Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at Fisherman’s Wharf Will Close by the End of 2026

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at 175 Jefferson Street in Fisherman’s Wharf will close for good before the end of 2026, the company said in late September. No final day has been announced, and the museum and its mirror maze are still open for now.

What the Company Said

The closing was reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and confirmed by Ripley Entertainment. Company spokesperson Suzanne Smagala-Potts said the decision followed a broader evaluation of the attraction and the changing Fisherman’s Wharf area, and that “after nearly 60 years at the location, the company concluded that it was the right time to close,” as quoted in a Times of India report.

Company president Jim Pattison Jr. said in a statement, reported by Amusement Today and by Up and Away Magazine, that the decision came “after careful consideration,” and added: “While we’re saying goodbye to this location, we’re not necessarily saying goodbye to San Francisco.” The company has not said whether it plans another San Francisco site.

The Times of India report cites changing visitor habits, rising operating costs and the investment needed to keep up with newer attractions as factors behind the decision.

What Is Inside, and What Is for Sale

The Jefferson Street location has more than 400 artifacts and oddities plus a 2,000-square-foot mirror maze. Ahead of the closing, Ripley’s plans to sell some of its San Francisco-themed pieces. Items named in coverage include a miniature Golden Gate Bridge built on the head of a pin, Golden Gate Bridge models made from toothpicks, crutches that belonged to Joe DiMaggio, and a portrait of Janis Joplin made from chicken wire.

Robert Ripley’s link to the city predates the museum: he started his career at the San Francisco Bulletin, according to Up and Away Magazine.

If You Want to Go Before It Closes

The Ripley’s San Francisco page lists hours of 11am to 6pm and still sells tickets online. It has not posted a closing notice or a last day, so check the page before you plan a visit late in the year.

Ripley’s is on the Jefferson Street stretch of the Wharf, a short walk from Musée Mécanique at Pier 45. Our Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood guide covers the rest of the area, and the Wharf is also getting a new holiday ice rink this November.

Photo: Thomasfan1916, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.