Catoctin Zoo - Take A Walk or Ride on the Wild Side

from Gateway 2021

Historical Snippets from Hi-Catoctin, Shangri-La and Camp David

THURMONT Take a Walk or Ride on The Wild Side!

What if there were a place where you could walk and talk with the animals? Sounds somewhat like a verse from a song from Dr.

Dolittle, but believe it or not, there is a place where you can do just that! Catoctin Wildlife Preserve in Thurmont, Maryland! Catoctin Wildlife Preserve features more interactive touch and feed opportunities than any other zoo in the region. Proprietors, Richard and Maryanne Hahn have been directly involved in the daily management of the park since they purchased it over fifty years ago. The Hahn’s produce constant upgrades to ensure visitors receive the best experience to engage with the animals up close and personal in a safe manner while caring for the animals and giving them a “furever” home! Catoctin Wildlife Preserve is home to a large variety of animals from all seven continents in the world including a reptile house and the alligator bayou which recreates a section of a Louisiana Bayou for the gators. The gator bayou is complete with Cajun music, Spanish moss and over a dozen alligators to observe. Not a reptile fan but love the large wild animals? Then the Safari Ride is for you! This is an amazing adventure that showcases exotic animals from six continents as you rumble through twenty-five wooded acres and four different paddocks. Oh, you may even have a Zebra or Bison wonder up to Safari vehicle! Catoctin Wildlife Preserve is a great adventure for all ages and a great way to spend the day discover-

Animals you will encounter on your one-hour Safari Ride

• African Zebra • North American Bison • Dromedary Camels • Asian and African Antelope • Giant birds like Ostrich and Emu • European deer, Eurasian wild sheep • Unusual cattle, donkey and goat breeds from around the world (Safari ride is a one-hour adventure and does have a separate fee in addition to admission fee)

ing all the beautiful animals up close and personal while creating family memories that will last a lifetime! Catoctin Wildlife Preserve is a hidden gem where you find not only specialized-trained staff,but animals you will not see in the large city zoos!

Catoctin Wildlife Preserve is also the perfect place for a school trip and you can also hold your child’s birthday party at Catoctin Wildlife Preserve. I bet not many kids have their party at a place this cool!

Proprietor Maryanne Hahn emphasizes that they are just part of a larger community of conservationists, “Small organizations doing small things all over the world, and that’s how you make a difference.” To the Hahn’s and their incredible staff…ou are making a difference for these animals and those who visit them! Amazing adventures and exciting new animal friends await you at Catoctin Wildlife Preserve!