Wild Animal Park & Safari

Strawberry Plains, Tennessee

Circle G Ranch - In the News

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition & special guest host Jenny McCarthy visited the Circle G Ranch: Wild Animal Park January 12, 2012. The "Extreme" team & ABC were searching for a destination where they could gather inspiration for a "Safari" themed room. They found their “muse” in Circle G Ranch & needed to look no further for “safari inspiration.” We are just so happy for the chosen winner & very deserving, Watson family. The CGR is so proud to be part of this HUGE project & massive undertaking of building a house in 7 days. We cannot wait to see what Jenny McCarthy, her son & Paulie DiMero (EMHE designer) comes up with in the design of the safari room after visiting our park. OUR PARK!! Our Wild Animal Park!! We are all still kind of like, “did that just really happen?” Jenny McCarthy is a great person and very down-to-earth and a wonderful mother. I had so much fun riding the safari truck w/ her and her son. It was quite the day for the CGR staff & our animals too.

WATE Ch. 6: Jenny McCarthy visits local safari park with Extreme Makeover: Home Edititon

Hump Day with Ed Rupp (WBIR- 02-08-2012)

PBS Channel - "Southern Accents" - Click here to see our segment on
the Circle G Ranch PBS - Karen Elliott June 2011

Hundreds view this year's "Living Christmas Tree"(WBIR- 12-05-10)

Animal's at Strawberry Plains Park Struggle to Stay Warm (WBIR-Beth Haynes-01-12-10)

TOUGH JOB: Circle G Ranch in Strawberry Plains (WBIR-Beth Haynes-11-10-09)

There's a Baby Boom of sorts at the Circle G Ranch in Strawberry Plains (WBIR-Beth Haynes-06-02-09)

Live with Allison - Circle G Ranch (WVLT-05-22-09

Exotic Animals Up Close (Knoxnews.com - 05-20-09)

Camel Safari's Come to East Tennessee (WBIR-Kay Watson-08-01-05)

What's New

ZEBRA NEWS: We have added 2 new Damara Zebra to our herd. We now have 3 females & 1 male. All are getting along perfectly and enjoying all the space to roam freely in.
HATCHING SEASON: We now have 8 new peacock, baby chicks, emu chicks & baby ducks!
Meet over 30 babies in our petting zoo area of the park. They are just now beginning to taste feed. Which makes your visit that much more enjoyable feeding these babies.
A new enclosure for our African Crested Porcupine’s. We have built a new home for our 2 females and 1 male porcupine’s out of all natural materials. It is amazing and they are enjoying it so much that we may have baby porcupines in the near future.
Our African Tortoises are beginning to lay eggs. With a little animal husbandry and experience, we will soon began raising clutches of little baby tortoises.

Current News

Check back for current news.

Pass Information:

Tickets for adults, seniors and children over two years are $28.00 /per person (tax included) and may be purchased at any of the four participating attractions. You DO NOT have to use all tickets in one day, and they are transferable. Tickets are subject to availability and not good for special events. Unused tickets are non-refundable and have no cash value.

Stay informed: Half Off Depot will be running a special on the K’Town Adventure Pass. Sign up at half off depot to receive daily deals and keep an eye out for our adventure pass.

Recent Events

Produce Needed: We have been dealt a heavy blow recently in the ability to provide our vegan friends with much needed produce to keep them healthy and happy here at CGR. If you happen to have any sweet potatoes, lettuce, greens (mustard, collard), corn, carrots, squash, zucchini, or cucumbers to spare or provide, it would be wholeheartedly appreciated. Bring a grocery bag of produce and receive (1) Bucket of Feed for the Drive-Thru Zoo! See details below.

IMPORTANT!! Our drive-thru animals DO NOT eat produce!
Please note that we can not accept any produce that has spoiled or has mold.
Upon arrival at the CGR Drive-Thru booth/window, it is important that you inform CGR Staff that you have a grocery bag of produce in order to receive your (1) bucket of feed.
Please understand that, although we surely welcome and more than appreciate multiple bags of produce, our feed bill only allows us to offer a limit of (1) bucket of feed per vehicle.

Dear Christy,
I can't express how surprised I was at the experience that I had with my wife, daughter and grandchildren at your drive through exotic Animal Park. Susan and I are survivors of the terrible devastation of hurricane Katrina to the MS Coast and now live only a few miles from your incredible Park. I am currently retired from the State of MS but was previously part of the management team of one of the largest Zoological Parks in this Country and then worked for a large, exotic animal importing company. I have visited many of the zoos and animal parks in this country and I can truly say, from experience, that your animals and your park are brilliant! Your USDA licensure and successful breeding of rare Bactrian Camels is an incredible surprise for a place that seems to be so tucked away and hidden in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. I can see that you are dedicated to your work; and the care of your animals and I thank you for a wonderful experience.
Tom Erhardt and Family

I heard about you all through Tradebank. What a GREAT day I had with the kids at your ranch!That was one of the neatest experiences-what a fabulous thing you are doing for the animals and those who want to learn about them. It was so unique to be that close to such a wide array of wonderful creatures. We took the most amazing photos and videos to share with all of our friends and family.We will be back frequently as we are local but this would definitely be one of the best things to do when visiting the Smokies! We will be sure to take all of our out of town guests with kids especially! Thank you again!

Matt, Christy,
I just wanted to thank you for an amazing experience and for your enthusiasm for camels. My husband recently surprised me on Saturday June 28^th and brought me to your ranch for a camel ride. This was a total surprise for me and you were all so excited as well! I have been collecting camels for about 30 years now and have an amazing array of sizes, shapes, colors, etc., but this was my first time seeing one up close and personal. Wow, I was totally even more amazed and impressed with these creatures! They were sweet, gentle, fun, curious and everything I had hoped for! I know that I will be back for more! I wanted to know if you accepted private donations because I think what y’all are doing is amazing and I would love to help in some small way…I cannot do much but want to help you continue this adventure! Also, do you sell camels and can they be kept as pets? (not that my husband would indulge me that but I just have to ask, lol, I would love one for my “collection”, lol!)Again, thank you for all of your great work and for your true love for the animals that you care for; it shows so much in what you do and how you do it!
Nora

MY NAME IS CHERYL AND I WAS RECENTLY IN THE AREA WITH A FRIEND ATTENDING
A WOMEN OF JOY CONFERENCE WITH OUR CHURCH. I SAW YOUR PAMPHLET AT THE OLD
MILL RESTAURANT AND WAS THRILLED TO FIND OUT I COULD RIDE A CAMEL. MY
FRIEND WAS AFRAID OF HEIGHTS AND WAS VERY RELUCTANT TO GET ON A CAMEL BUT
YOUR STAFF WAS SO KIND AND PATIENT WITH US AND MARY GOT ON THE CAMEL! I
HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME AND WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW TO CHECK YOU GUYS
OUT IF THEY ARE IN THE AREA. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE CARE AND LOVE
YOUR STAFF HAD WITH ALL THE ANIMALS. ALL THE ANIMALS LOOKED HEALTHY AND
HAPPY. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
PATIENTS WITH MARY AND I ON THAT COLD WINDY SUNDAY. IT IS A MEMORY I WILL
ALWAYS CHERISH. I LOVE CAMELS AND TO RIDE ONE WAS SUCH A THRILL. YOUR
FRIENDLINESS REALLY MADE THE DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU AGAIN.

CHERYL

you guys are sooo cool!i was their last tuesday,with yoke.Christy is
really nice.i talked to her threw the whole camal ride.she makes me wont
to work with camals,and the other animals.i loved the zebras.

Melody

hi i'm ... LAINDRA!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE CAMELS,THERE MY
FAVRATE! I'M 8 !!!!!!!!!!! I'VE RODE A CAMEL BEFOR! THATS
IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

My family (grandparents, parents and kids) went to the Circle G Ranch in April this year. We had a fabulous time! It's a perfect place for animal lovers of all ages. We thoroughly enjoyed the Drive Thru Animal Park, the camel rides and interacting with the farm animals in the barn. We can't wait to go back. In fact, we plan to celebrate my daughter's third birthday there! I've attached some photos from our fun day.

Allison
Powell, Tennessee

My wife and I were in Pigeon Forge on vacation this past week and she and our daughter and niece really enjoyed their time at your place – my wife loves animals and just thought your ranch was awesome and that you were good people. She is an RN but originally wanted to major in zoology in school. Thanks again for a great time on behalf of my wife and girls, they really enjoyed it – I’m sure we’ll see you guys again in the years to come!

Phillip