeE5MLltY/V21NVD42puI/AAAAAAAAAYo/h–V4pT4uXEJBmM4dRI7rGYLZAqG_35-gCHM/s144-o/20160620_192714.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/109947520709267474738/6299776477408914065#6299776477977552610″ caption=”Microscopic carving” type=”image” alt=”20160620_192714.jpg” image_size=”3024×4032″ peg_single_image_size=”w100″ peg_img_align=”right” peg_img_style=”float: right; margin-left: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;margin-right:5px;margin-top:5px;”] One of the exhibits that was new from just before the renovation was the Wigan Micro Sculptures. Willard Wigan creates micro sculptures that fit within the eye of a needle. This is where the name of the odditorium really comes into play… believe it or not! It really is unbelievable that this is even possible. However they have a variety of microscopes and sure enough, there are small little carvings that really do fit into the eye of the needle. Wow!!

[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G1KT8f8tgNk/V21NVHQ5e_I/AAAAAAAAAYo/MvVF3a4nh0YbdSUOvDhixFtqtT8khvXXACHM/s144-o/20160620_194947.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/109947520709267474738/6299776477408914065#6299776478883707890″ caption=”Giant plastic pin art” type=”image” alt=”20160620_194947.jpg” image_size=”3024×4032″ peg_single_image_size=”w100″ peg_img_align=”left” peg_img_style=”float: left; margin-left: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;margin-right:5px;margin-top:5px;”] One of the best  additions to the attraction is new “play” area. I think my kids could have played there for hours. There is a mind-bending “vortex tunnel” that was totally dizzying. There are other interactive games to play such as plastic pin art, a photo silhouette wall, and more. The evening we were there wasn’t particularly busy, but there were at least a dozen or more people in this area and no one seemed to be in a rush to leave.

[peg-image src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qpvhgpGw1Bk/V21NVC26L3I/AAAAAAAAAYo/aMvYwFt9nd8zNRQoxKvZ5TCgqTcRXVcfQCHM/s144-o/20160620_194509.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/109947520709267474738/6299776477408914065#6299776477700960114″ caption=”Vortex tunnel” type=”image” alt=”20160620_194509.jpg” image_size=”4032×3024″ peg_single_image_size=”w133″ peg_img_align=”right” peg_img_style=”float: right; margin-left: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;margin-right:5px;margin-top:5px;”] I can’t recommend Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium enough! It was super fun and there was definitely something there for all members of my family. As has been mentioned in the other postings, the best deal is to get the 3 Attraction Flex Ticket. If you are interested in a single admission, at the time of this write-up on their website adult tickets are $17.99, senior tickets are $14.99 and child tickets are $10.99. Be sure to check out the Ripley’s web site for the latest information.

Note: To view images from our trip, visit the 20160620 Trip to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium – Image Gallery posting.

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