Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
PAOLI – The chance to bathe an elephant, feed a giraffe, or drive through a wildlife safari have made Wilstem Wildlife Park a unique and popular attraction with visitors to Orange County.
Fans of the park now have a chance to vote for Wilstem Wildlife Park to be named Best Animal Encounter by Newsweek.
The magazine announced last week that Wilstem Wildlife Park is one of 15 parks from around the US nominated for the magazine’s Best Animal Encounter. Others on the list include Marineland Dolphin Adventures in St. Augustine, Florida, and Bearizona Wildlife Park in Williams, Arizona.
“We are honored to be mentioned along with some of these other amazing parks,” said Audrey Brames, director of marketing for Wilstem.
Elephant, sloth, otter, primate, giraffe, and kangaroo encounters are some of the offerings at Wilstem. Earlier this summer, Wilstem added a Dinosaur Safari, a collection of large animatronic dinosaurs, to its drive-thru safari.
Elephant Spa and Education encounters were introduced in 2016. They became so popular, other animals were brought to the park for encounters with visitors. Brames said visitor interest in up-close experiences has continued to grow.
“We have seen an increased interest in engaging with different species such as sloth, primates, kangaroos, otters, and our beloved drive-thru safari where you can encounter a large variety of different animals,” she said.
Even with the introduction of other species, she said elephant encounters remain the most popular.
Providing visitors a once-in-a lifetime experience of bathing a pachyderm is a rewarding part of working at Wilstem, but Brames said Wilstem’s primary goal with offering encounters is education.
“Our mission has always been to educate our guests about wildlife, enhance and preserve the lives of our animals, and create an unforgettable guest experience!” she said. “Wilstem is proud to be the home of 10 different species that are endangered or considered vulnerable. By being a home to these species we can contribute to the biodiversity and long-term conservation. We are honored to be able to share these animals with the public.”
Annually, about 100,000 people visit Wilstem Wildlife Park, located at 4229 US 150 West, Paoli, which is a boost to the Orange County economy.
“Wilstem Wildlife Park offers guests such a unique experience where they can be fully immersed into nature while getting up close for intimate encounters with a variety of animals,” said Kristal Painter, chief operating officer of Discover Southern Indiana.
“What makes them so unique is that their property is 1,100 acres, has lodging, and offers an array of options to not only get up close and personal, but to learn about all aspects of the animals. They have provided a boost to the local economy, especially in the slower tourism months, because they are open year-round and are constantly adding additional experiences, which attracts repeat visitation.”
Working with animals and the public takes a special staff and Brames said they are key to the visitor experience.
“We know that this nomination would not be possible if not for our wonderful staff! It is truly the interaction our staff has with our wildlife which makes our encounters so memorable,” she said. “The relationships built among our staff and animals is unmatched and we are so proud to share this nomination with them. It is their work everyday that has made this nomination possible.”
Cast your vote
To vote for Wilstem Wildlife Park for Best Animal Encounter in America, click here. Votes can be cast daily until July 31. Ten winners will be announced Aug. 7. To plan a visit to Wilstem, check out www.wilstem.com.