How would you like to spend the day in your Ford vehicle on safari seeing zebras, camels, giraffes, and tapirs? If that sounds like a distant, expensive dream, it shouldn’t. This is just a tiny glimpse at all that the Tennessee Safari Park has to offer. Just two hours from Nashville, this hidden treasure invites your family to come out and spend the day driving through the park seeing these animals and many more. Read on to learn more about this family fun attraction.
History of the Park
Tennessee Safari Park was once a farm owned by the Conley family. The farm, called Hillcrest, produced numerous types of crops and continues to produce cotton today. The family’s animal collection began with Claude H. Conley I, who gathered peafowl, pheasants, and deer to the family acreage. The tradition continued with his son, Claude M. Conley, who dreamed from an early age of owning a zoo. At the age of 10, he began his collection with two peacocks, then went on to later purchase the first herd of buffalo in the state of Tennessee.
After bringing in a variety of antelope and zebras, Claude Sr. and his sons, Claude H. II and Jon Wesley, decided to open the park in 2007. Their vision was to share these rare and endangered animals with the world and to bring a top family attraction to west Tennessee. Today there are over 60 different species in the park, meaning it has one of the largest collections of zoo animals in the state.
Activities
The park features a 5.5-mile drive-through safari. You can purchase feed buckets at the beginning of the trek and feed the animals you encounter along the way. The animals are said to be friendly and gentle, but as they are wild animals, they can be unpredictable at times. Children and adults will love seeing giraffes, zebras, and camels crowd around your vehicle to get a look at what’s inside.
The park also has a 20-acre zoo area where you can see primates, reptiles, exotic birds, tapirs, and other animals. There’s a petting zoo inside as well, where you can interact with pygmy goats, chickens, and llamas.
When you get hungry, head over to the Safari Grill for a hamburger, hot dog, or plate of nachos. To pick up a souvenir commemorating your visit, be sure to check out the gift shop right next door to the concession stand.
Park Specifics
Tennessee Safari Park is located at 618 Conley Road in Alamo, Tennessee. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with the last cars allowed in the park at 4 p.m. On Sunday, hours are from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $16 per adult and $12 per child, with children aged one and under admitted free. Feed buckets are available at the ticket booth for less than $5 apiece. The park only takes cash, so be sure to visit an ATM on your way there.
The Tennessee Safari Park has so much to offer in the way of family fun. Why not hop into your Ford vehicle and take a cruise through it today?
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Image via Flickr by belgianchocolate
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