Yellowstone Bear World

About Yellowstone Bear World

Yellowstone Bear World is a privately owned drive-thru wildlife park in Rexburg, Idaho, about 80 miles from Yellowstone National Park. It opened in 1998 and holds more than eight species of wildlife native to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Rather than a walk-through zoo, its core attraction is a drive-thru route where visitors view grizzly bears, black bears, and other native species from inside their own vehicles. The park also includes a small amusement park and a petting zoo, and it is described as the only wildlife park in the United States where guests can bottle-feed bear cubs.

History

Construction of the park ran into trouble before it opened. In spring 1998, developer Mike Ferguson halted excavation work after the Army Corps of Engineers raised concerns that the site sat in Snake River wetlands and that he lacked a required permit under the Clean Water Act, which requires developers to show minimal wetland impact before building begins. Most of the construction was already complete by that point. On May 28, 1998, Madison County Commissioners unanimously granted Ferguson a permit to proceed, following strong support from local residents, clearing the last local hurdle for construction. Two weeks later, on June 12, 1998, the park's first bears arrived after Ferguson reached an agreement with Idaho wildlife officials allowing temporary importation of the animals, sidestepping a standing ban on commercial black bear imports.

Highway access has also shaped the park's history. In 2016 the Idaho Department of Transportation began building the Thornton Interchange on Highway 20, and when it opened in early 2017 it eliminated direct highway access to the park, forcing visitors onto a less convenient backroad route. The park's general manager at the time, Courtney Ferguson, said the change caused a 10% drop in business. A new frontage road restoring more direct access opened on May 30, 2019.

Exhibits and habitats

The park's main attraction is its drive-thru route, described as the only drive-through wildlife reserve in the Greater Yellowstone area, where visitors see grizzly bears, black bears, and other native wildlife from inside their cars. A separate Wildlife Excursion, offered for an additional fee beyond regular admission, takes guests on a large truck with an animal keeper to feed and learn about Rocky Mountain elk, American bison, black bears, and grizzly bears up close — it is the only way guests can feed the park's adult bears.

Away from the drive-thru, the petting zoo covers more than an acre of free-roaming farm animals and birds that visitors can access on foot, with occasional deer fawn or elk calf feedings. A small amusement park, with rides designed for children three and up but open to adults as well, is included with admission; children under 36 inches must be accompanied by an adult. In 2023 the park added Jurassic Creek, a dinosaur-themed area featuring animatronic dinosaurs, also included with general admission.

Animal highlights

The park states that it holds more than eight species of wildlife indigenous to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem; no more specific published species or animal count is available. Named species include grizzly bear, black bear, Rocky Mountain elk, and American bison, seen along the drive-thru route or during the guided Wildlife Excursion. The petting zoo adds free-roaming farm animals and birds, along with occasional deer fawns or elk calves during feeding times. The park's signature offering is its scheduled bottle-feeding of bear cubs, held three times a day and paired with a behind-the-scenes visit led by a professional animal keeper.

Planning your visit

No published hours, ticket prices, or parking details were available in the source material used for this page. Bear cub bottle-feeding is offered three times daily as part of a behind-the-scenes visit with a keeper, and the separate Wildlife Excursion truck tour, feeding elk, bison, and bears, is available at an additional cost beyond general admission. As with any zoo or park listing, confirm current hours, pricing, and any seasonal closures on the park's official website before visiting.