Deer Tracks Junction

About Deer Tracks Junction

Deer Tracks Junction is an animal park at 7850 14 Mile Road NE in Cedar Springs, Michigan, about 20 minutes from Grand Rapids. The park's website says it is five miles east of US-131 on M-57 and describes it as Michigan's only drive-thru safari park. The website gives the property as 98 acres and describes two main attractions: a walk-through, hands-on animal park and a drive-thru safari park. The homepage says the hands-on park has more than 40 species. The park is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

History

According to the park's About page, Deer Tracks Junction was founded in 2002 as a family business and began with a few animals. It has since grown into a two-park property that the page describes as nearly 100 acres.

The same page describes the park as fully licensed and accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. It lists membership in Michigan Agritourism, the Michigan Farm Bureau and the Zoological Association of America. The page also says selected farm animals, including goats, pigs, guinea pigs and rabbits, are occasionally available for purchase as pets through direct contact with the facility.

Exhibits and habitats

Walk-through park. The website lists Nubian goats, kunekune pigs, Valais black-nosed sheep, llamas, alpacas, Bactrian and dromedary camels, emus, coatis, kangaroos, parakeets in an aviary, Highland cows and rabbits, and says visitors can bottle-feed baby animals. Visitors can also watch rescued brown and black bears; the About page says the bears are viewed from above. The park also has play structures, including a three-story mine, slides, tunnels, nets, a sandbox and toddler areas such as one called Hog Heaven.

Drive-thru safari. Visitors stay in their vehicles. The animals listed are giraffes, American bison, zebras, gazelles, antelope, ostriches, emus, llamas, alpacas, Tibetan yaks and black bears. In the bear area, the site says there is no feeding and windows must be up. Animal feed must be purchased on site.

The park also makes homemade ice cream on site, including limited-time monthly flavors, according to the website.

Conservation and programs

The About page says many of the park's animals are rescues that are unable to survive in the wild, and that the animals receive specialized diets. The website lists seasonal attractions: baby animals in spring, summer activities, fall events and drive-thru Christmas lights in winter.

Planning your visit

As listed on the website, the park is open Friday through Sunday on weekends through October 18, with last entry at 5 p.m., and the site describes the park as open throughout the year with seasonal changes. The site recommends allowing two to four hours and suggests comfortable shoes and weather-ready clothes. Only park-purchased food may be fed to animals, visitors must keep trash out of exhibits, and outside food and pets are not permitted. The site says all areas are accessible. The website lists combo, walk-thru and drive-thru safari tickets, and children 2 and under are free; ticket details are on the zoo's website. The listed phone number is (616) 863-3337.