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Bearizona opens doors

Bearizona opens doors
Drive through wildlife park attracts locals and tourists alike in first weekend of operation

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Williams-Grand Canyon News Reporter

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

WILLIAMS - Despite blustery conditions and chilly temperatures, Bearizona, a drive through wildlife park located in Williams, opened its gates and greeted its first visitors May 22.

Before the first car drove through the entrance of the 158-acre attraction located near the Highway 64 and Interstate 40 junction, a ribbon cutting ceremony took place, attended by members of the Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce and Williams Mayor John Moore.

The park's various drive through animal enclosures currently feature brown bears, big horn and doll sheep, bison, white buffalo and burros.

Park Developer Sean Casey said the soft opening was a resounding success.

"It went very well, beyond our expectations," Casey said. "I'd say we had five times the traffic I was expecting. I thought that if we opened to 30 paying cars a day I was going to be happy but we ended up with 100 each day."

Area residents were treated to free access to the park bringing the total number of cars to enter the park over the weekend to approximately 740.

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'Bearizona' to give visitors a taste of the wilderness

By: Eric English By: Eric English

Posted: 05/24/2010

WILLIAMS, AZ - A new attraction is trying to grab some of the millions of visitors that flock to the Grand Canyon every year.

Bearizona is a 150 Acre 'drive-through wildlife park' that promises to give you a close encounter of the wild kind.

Visitors drive their own vehicles through the park, which is loaded with big horn sheep, buffalo, and of course, bears--all roaming about giant pens.

"I really hope that when people come to Bearizona, they make a connection with the animals," Vanessa Stoffel, the park's chief operating officer said.

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Bearizona makes Williams debut

By DAILY SUN STAFF | Posted: Saturday, May 22, 2010 5:20 am

A 158-acre wildlife park opens this morning in east Williams.

Built in less than a year, Bearizona Wildlife Park has animals outdoors for drive-through tours, and a walking section with younger animals.

Burros, buffalo, bighorn sheep and black bears are on site now.

Wolves are coming next, and mountain goats, bobcats, lynx, raccoons and porcupines are expected later this year.

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308 applicants, 37 jobs

Construction full speed ahead in anticipation of Bearizona’s May 22 opening

Ryan Williams
Williams-Grand Canyon News Reporter

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

WILLIAMS - In just short of two months, Bearizona will welcome the park's first visitors through its gates.

The 158-acre drive-through wildlife park, located near the Highway 64 and Interstate 40 junction on a parcel of land previously owned by the Keethler family, was previously scheduled to open May 9.

According to Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Stoffell, while construction has been difficult due to this winter's continuing wet weather, hiring the park's workforce was a much easier process.

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Casey Family Starts up Bearizona

By Steve Miller Journal staff | Posted: Monday, March 15, 2010 8:00 am

Two members of the Casey family, which owns Bear Country USA near Rapid City, are starting a similar attraction in northern Arizona.

Partners Sean and Dennis Casey, sons of Pauline Casey and the late Doc Casey, founders of Bear Country USA, plan to open Bearizona in Williams, Ariz., in May.

Bearizona, like Bear Country USA, will be a drive-through wildlife park, but it will put more emphasis on conservation and the environment, Sean Casey said in an interview.

Bearizona will use rainwater collection, composting and solar energy. “Hopefully, we’ll have a hand in some of the endangered species of the southwest,” Casey said.

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