 Hedrick's Exotic Animal Farm Bed and Breakfast in Nickerson is open for both overnight guests and tours. We recently joined the B&B guests on a tour: feeding and/or petting 30 varieties of exotic animals including: cattle, camels, ostriches, rheas, zebras, antelope, kangaroos, and giant tortoises. The giraffes wouldn't get very close. There were many young animals, including a camel only 3 days old. The tour concluded with a pony ride (for those under 85 pounds) and camel rides for all. A stay at Hedrick's Exotic Animal Farm Bed and Breakfast includes: two special guest tours, full home cooked breakfast, the rides, ev ening snack, a playground and wireless internet. We didn't stay at the B&B, so I can't comment on the food, but we did checkout the attractive animal theme rooms, windows looking out on the exotic animals. Rates range from $99-125 a night. Tours for those not staying at the B&B must be scheduled in advance. The price is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors & children, with a minimum charge of $25. Tours take about an hour, plus the time for the rides. Joe Hedrick grew up on this farm and traveled the country as a rodeo clown during the rodeo season. He was looking for something to do the balance of the year and started raising exotic animals for a traveling petting zoo in the 1970's. The B&B started as a bunkhouse for ranch hands and guests. In time, Joe and his wife Sondra expanded that building and created the bed and breakfast. Along the way, the petting zoo expanded to up to 5 traveling zoos, plus furnishing animals for commercials, nativities, and the Rockettes. They also provide promotions such as camel, ostrich and pig races, Hedrick's Exotic Animal Farm is open year around, but for the largest number of animals and a chance to see new babies, the spring is the best time of year to visit.
Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm website
copyright 2007-2008 by Keith Stokes |
