Oregon is well known for many things – geographic features like Crater Lake and Mount Hood, countless craft beer breweries, and the quirky city of Portland. Something else that should be on your radar when you are in the Beaver State, however, is West Coast Game Park Safari, a walk-through safari roughly three hours southwest of Eugene. This family-friendly Oregon attraction near the state’s coast allows visitors to get up close and personal with a variety of cute, cuddly animals.
The West Coast Game Park Safari (WCGPS) is a 21-acre reserve located about 10 minutes south of Bandon, a town of around 3,000 on Oregon’s coast.
The attraction started out as The Deer Park in 1968 with just a few deer and was bought four years later by Bob and Mary Tenney. The Tenneys expanded and updated the property, giving it its current name. The couple retired in 2009 and handed operations over to their son Brian who runs the park to this day. Today, the WCGPS bills itself as the state’s "largest, totally self-supporting wildlife attraction."
The park boasts 450 individual animals across 75 species, some held in enclosures and the rest allowed free-roam of the property.
As you enter the park, you will likely be greeted by several "free-range" animals including deer, sheep, goats, and peacocks. "Food cones" filled with grain are available for purchase in the WCGPS’s gift shop so you can feed any of the curious animals that come up to you.
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The animals held in enclosures include young lions, tigers, and bears, as well as adult bobcats, opossums, and foxes.
These so-called animal ambassadors are brought out for the park’s presentations during which time visitors can cuddle with these creatures and ask park employees questions. There are no set times for these presentations so make sure to pay attention to loudspeaker announcements which will prompt you to head to the designated area.
After you are done cuddling with and feeding all of the critters at the park, be sure to stop by the attraction’s gift shop for everything from stuffed animals and figurines to postcards and mugs. There is something for every person in your group here!
The WCGPS offers a small number of food and drink items on-property - such as snacks, candies, and juices - but if you are looking for something more substantial head back to Bandon. While it’s a pretty small town it has quite a few dining options.
One place you should consider trying out is the highly-rated Edgewaters. This establishment, which overlooks the Coquille River, is a casual restaurant which serves a variety of seafood dishes, pasta mains, and steak options.
Another great option is the Wheelhouse Restaurant, which operates out of a 1930s building in Old Town Bandon and is the second-oldest restaurant in town.
The Wheelhouse Restaurant offers a variety of dishes from soups like oyster stew and their famous New England clam chowder; meat dishes like cilantro-pesto chicken and jerk chicken; and several seafood options, including charbroiled salmon and Dungeness crab sauté. You’ll have no trouble finding something you like on The Wheelhouse’s menu!
While places like Portland and Mount Hood get most of the attention of visitors to Oregon, if you step off the beaten path you’ll find hidden gems far from the tourist crowds. West Coast Game Park Safari – with its countless animals and family-friendly environment – is certainly one such place. Visitors to the attraction will be sure to have hours of fun cuddling with and feeding the furry creatures on the property and the memories of their visit will stay with them for a long time after. To learn more about the attraction check out the park’s website or the property’s Facebook page. Have you visited the West Coast Game Park Safari? Let us know about your time there in the comments. And be sure to check out this restaurant serving up delicious crepes in Eugene, Oregon.
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