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Lion
Country Safari, Florida opened in 1967, in rural Western Palm Beach County.
At the time
it was the first drive-through safari park in the country and introduced
a new concept to animal
lovers, "The Cageless Zoo." The opening generated enormous interest on
the part of residents,
visitors to South Florida, and the media. The park developed into a popular
and successful
attraction.
Lion Country Safari was originally developed by a group of South African
and British
entrepreneurs who wanted to bring the experience of an African game park,
then and now an
expensive and time-consuming trip, to families who would otherwise not
be able to experience
an African safari. South Florida and Western Palm Beach County proved
to be an ideal
location for the park due to its year-round outdoor climate, plentiful
land, a growing population
and tourists who visit from all over the world.
Today, Lion Country Safari is home to over 900 animals in the drive-through
preserve and in
the Safari World exhibit area. Among the more notable species on display
at the park are lions,
white rhino, chimpanzees, zebra, and giraffe.
Safari
World, the walk-through area of the park, has been developed and improved
since the
park opened. The restaurant and gift shops were among the earlier additions.
The giraffe feeding;
Ferris
wheel; water sprayground; petting zoo; merry-go-round; boat rides; aviaries;
bird, reptile,
alligator, and squirrel monkey exhibits added over the years, have greatly
enhanced the visitors' experience at the park. The KOA Campground was
opened in the 1980's to provide overnight accommodation for visitors.
Lion Country Safari has a four-mile drive-through preserve, over 200 campsites,
6 stores, 3 food outlets, a sewer plant, a veterinary hospital, an animal
demonstration theater, gas station, and 170 employees who work to care
for animals, and who maintain and operate the facility. It also offers
a number of educational programs for school, scout, and tour groups, as
well as a summer day camp.
In its 40th year of operation, Lion Country Safari-Florida is one of South
Florida's leading
attractions and Palm Beach County's largest tourist attraction. Hundreds
of thousands of people
visit Lion Country Safari every year to experience the thrill of eye-ball-to-eye-ball
viewing of
magnificent animals in a natural open environment.
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