Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Attractions, History & More

The phrase “Believe it or not” has launched more than its share of eyebrow-raising conversations — and it’s also the name of a global franchise that started with a single newspaper cartoon in 1918. Today, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! spans over 100 attractions worldwide, blending oddities, aquariums, and interactive exhibits.

Founder: Robert Ripley ·
First Cartoon: 1918 ·
First Odditorium: 1933 (Chicago World’s Fair) ·
Number of Attractions: Over 100 worldwide ·
Headquarters: Orlando, Florida

Six key facts about the franchise, from its founder to its ownership, tell the full story at a glance.

What Exactly Is Ripley’s Believe It or Not?

At its simplest, Ripley’s is a franchise of oddity museums — think shrunken heads, two-headed animals, and intricate toothpick sculptures — that grew from a newspaper cartoon into a global brand. The company itself describes its attractions as places where visitors can “immerse themselves in a world of wonder” (Ripley’s Believe It or Not! official brand site).

What Does “Believe It or Not” Mean?

• The phrase comes from the title of Robert Ripley’s cartoon series, which presented bizarre but true facts.
• It invites readers to decide whether to believe the unusual claim — making the brand’s identity about curiosity and skepticism.
• The exclamation mark became part of the official name to emphasize the challenge: “Believe It or Not!” (Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (official brand site))

Who Founded It?

• Robert Ripley, an American cartoonist, illustrator, and entrepreneur, created the first cartoon in 1918.
• Ripley Entertainment Inc. was officially founded by him and was later acquired by the Jim Pattison Group in 1985 (Encyclopedia.com (business reference)).

When Did It Start?

• The first “Believe It or Not!” cartoon appeared on March 19, 1918, in the New York Globe.
• The first physical Odditorium opened at the Century of Progress World’s Fair in Chicago in 1933 (Visit Myrtle Beach (tourist guide)).

The implication: Ripley’s wasn’t born as a museum chain — it evolved from a simple newspaper panel into a family entertainment empire. That shift from print to physical space is what makes its story as odd as its exhibits.

How Many Ripley’s Locations Are There?

Ripley Entertainment says the brand now operates more than 100 attractions across multiple countries, including museums, aquariums, and wax-style exhibits (Ripley Entertainment (corporate overview PDF)).

Is There a Ripley’s in the UK?

• Yes — Ripley’s has locations in London and Blackpool.
• The London location is on Piccadilly Circus and features classic Odditorium exhibits.
• Blackpool’s museum is near the promenade and combines old-fashioned oddities with interactive displays.

Is the Museum in London?

• There is a Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum in London, located at 1 Piccadilly Circus.
• It is one of the most visited branches in Europe and includes the Ripley’s Mirror Maze as part of the experience.

What About Amsterdam?

• Ripley’s Amsterdam is situated on Damrak, just steps from Central Station.
• The Amsterdam Odditorium occupies a five-story building with over 500 exhibits, including a section dedicated to the city’s maritime oddities (Ripley’s Amsterdam (official page)).

What this means: the brand is heavily concentrated in tourist hubs, so if you’re planning a city break in London, Amsterdam, or even Myrtle Beach, odds are there’s a Ripley’s within walking distance.

Is Ripley’s Believe It or Not Worth the Money?

Ticket prices typically range from $15 to $40 depending on the location and whether you add a combo ticket for the mirror maze or aquarium. The question is whether the experience justifies the cost — especially for families.

Is It Suitable for Children?

• Ripley’s markets itself as family entertainment, and most locations are designed for school-age kids and up.
• Some exhibits contain macabre content (e.g., preserved animals in formaldehyde) that may disturb very young children.
• Check the specific location’s age recommendations on the official site before buying tickets.

What Is the Cost vs. Experience?

• For an adult, a typical single-museum ticket runs $20–$30.
• Visitors on review platforms like TripAdvisor often rate the experience as good value for the novelty factor but note that the visit can be completed in 1–2 hours.
• Combo passes that include multiple attractions (e.g., Odditorium + aquarium) offer better value per hour (Visit Myrtle Beach (tourist guide)).

How Much Time Should I Spend?

• Most visitors spend about 60 to 90 minutes in the museum portion.
• If you add the aquarium or wax museum, plan for at least 2–3 hours total.
• Rush visits under an hour are possible but you’ll miss half the exhibits.

The trade-off: Ripley’s works best as a low-commitment, high-novelty stop — not a full-day destination. For families stretching a vacation budget, the combo ticket is the smarter play.

The catch: you get the most value when you match the ticket type to your available time, rather than walking in cold.

How Old Was Ripley When He Died?

Robert Ripley was 58 years old when he died in 1949. How a cartoonist from California built a worldwide oddity empire in just three decades is part of the brand’s lore.

What Was Robert Ripley’s Early Life?

• Born in 1890 in Santa Rosa, California, Ripley was a self-taught artist who started drawing for local papers.
• He dropped out of school after the eighth grade to work as a cartoonist, eventually landing a job at the San Francisco Bulletin.
• His breakthrough came when the New York Globe syndicated his “Believe It or Not!” panel in 1918 (Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (official brand site)).

How Did He Die?

• Ripley died of a heart attack on May 27, 1949, in his apartment at the Ripleys building in Santa Rosa.
• He had been suffering from heart problems for several years but continued traveling and collecting oddities (Encyclopedia.com (business reference)).

What Is the Ripley Surname Origin?

• The surname Ripley is of English origin, derived from place names in Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
• It means “strip of land in a clearing” — a far more ordinary meaning than the brand suggests (common genealogical sources).

The pattern: Robert Ripley’s life was itself a “believe it or not” story — a school dropout who became one of the most famous cartoonists in America, then died just as his physical empire was expanding.

Is 1 Hour Enough for Ripley’s Aquarium?

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto is one of the brand’s largest attractions, featuring 16,000 animals across 5.7 million litres of water. One hour is physically possible but will feel like a sprint.

What Can You See in 1 Hour?

• You can walk through the main tunnel (the largest in North America) in about 20 minutes.
• The touch pools and jellyfish gallery each take 10 minutes.
• Feeding shows and diver talks require 15–20 minutes each — you’d have to skip them.

What Is the Best Time to Visit?

• Weekday mornings (10–11 AM) are the least crowded.
• Weekend afternoons can be very busy, with wait times for the tunnel exceeding 30 minutes.
• Check the official site for timed-entry slots to save time.

The catch: if you only have an hour, you’ll see the highlights but miss the educational depth. For families with kids, 2 hours is the sweet spot; for aquarium enthusiasts, plan 3 hours.

The implication: an hour works only if you prioritize the tunnel and skip everything else, which defeats the purpose of paying admission.

Quotes That Define the Brand

“I have traveled the world in search of the odd, the unusual, and the incredible.”

— Attributed to Robert Ripley, as cited in company biographies

“Believe it or not!”

— Brand catchphrase, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (official brand site)

Both lines capture the central tension of the brand: the challenge to believe the unbelievable, and the relentless curiosity that drove its founder.

For anyone planning a visit to a Ripley’s attraction, the decision is clear: go for the weird, stay for the history — and give yourself at least two hours. For the budget-conscious family in London or Amsterdam, the combo pass turns a quick oddity fix into a genuine afternoon outing. Anything less and you’ll leave saying “I wish I’d had more time” — which, ironically, is exactly what Robert Ripley might have said on his deathbed.

Frequently asked questions

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