The Grand Canyon Deer Farm animal sanctuary off old Route 66 near Williams, Arizona, celebrates its 50th year this week — on Thursday, to be exact.
Russell Hamilton founded the Deer Farm on Aug. 15, 1969, but Randy and Pat George are the longest-tenured owners, having run it since 1987, according to an article in the Arizona Daily Sun, based in nearby Flagstaff.
Some tidbits from the story:
- The farm obviously is most famous for its deer, but it also houses reindeer, elk, goats, miniature horses, sheep, peacocks, pheasants, guineas, geese, silkie hens, potbellied pigs, buffalo, llamas, alpacas, coatimundis, wallabies, Patagonian cavies, African-crested porcupine, zebus, zebra-donkey mixes and one camel. It also has a yellow cockatoo named Mozart that’s been there since the Georges took over the complex 32 years ago.
- Most animals at Grand Canyon Deer Farm are rescues that were orphaned, rejected by their mothers or abandoned by their owners. They frequently take in animals acquired by Arizona Game and Fish.
- In addition to the feed offered by tourists, employees feed the animals at least twice a day, as well. Larger animals are fed special feed from California; smaller animals are fed fruit and vegetables from Sprouts stores.
- Hamilton founded similar farms in Oregon and California, but the Arizona site remains the only survivor.
- Hamilton chose the Arizona location after counting cars that went by on Route 66.
(Image from Grand Canyon Deer Farm near Williams, Arizona, by Wes Dickenson via Flickr)