The Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park in Ashland, Nebraska, hit an attendance record of over 400,000 visitors on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. This milestone more than doubles its attendance in 2019 and well eclipses the previous record of 246,500 set during the Wildlife Safari Park’s inaugural 1998 season.
“All of us at the Zoo and Wildlife Safari Park are overwhelmed by the community support during this unprecedented year,” said Dennis Schnurbusch, senior vice president of operations and chief operating officer of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. “We are honored to have been a safe, outdoor experience for people during the COVID-19 crisis.”
All areas of the Wildlife Safari Park are open to the public except the Hands-On Corral, the Nature Play Area at the Bison Overlook, and the upper levels of the Crane Meadows Viewing Tower (the base deck is open). The Visitor Center is open for concessions and retail items, with capacity restrictions. “As coronavirus cases rise this fall, the Wildlife Safari Park continues to be a safe respite for families to enjoy nature and the outdoors from the security of their vehicle,” Schnurbusch said. “Come enjoy the Wildlife Safari Park soon before the weather causes us to close for the season.”
The Wildlife Safari Park is open daily from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily through Sunday, Nov. 8. Thereafter, the Wildlife Safari Park will be open the weekends of Nov. 14 and 15, and 21 and 22, also from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The weather will determine if any further dates will be added to the schedule. Please see the WildlifeSafariPark.com for schedule updates.
The Wildlife Safari Park is committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, animals, and employees, and will make changes as needed based on actual operating conditions and guidance from public health experts and elected officials.
Pawprints are noted in high-traffic areas to assist with 6-foot social distancing, while directional signage and barriers also mark guidance. It is strongly recommended that guests wear face masks while enjoying the Wildlife Safari Park and hand sanitizers are available. Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols continue to be a highest priority based on the health and safety guidelines provided by state and local authorities.
The price for adults, ages 12 to 64, is $8. The price per child, ages 3 to 11, is $6, and a senior’s admission, ages 65 and older, is $7. Military personnel receive $1 off in all categories. Wildlife Safari Park Memberships are available for $60 or as an add-on to your Zoo membership for $50. A Wildlife Safari Park Membership is good for one year from date of purchase.
About Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park
Named the second “Best Wildlife Park” in the country for 2020 by USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards, Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park offers four miles of drive-through North American wildlife viewing from the comfort of your own vehicle. Visitors will see a variety of animals in their natural habitats, including more than 60 American elk spread across the 50-acre Elk Meadow and a 10-acre wetlands area with American white pelicans. Visitors can see other animals, such as white-tailed deer, Sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans and bison, the largest terrestrial and heaviest land animals in North America. By visiting the Wildlife Safari Park, visitors not only support its on-site conservation efforts such as the Cheetah Breeding Center, but also efforts around the world. More information is available at WildlifeSafariPark.com.
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