Raptor Ranch

My wife gave me a private visit with the birds of prey for Christmas because she knows how much I love birds, especially raptors. Ashley and Troy were fantastic, answering all the many questions I had and teaching us so much about these beautiful birds. Cody the aplomado falcon was amazing, and Stinky the Eurasian eagle owl took my breath away. But Hawkeye the Harris's hawk was the highlight for me, since Harris's hawks are my favorite. Even if birds aren’t really your thing, I’d encourage you to book and see them face to face. I think you’ll leave with a new interest and appreciation for birds. We loved the experience enough that we definitely have to come back and do it again.

It was lovely being there with our kids and their kids, knowing my parents brought us here as children more than 50 years ago on the way to the Grand Canyon. So many memories came back. We visited on October 1, and the weather was perfect. Entry is $10 per person, with a lower price for children. You can also feed the goats and llamas for another dollar. Even kids who don’t know anything about the Flintstones would probably love it. There are lots of picnic benches, and it felt safe to let the kids run around while we could see where they were.

I make a stop here every time I visit the Grand Canyon, and plan to keep doing that. It’s fun for any age, with plenty of photo opportunities. The petting zoo lets you feed goats, sheep, and alpacas, and there’s a small restaurant in the gift shop with bathrooms close by. My favorite is Stinky, the owl, so make sure to see him. The entry fee is maybe $10. Don’t hesitate to stop.

This was a fun little trip down memory lane for my husband and me. It’s arranged like Bedrock from The Flintstones, with lots of houses and other buildings from the show. Kids can get hands-on and have a great time, and adults can enjoy it too. A really nice stop for the whole family.