It’s October. The weather has cooled. The smell of pumpkin lattes hang in the air, and as we move towards Halloween, people crave entertainment of an edgier nature. There is a place, though, where creepy isn’t seasonal. Here, the freakish things in life are celebrated year-round. It is Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium.
With 10,000 square feet containing over 600 displays and artifacts, this attraction on International Drive draws in curious tourists for much the same reasons as its showbiz ancestors, the traveling carnivals and circus “freak shows” of days gone by. It’s the promise of the bizarre and the macabre, and it is hard to resist. I needed to find out if Ripley could deliver on this promise, so I went with a group to see for myself.
Stepping into Ripley’s “odditorium” was a strange experience. It was a collection of unusual facts, elaborate creations, optical illusions, abnormalities in nature, and a few gags. The content swung between family friendly and “not so much,” and the exhibition didn’t always seem fluid. In fact, I often found myself questioning if there actually was an overarching theme among the displays. It left me amused but confused much of the time.
For those that can’t quite understand my point, visualize Madame Tussaud working for National Geographic while educating the masses about science and running an art gallery on the side. If you can picture that, you might be imagining something close to Ripley’s museum. It’s a hodgepodge of “stuff,” and that is the clearest description I can actually give.
THE GOOD
As a “museum of the weird,” certain displays make you a bit uneasy. However, it never really crosses over into what most would consider “scary.” In this sense, it strikes an enjoyable balance between interesting and bothersome.
The group that I was with had a great time. We laughed at the awkwardness of the artifacts. We tiptoed among the unsettling figures, and we actually screamed several times, courtesy of some startling effects. Basically, we went in with the intention of having fun, and—as a result–we did.
The other endearing trait of this attraction is a surprising element of nostalgia. It is shrunken heads and Siamese piglets. It is replicas of odd people and collections of medieval torture equipment. There is a distinct spirit of the 1920s jungle explorer mixed in with a remnant of turn-of-the-century traveling circuses, and you do feel like you are witnessing the entertainment of a bygone era.
THE BAD
While some may appreciate the attraction’s throwback charm, others may see it as a relic and out-of-touch. The museum presents everything as mysterious and unbelievable. Unfortunately, though, most of the mystery and wonderment is lost in today’s Information Age. To put it bluntly, the Wizard of Oz has been unceremoniously exposed by a quick Google search.
A stuffed komodo dragon, for example, isn’t very impressive when you have already watched a Discovery Channel special on the species and can go to Animal Kingdom to see a live one. Nor will you be captivated by artwork made of LEGOs when you can learn how to make your own masterpiece on YouTube and visit an entire LEGO theme park nearby. Sadly, Ripley’s exhibits just aren’t truly exciting anymore. In some cases, they barely qualify as a curiosity. The reality is that it’s harder to suspend belief in present day, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium doesn’t make it easier.
Combined with the fact that it takes a mere hour to canvas the entire attraction, the price tag of $20 per adult and $13 per kid seems a bit steep. For almost the same price, I could go a few blocks down I-Drive for three hours of go-karts, bumper boats, and high-flying swings. In comparison, it becomes difficult to see the value.
THE TRUTH
In the end, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium is the type of experience that can delight or disappoint. It may even do both. It will be what you make of it. If you want to have fun, you probably will. The exhibits and displays certainly provide opportunities for amusement to those who “bring the party.” On the flipside, if you walk in expecting the party to be provided, it is likely you will leave unimpressed.
The situation seems to require you to gauge your own temperament. You will get out of it what you put in. Believe it or not.
