Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
Leavenworth, WA
- Admission
- from $32
- Accreditation
- None listed
set by date and demand
not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Everything below is directory information drawn from public sources and the zoo's own site.
Animals at Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
1 confirmed
Feathers & Fangs from visitors
What people who've been to Leavenworth Reindeer Farm say
A Feather is something this zoo does well; a Fang is something it gets wrong. Left by people who've been, and read by us before they appear.
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About Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
Leavenworth Reindeer Farm is a family-run farm at 10389 Chumstick Highway in Leavenworth, Washington, in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. According to the farm's website, it sits one mile from the Bavarian-themed village of Leavenworth. The farm keeps a herd of domesticated reindeer, which the farm describes as the domesticated form of caribou, and it is open to visitors by advance reservation.
The farm is not an accredited zoo and is not a walk-in attraction. Every visit is a reserved tour, and the farm states that advance reservations are required and that it operates year-round. Its website describes the tours as hands-on and educational, with direct contact between guests and the herd.
History
According to the farm's About page, Kari and Hans Andersen established the operation in 2016, and it opened to the public that December. The farm says three generations of the family work at the farm each day alongside staff. The farm reports having welcomed guests from around the world since opening.
The farm's website also describes the wider history of reindeer in human life, noting their use to carry military supplies during World War II, to deliver mail in Alaska, and as a source of sustenance for the Sami people of northern Europe. It says Leavenworth shares a latitude with regions of Mongolia that support healthy reindeer populations.
Exhibits and habitats
The central experience is entering the reindeer enclosure. The farm says guests can stand inside the enclosure surrounded by the herd, and describes this as one of the few places in the world where visitors can do so. Tour activities listed on the website include hand-feeding the reindeer, holding shed antlers, and sitting in a Santa sleigh. On the Reindeer Farm Experience tour, guests feed the reindeer fresh willow branches.
Tours include a campfire gathering where guests learn about reindeer, and the farm's Santa meet-and-greet takes place in what it calls its historic barn. The farm also lists chickens, turkeys, and bunnies that visitors can interact with. Baby reindeer are typically born between April and June, according to the website, which makes spring and early summer the calving season.
A geodesic projection dome showing Northern Lights programs was under construction at the farm, with completion scheduled for 2026, according to the farm's website.
Conservation and programs
The farm lists a partnership with the Caribou Conservation Alliance and offers an Adopt A Reindeer program. On its About page the farm notes that caribou are protected in the lower 48 states and states that the last remaining wild herd was relocated from Washington State in 2019.
Three tour types are listed on the website. The Reindeer Farm Experience runs from January through October. Celebrate the Season runs in November and December and is described by the farm as its most popular tour, with an optional Santa meet-and-greet; the farm says it sells out months in advance. Christmas in July is a special event in which Santa appears in vacation attire for photographs.
Planning your visit
The farm requires advance reservations for every tour, and tours operate year-round. Ticket types and rates are listed on the farm's website. Outdoor portions of the winter tours take place in cold weather, and the farm advises cold-weather clothing for the Celebrate the Season tour. The farm's contact email is listed as info@experiencereindeer.com.
What we haven't confirmed
Everything above came from public sources. These specifics we haven't stood behind yet:
- Parking details
- Phone number
- Accessibility information
- Minimum age or group-size rules for tours
- Current ticket availability for each tour
Leavenworth Reindeer Farm compared with nearby zoos
How Leavenworth Reindeer Farm lines up against other zoos in the same state. We don't have coordinates for it yet, so these aren't ranked by distance.
| Zoo | Admission | Hours | Size | AZA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leavenworth Reindeer FarmThis zooLeavenworth, WA | from $32 | Open year-round by advance-reservation tour only (~1 hour); tour times vary, book online. | — | No |
| Cat Tales Zoological ParkSpokane, WA | $18 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | — | No |
| Cougar Mountain ZooIssaquah, WA | $18 | 9:30AM – 5:00PM | 11 acres | No |
| Debbie Dolittle's Indoor Petting ZooTacoma, WA | $15 | Friday – Monday 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (walk-ins taken 11 AM – 5 PM); closed Tuesday – Thursday. | — | No |
Distances are straight-line. A dash means we haven't confirmed that detail yet, not that the zoo lacks it.
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Leavenworth Reindeer Farm: common questions
Is Leavenworth Reindeer Farm AZA accredited?
No. The farm is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Do visitors need a reservation?
Yes. The farm states that advance reservations are required.
Is the farm open in winter?
Yes. The farm says it operates year-round, and its Celebrate the Season tour runs in November and December.
Can visitors go inside the reindeer enclosure?
According to the farm, guests enter the enclosure and are surrounded by the herd during the tours.
When are the baby reindeer born?
The farm says calves are typically born between April and June.
Something wrong here? Tell us — we correct in place, with a dated note.