Hidden Valley Animal Adventure - Wyoming Co.

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Matt
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New Wyoming County tourist attraction a first-class facility...
It's something you don't expect to see while driving along rural Royce Road in Wyoming County, but the large, beautifully landscaped timber-built lodge adjoining a lake that's home to both black and white swans is just the tip of the iceberg.

Hidden Valley Animal Adventure in Varysburg is the vision of Hans Boxler Sr., a second-generation dairy farmer, who, now in his mid-70s, still works on a 1,900-head dairy farm with his sons. The Boxler farm consists of over 5,000 acres of gently rolling hills, fields, and wooded areas, and in 2005, ground was broken to develop approximately 125 of those acres for an exotic animal preserve.

Over 30 species of animals, including zebras, camels, llamas, wallaroos, buffalos, longhorn cattle, and others, can be observed by visitors that take the more than two-mile, guided trolley tour through the park.

When asked where he purchases such exotic creatures, Boxler says, "It's like any other hobby. If people know you're interested, it's surprising how much is out there."

Boxler's "hobby" began in 2002, when he purchased 18 buffalo and 26 elk. Realizing that, as with any other animal, there is a cost involved in feeding them, he decided that opening a facility to the public was not only a way to share his interest, but a way to help support it. Since then, he has continued to add animals he purchases at consignment auctions, from other animal parks, and from individuals. (One of the most recent acquisitions was a baby albino elk, born at the park earlier this month.)
more...

http://www.arcadeherald.com/articles/20 ... 664686.txt
User avatar
Matt
President
President
Posts: 13374
Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:01 pm
Camera Model: Olympus OMD EM-1 m1, m2; Panasonic GM5, Osmo Pocket
Location: Rochester, NY
Contact:

Working on an outing... stay tuned.
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