Category Archives: Bearizona

Hoot & Howl Your Way through Bearizona during the Howly Growly Owly Festival

Posted on by

Howly-7280WILLIAMS — Bearizona is hosting Howly Growly Owly Festival weekends in October. Visitors are encouraged to dress up in costume and kids that do will get a “beary” special treat!

Festivities Include:

Howl-O-Ween Express: Hop on the windowless bus that takes visitors through the drive-through animal exhibits. This is about as close as you are going to get to our animals, so you don’t want to miss out. Patrons can howl with the wolves in the Alaskan Tundra & Arctic Wolf enclosure and watch the bison interact with a special Howl-O-Ween enrichment treat. Bus rides depart from the Fort Bearizona parking lot at 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. every Friday and 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in October.

Growly Bear Cave: Check out our array of jack-o-lanterns that adorn the inside of the Kindergarten Bear Cave.

Scarizona at Bearizona Haunted House: Those who dare can walk through our super scary Haunted House (PG-13 Rated) open Friday 12:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Saturday ave Sunday 10:00a.m-5:00p.m.

Raptor Show: Guests should plan to catch an Owly Raptor Show at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m., after visiting Fort Bearizona’s baby and smaller animals.

Photo Ops: Several areas of the park are decorated in different themes so visitors can take photos with their families.

Scavenger Hunts: Both adults and children can get in on this fun activity. Check in at the front of Fort Bearizona Walk Through with the attendant and get your scavenger hunt form. After you complete the scavenger hunt make sure to turn in your card at the gift shop for a prize.

Bearizona’s mission is to promote conservation through memorable and educational encounters with North American wildlife in a natural environment.

How could we forget Bearizona?

Posted on by

Awesome walk thru lights at night low resWILLIAMS — How could we have forgotten the annual Bearizona Backwoods Bash? Some how this slipped our minds in our article on weekend events.

Bearizona is hosting a Backwoods Bash on July 25, from 12:00p.m – 8:00p.m. This event will be held in the Fort Bearizona walk-thru area of the park and is open to the public.

Live country music throughout the day will set the mood for the event. Kids can jump ‘til their hearts content, get a balloon animal, get some Bearizona ink among other things in the Kid Zone. Barbecue food will be available for purchase as well as local drink selections from Grand Canyon Winery, Historic Brewing Company & all your domestic favorites as well.

Bearizona is excited to welcome the Phoenix Herpetological Society who will be at the event from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. with an alligator and an 18’ snake that attendees, who are adventurous enough, can get up-close, touch and get their picture taken with them. There will also be Bearizona’s walk thru animals on exhibit for all to see, as well as program animal encounters throughout the day.

Advance discount tickets for the Bearizona Backwoods Bash can be purchased by going to http://www.eventbrite.com and typing in Bearizona Backwoods Bash. $9 ages (4-12) and $20 (13 & Up). Tickets at the event will cost $11 ages (4-12) and $22 (13 & Up). Tickets will get you into both the drive-thru and walk-thru areas of the park, however the drive-thru closes at 7p.m. Bearizona pass holders get into the event for free.

Williams Independence Day parade a smashing success

Posted on by

640-015-07-04-05WILLIAMS — If Facebook is any gauge, it appears that the historic Route 66 Williams Independence Day parade was a rousing success. Pictures and videos of the parade appeared from Richard Goettel of Phoenix and local resident Brenda Carter. Brenda even caught the Mayor directing traffic.

There was some concern that it might be a wash. Rain came down starting about two hours before the parade, but cleared up. While clouds darkened the city and threatened more rain, it never came.

The parade began with the members of the American Legion Cordova Post #13 carrying the colors. They were followed by the Vietnam Veterans of America. Smokey the Bear was the parade Grand Marshall.
640-015-07-04-07

640-15-07-04-73
The American Legion Post and Vietnam Veterans were joined by the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion and Matthew Broehm VFW Post.
640-15-07-04-87
A new addition is the War Memorial Museum of Arizona in their 1942 WWII half-track.640-15-07-04-16It would not be a Williams parade without the Bill Williams Mountain Men—official ambassadors of the State of Arizona, the tractors and the classic cars.
640-15-07-04-38
640-15-07-04-32
640-15-07-04-34It was good to see Bearizona in the parade this year. The were promoting their upcoming Backwoods BBQ July 25.

640-15-07-04-11Save Meant to Rescue had a tremendous float this year. They get our vote for Number 1. They were surrounded by pets rescued by new owners.

Overall the parade was the best we can remember.
Continue reading →

Animals at Bearizona are prepping for their own unique Independence celebrations

Posted on by

640DSC01471

Bearizona photo


WILLIAMS — Bearizona bear cubs spent the day yesterday prepping for some fun Independence Day enrichment, bear cub paintings! The bear cubs love to have fun, and keepers introduced a new enrichment activity to four incredibly eager cubs.

The bear cubs got to paw in red white and blue paint and tromp all over canvas to create their own unique artwork.

The artwork will be sold in the gift shop over the weekend with all proceeds going to C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors, Bearizona’s 2015 charity). The cubs will be doing more artwork on the 4th of July at 9:40 a.m. for any visitors that want to witness this fun filled enrichment in person.

Other animals getting special Independence day enrichment or treats include:

Kindergarten Bears: 10:00 a.m.
Bobcat: 12:50 p.m.
Otters: 2:30 p.m.

Bearizona Photo

Bearizona Photo

Happy 5th birthday Bearizona

Posted on by

Photos by Bearizona.

Photos by Bearizona.

WILLIAMS — With all that transpired over the weekend, we now have time to congratulate Bearizona on the occasion of their 5th anniversary. Bearizona was established on May 22, 2010 and has since grown to one of the most popular attractions to Williams.

Bearizona opened May 22, 2010 and has already grown to be a top tourist destination in Arizona. It was recently voted one of the top 10 drive through wildlife parks in the entire country by USA Today, and was last year’s recipient of the Governor’s Tourism Champion of the Year award. They have been featured on national and local television programs. They seem to be most popular in the spring when the bear cubs are born.

In their effort to educate people about wild life, they had started a summer day camp for youth ages 6 to 15. This year the day camp will begin June 29 and run through July 3. Tickets are apparently still available. They host Home School Visitation days. They held one on April 3 and May 1. They will host two more this year on September 4 and October 2.
2015052603
As usual, the staff provided the animals with special treats to mark the occasion. These snacks look scrumptious and sweet and might lead the visitor to believe that they can provide similar sweets to the animals. The celebratory snacks, however, are carefully prepared by the staff for the animals and their specific dietary needs. Visitors should not attempt to feed the animals.

The Weekend: Brought to you by Williams, Arizona

Posted on by

williams-city-logoThursday

  • The eighth graders will be promoted to High School tonight at p.m. Congratulations
  • The Cataract Creek gang is out and around. Gunfight at 7 p.m.
  • Bearizona open all weekend.
  • Marvelous Marv tours available all weekend.

Friday

  • High School graduation 7 p.m. Congratulations graduates.
  • The Route 66 Market opens for the season! The market will be open all summer. Tables $10 each or $25 for the weekend whether a three- or four-day weekend. The market is located on the west end of town across the street from the Williams Memorial Park, next to the Williams Justice Center. Open from morning until dusk.
  • Gunfight 7 p.m.
  • Star Gazing at the Glassburn park area across from Rod’s Steak House on Railroad Avenue 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

  • Annual Memorial Day parade begins at 11 a.m. in Williams. Please do not park on Route 66.
  • Jack Fuller Roping at the Rodeo Grounds.
  • Williams Aquatic Center opens. FREE SWIM. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Route 66 Market
  • Gunfight 7 p.m.

Sunday

  • Jack Fuller Roping at the Rodeo Grounds.
  • Williams Aquatic Center open. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Route 66 Street Market
  • Gunfight 7 p.m.

Monday

Happy Memorial Day.

  • Williams Aquatic Center open. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Route 66 Street Market
  • Gunfight 7 p.m.

More at Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce

Bearizona Launches Summer Day Camp Program for Youth age 6 to 15

Posted on by

bear-squirrelWILLIAMS — Bearizona Wildlife Park is excited to offer it’s first ever summer day camp program. Camps will begin June 29 and finish July 3.

Participants are provided opportunities to learn about the North American Model of Conservation, recycling in nature, amazing animal adaptations and preserving wildlife for the future. Each day features hands-on animal encounters and fully integrates science, physical activity, and creative arts.

Parents can register their campers at www.bearizona.com and follow the link at the bottom of the website. Each week has a different theme and each day has its own focus.

DEAL ALERT: Bearizona is currently running a Groupon for $100 off the cost of admission for a one week summer day camp. The Groupon is set to expire May 1st.

About Us:.Bearizona Wildlife Park’s mission is to promote conservation through memorable and educational encounters with North American wildlife in a natural environment.

Gosar submits bill for cull hunt of bison at Grand Canyon

Posted on by

(Because of the deadline for this article, the office of Representative Gosar could not be reached for comment)

White Bison at Bearizona Wildlife Park.

White Bison at Bearizona Wildlife Park.

WASHINGTON — In 1906, Charles “Buffalo” Jones brought bison to northern Arizona in an unsuccessful attempt to breed them with cattle. The descendants of these bison have been managed since 1950 by the state of Arizona in the House Rock Wildlife Area (HRWA) on the Kaibab National Forest, through an inter-agency agreement with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In 1990 the 1990 the bison started moving to the top of the Kaibab Plateau and into the Grand Canyon National Park.

The Grand Canyon National Park began a request for input on a Bison Management Plan that ended in June of 2014. The effort was an attempt to balance their mission to secure natural vegetation, archeological sites and water resources while maintaining the bison as wildlife.

On March 18, Paul Gosar [R-AZ-4] submitted H.R. 1443 (S. 782 in the Senate by McCain) to permit a cull hunt for Bison at the Grand Canyon National Park.

The bill calls for the Secretary of the Interior to publish a management plan for Bison no later than 180 days after H.R. 1443 is enacted. The plan would be to reduce, through humane lethal culling by skilled public volunteers and other non-lethal means the population of Bison in the park.

Skilled public volunteers are defines as those with a valid hunting license issued by the State of Arizona and other qualifications the Secretary may require after consulting with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Kirby Shedlowski, Acting Public Affairs Officer at Grand Canyon National Park, said, “In order have allowed cull, there’s usually a very large management planning process.”

She said, “There has never been a cull hunt for bison at the Grand Canyon. There has been a cull on the forest. On the Kaibab Forest on the north side.”

Kirby said she was not sure of cull hunts for Bison in other parks, such as Yellowstone. “There are different culling hunts in different parks for different animals. Rocky Mountain did it for elk. Rock Creek Park has done it for white-tail deer. Getteysburg has done it for white-tail deer. But, as far as Bison go—I’m not sure. But Grand Canyon National Park has never had a cull for Bison.”

This weekend activities

Posted on by
Anna's Meatloaf sandwich special. Can be ordered with Macaroni salad or other side.

Anna’s Meatloaf sandwich special. Can be ordered with Macaroni salad or other side.

All Weekend: Anna’s Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe open until 8 p.m.!
Marvelous Marv’s Private Grand Canyon Tours
Come see the bear cubs at Bearizona
The Grand Canyon Railway will be running tours to the Canyon all weekend.

Vaccine2015-03-27The vaccinate clinic at Spoiled Rotten from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Afterward you should just have time to make it to the Keyhole Sink tour. Begins at 2 p.m. Of course the Keyhole Sink isn’t going anywhere soon. But this is the last chance at a guided tour.
326-cafe
Top it off with a steak dinner at the Lost Canyon Younglife camp Sunday evening. Tickets may still be available at the Cafe 326 on Route 66.

The three new additions at Bearizona now on display

Posted on by
Laura Leinaar, Animal Care specialists, give kids a close-up look at the cubs.

Laura Leinaar, Animal Care specialists, gives guests a close-up look at the cubs.

WILLIAMS — Last Friday we got to visit Bearizona Wildlife Park (Facebook) in Williams Arizona to see the newest addition. Three bear cubs born around 7 weeks ago in January. The cubs are Klondike, Blue and Captain.

Laura Leinarr, Animal Care specialist at Bearizona, explained that they are separated from their mothers because male bears will attempt to kill the cubs in an attempt to make the mothers go into heat.

In the wild, mother bears can hide their cubs, but this is not an option at Bearizona. They are also very protective of their cubs in the wild. That is why you should use extreme caution if you encounter a cub or bear in the wild. Immediately begin to slowly back up the way you came until you are well clear.
Bearizona-15-03-20-3Laura explained that they are currently being kept in the enclosure in the Mine Shaft so they can remain under constant observation to ensure their best chance of survival. While they are under constant observation by gleeful children, we think she meant professional observation.

The bear cubs will remain in the enclosure until about May. They will then be transferred to an enclosure near the new gift shop that is currently being constructed. If that is not finished, they will be located at the normal cub enclosure at the walk-through area.
Bearizona-15-03-20-4Like any newborns, the cubs are still developing eyesight and learning to walk. Yet they have a highly developed sense of smell that they rely on to identify their mothers. In this case, they know Laura’s smell and get excited hoping that it is feeding time. If you get a chance to see the cubs around feeding time, Laura might even give you a close-up look.

Bearizona is a drive-through wildlife park and the animals ARE considered wild. Laura explained that it is extremely important to keep windows rolled up and doors locked while in the drive-through section. Bears are intelligent and if they smell something interesting in your vehicle, they can actually operate your door latch. That includes the latch to the back door in many SUVs.

If you do not enjoy the option of shooting pictures through window glass, you can opt to take the windowless bus. You can catch the bus at the entrance to the walk-through area.
Bearizona-15-03-20-5