VIP: The Safari Park is both entertaining and educational, isn’t it?ĬC: Yes, most children and adults come away from the Park having learned something new about animals or they have seen animals they have never seen before and observed them in their habitat. I-40 is one of the busiest interstates in the country. We get a lot of business off I-40 and I-55 with our billboards. Last year 100,000 visitors came to our Park! The first year we had about 2500 visitors. We have seen a steady increase of visitors each year since we opened. We are hoping that it will continue to get bigger and bigger. We always thought the Park would meet our goals. VIP: Has the Park surpassed the goal of your family?ĬC: It is getting there. Their ages are 8, 3 and a few months old (My youngest child was born April 20.) My boys are the sixth generation to be here on this property. Conley II: We always wanted to open a zoo to preserve the property and the animals. VIP: What was the initial goal of what is now the Tennessee Safari park?Ĭlaude H. Their plans to bring rare and endangered animals from around the world and showcase them throughout their large farm has been met with tremendous success! Today you may drive 3.5 miles through roads taking you amongst animals from around the world, then take a walk through the zoo area and see primates, exotic birds, tapirs, cranes and more. Today the Safari Park has one of the largest collections of zoo animals in the state. Conley II and Jon Wesley Conley, decided to create a park to showcase these rare and endangered species and bring a top tourist attraction to the West Tennessee rural farm. Damara zebras were added in 1980 and various rare and endangered antelope were added throughout the 1980s and 1990s. According to the Conleys, this was the first privately owned bison in the state of Tennessee. Over the years the collection grew as bison were added in 1936. This was a pivotal moment in the young man’s life, and he knew he wanted to see animals from around the world saved and protected on the family farm. They collected pheasants, peafowl and various types of deer. Conley, at a very young age to love and appreciate Hillcrest, the Conley family and all of its animals. Conley I instilled a strong interest in his son, Claude M. The Conley Farm has produced numerous types of crops and has always been entrepreneurial in the products that were developed and sold on the farm.Ĭlaude H. Needless to say, Jerry is a very tall animal, and I wasn’t so sure I wanted to do this, but fortunately for me, Jerry was well behaved. On my first visit to Safari Park I was invited to feed Jerry, the giraffe. My car moves slowly as I try to avoid a run-in with a peacock. Pretty peacocks preen and have full reign of the road. I enjoy driving down the country road that leads to Hillcrest, a Century Farm owned by the Conley family since 1858. At least once a year, typically in October when VIP Jackson Magazine profiles Crockett County, I visit the Tennessee Safari Park.
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