HollyWild Animal Park facts for kids
| Location | Wellford, South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Land area | 100 acres (40 ha) |
| Coordinates | 35°01′28″N 82°08′36″W / 35.024408°N 82.1432292°W |
| No. of animals | 500+ |
Hollywild Animal Park is a special non-profit zoo located in Wellford, South Carolina. This amazing park covers 100 acres and is home to more than 500 animals! Many of these animals are famous because they have appeared in TV shows and movies.
One of the coolest parts of Hollywild is its outback safari. This huge area, over 70 acres wide, lets animals roam freely. Visitors can even hand-feed friendly animals like fallow deer, zebras, bison, and more. It's a unique chance to get up close with wildlife!
The park got its name, "Hollywild," because of its animal stars and their history in films and commercials. Some of the famous animal actors include Tank the southern white rhinoceros, chimpanzees, African lions, and even Asian elephants. Hollywild also loves to teach its guests about animals. They offer field trips, scout programs, camps, and special home school days.
How Hollywild Animal Park Began
Hollywild Animal Park was started by the Meeks family. They began by caring for typical farm animals and local South Carolina wildlife in their own backyard. In 1970, their dream grew into the M&M Zoo. Donna the Elephant, who lived from 1967 to 2007, was one of the first big stars of the park. Because many of the animals are raised by hand, they often become very comfortable around people. This makes them perfect for appearing in movies and TV shows!
A Challenge: The 2015 Fire
On January 9, 2015, something sad happened at the park. A worker found smoke in a barn where some animals lived. A fire had started overnight because of an electrical problem. Sadly, some animals passed away due to smoke. This included lemurs, monkeys, chimpanzees, and other animals. Luckily, many other animals in the building survived.
The Park's Journey to Reopen
After the fire, Hollywild Animal Park faced some tough times. Fewer people visited the park in 2016. The park worked hard to find ways to keep its doors open. They even had a special holiday lights festival.
In March 2017, it seemed like the park might not open to the public again. However, Hollywild Animal Park is strong and has since reopened! Now, visitors can drive through the park safely in their cars. This new way allows guests to interact with animals that come right up to their vehicles. It's a fun and unique experience for everyone!
