Book an Activity. Apr 20, 2021 - Wilstem is an 1,100 acre property located between French Lick and Paoli Indiana. For GPS directions, use 4229 US 150 W, Paoli IN 47454. The owners of the elephants were very gentle with the elephants and provided at least a 30 minute lecture of the life of elephants in general, many specifics of their habits and anatomy, as well as specific information about the three females followed by a Q&A session and wonderful photo-op for kids and all visitors that were interested. - See 263 traveler reviews, 304 candid photos, and great deals for Paoli, IN, at Tripadvisor. ), but it wasn't, so be prepared to take everything you'll need. ( it was really an oil that they said helps prevent cracking.) Wilstem Guest Ranch. Wilstem Guest Ranch Address: 4237 W Us Highway 150, Paoli, IN 47454, USA, United States ; Wilstem Guest Ranch Contact Number: +1-8129364484 ; Wilstem Guest Ranch Timing: 09:00 am … Once the lecture was over the elephants were led to a much larger corral that included some tree cover. This really was perfect - even with the few downsides. more. Message Vendor. Request Quote. Most everyone was. Seeing these remarkable animals in all the nature setting was pure joy. We also did. Wilstem: Awesome Family Experience - See 260 traveller reviews, 294 candid photos, and great deals for Paoli, IN, at Tripadvisor. Reviews (812) 936-4484 Website. Wynnewood, Oklahoma. Children (3-12) - $12.00. Encounter our giraffes or elephants, meet our kangaroos, soar on our zip lines, and many other activities! I will say, the highlight of the trip was the Grizzly bears! Not only that, at the ranch they just started that weekend to have 3 magnificent female elephants on display two or three times a day, including the viewing of their morning bath. Wilstem Ranch offers pet-friendly cabin rentals if you are looking to stay in the area. These cruel tourist traps exploit tigers, lions, and other animals for profit, causing lifelong suffering that is only briefly touched on in Tiger King.Vacationers who spend money on these archaic exhibits keep them in business, and … Kids loved it, and so did I. French Lick hotel reviews → Reviews of Wilstem Cabins Reviews of Wilstem Cabins. All units include a fireplace and a full kitchen and some feature hot tubs and whirlpools. Wilstem will be creating a unique experience for French Lick. the drive thru safari. Review of Wilstem Reviewed July 20, 2015 At a recent visit with family from out of town to French Lick we decided to explore the Wilstem Guest Ranch just a few miles outside French Lick on Hwy 150, between Paoli and French Lick. Just an amazing experience! Our family travels all over the world in search of destinations like this, so imagine our surprise when we discovered Wilstem's Ranch an hour from our home!! 4229 W US Hwy 150, French Lick, IN 47454, United States of America #3 of 5 hotels in French Lick. Once the lecture was over the elephants were led to a much larger corral that included some tree cover. Bert (don't. Mr. Jerry Fuhs, Owner; Ms. Misty G. Weisensteiner, General Manager ... reviews and/or responses on this … Message Vendor. The facility was clean and you can tell the animals are well taken care of. Didn’t expect such a unique and close up experience, Wow, I thought I new what to expect coming to Wilstem but it blew my expectations out of the water. Even with the best intentions, there are places out there that don’t provide a decent amount of room or keep the animals or facilities clean. It was a bit pricey, but worth every penny. If you’ve watched the Netflix series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, you may have heard about some of the roadside zoos mentioned below. 263 #1 of 3 Outdoor Activities in Paoli. To our surprise we found a piece of heaven! We will go again with friends before fall ! Be the first couple to share your thoughts! Wilstem: Elephant Spa - See 257 traveller reviews, 289 candid photos, and great deals for Paoli, IN, at Tripadvisor. Wilstem: Awesome experience! The owners of the elephants were very gentle with the elephants and provided at least a 30 minute lecture of the life of elephants in general, many specifics of their habits and anatomy, as well as specific information about the three females followed by a Q&A session and wonderful photo-op for kids and all visitors that were interested. Contact Info for Wilstem Guest Ranch. Zoo”) is a sleazy menagerie that buys, sells, trades, and breeds animals. 9,766 were here. This brought back memories from childhood when I saw elephants in circuses and was deeply disappointed to see these animals in an environment that was clearly not made for them and performing tricks. Wilstem: Wilstem Ranch - See 263 traveler reviews, 304 candid photos, and great deals for Paoli, IN, at Tripadvisor. Read all 258 reviews. We booked a stay at the Cabins to be there early in the morning. French Lick hotel reviews → Reviews of Wilstem Cabins Reviews of Wilstem Cabins. Is this your business? I just didn't understand that the "Premium Spa Encounter" was distinctly different than the Spa encounter. Contact Info for Wilstem Guest Ranch. There are several activities at the ranch and in the surrounding area. No pets. The [2020] haunted Wilstem Ranch Pumpkin Patch has been known to scare even the hardiest of souls. We participated in bathing the elephants and my daughter got to paint their toenails!! We stayed in Cabin 3 and it was a wonderful time! Basically, the Rise and Shine Package just isn't worth it. We came too late for that and picked the next available time slot at 2PM. I believe that is where the confusion may have come from." Write a Review. We all got to take part washing an elephant, and learning so much! Other Outdoor Activities. According to Wilstem: "With all purchases, you get access to our Roos & Crew building. read more, Wow, I thought I new what to expect coming to Wilstem but it blew my expectations out of the... Guests' Choice See the property ... We stayed in the ranch house and there were so many beds and bedrooms. What a fantastic experience!! You can see more details about the cabins here. No reviews yet! Wilstem Guest Ranch; Business Management. Be the first couple to share your thoughts! Booker is very knowledgeable about the giraffes and other animals at Wilstem. For GPS directions, use 4229 US 150 W, Paoli IN 47454. November 11, 2020. Big Splash Adventure Indoor Waterpark & Resort. They cabin was clean and well equipped. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. November 7, 2020-January 3, 2021. Seniors (65+) - $15.00. After booking, all of the property’s details, including telephone and address, are provided in your booking confirmation and your account. We attended the Elephant seminar at Wilstem. Choose from cabins, cottages, houses or the extraordinary Lodge. Wilstem is located on US HWY 150 between French Lick and Paoli. What an unexpected pleasant surprise in the middle of Southwest Indiana and hats off for the owners of the elephants and the staff and owners of the Wilstem Ranch that provided such a memorable day, 15 bucks a person (I think they said the 2 hour elephant spa tour in the morning is $49) – Wow, unbelievable deal. Adults - $17.00. It can’t get better than this! I give Wilstem the benefit of the doubt - they are not purposely misleading. Shine Package is a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you’ll get to help with morning routine! The staff was nice and accommodating. The cabins are good, but a little pricey. I would give the experience a five-star but it is an... Wow, I thought I new what to expect coming to Wilstem but it blew my expectations out of the... At a recent visit with family from out of town to French Lick we decided to explore the Wilstem Guest Ranch just a few miles outside French Lick on Hwy 150, between Paoli and French Lick. Self Guided Drive-Thru offered daily, tickets valid from 9:30 a.m. EST until 4:00 p.m. EST. It's a must see! Guest Ranch P.O. Order Online Tickets Tickets See Availability Directions {{::location.tagLine.value.text}} Sponsored Topics. Seeing these remarkable animals in all the nature setting was pure joy. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Get directions, reviews and information for Wilstem in Paoli, IN. Come meet Perth, Sydney, Rocky, Katie, and Karl, just a few of the animals you will get to interact with at our Roos and Crew Encounter. I think they said the elephants came to the ranch as babies that were orphaned. But the night was quiet and dark. Thursday and we were the only ones there when we parked during our drive thru safari. You get so close to the wildlife that I could hardly believe I was petting a. bison and five feet from a grizzly bear. Wilstem. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. No balloons. We fed Bert, the smaller giraffe and learned all about him. Sign Up. A nice tractor with a comfortable trailer equipped with rails and benches awaited us at an impressive ranch barn (we were told that the boxing champion Joe Louis trained here) and drove us in a 5-10 minute ride to a tent coral and bleachers. We feature animal encounters, zipline tours, ATV tours, horseback trail riding tours, and lodging. They were all amazing! Wilstem: Wilstem Ranch - See 261 traveller reviews, 304 candid photos, and great deals for Paoli, IN, at Tripadvisor. I did the Rise and Shine Elephant Encounter. Wilstem: Amazing experience - See 263 traveler reviews, 304 candid photos, and great deals for Paoli, IN, at Tripadvisor. Wow, I thought I new what to expect coming to Wilstem but it blew my expectations out of the water. Wilstem is NOT RESPONSIBLE for any damages to vehicles. It was a very laid back experience. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. But that is not what you might expect. No feeding animals outside food other than purchased feed. Contact. No smoking. shampoo, face and bath soap, coffee packets, etc. 4.5. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. A nice tractor with a comfortable trailer equipped with rails and benches awaited us at an impressive ranch barn (we were told that the boxing champion Joe Louis trained here) and drove us in a 5-10 minute ride to a tent coral and bleachers. About Wilstem's Stretching across more than a thousand acres at the foot of southern Indiana's Hoosier National Forest, Wilstem's rolling farmland is home to creeks, caves, natural-rock outcroppings, and more than 30 miles of woodland trails, marking it as an ideal family escape. Reviews. I wanted more than 3 to 5 minutes with the elephant that the Rise & Shine Package allowed. 36 reviews of Wilstem "The Ranch exceeded our expectations! Wilstem Ranch Holiday Light Display. Such a personal encounter with such beautiful, well maintained animals. Write a Review. The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park (aka “G.W. We got to speak with Jeff "the Bear man" Watson and he was so kind and informative. The animals outdoors (kangaroos, llamas, and Nilgai) were fun to watch. Wilstem Cabins. The kids and adults loved our experience here and would for sure return! If the ground is damp, you WILL get muddy! Their vision for the ranch is completely u, 4229 W US Highway 150, Paoli, IN 47454-9685, Unique, Expensive, Make Sure You Know What You're Paying For, I did the Rise and Shine Elephant Encounter. I would give the experience a five-star but it is an expensive experience and I was disappointed because I expected a more intimate encounter with the elephants. Drive-thru Winter Fest . The small, but full, kitchen was handy to keep snacks and sandwich food available for late nights and early mornings. Now, let me also qualify that what I REALLY wanted to do was wash the elephant. The animals in the other indoor exhibits were accessible and interesting too. You can get the Spa encounter for a lot less $$ and really not miss much. Stretching across more than a thousand acres at the foot of southern Indiana's Hoosier National Forest, Wilstem's rolling farmland is home to creeks, caves, natural-rock outcroppings, and more than 30 miles of woodland trails, marking it as an ideal family escape. I would give the experience a five-star but it is an... Pricing at Wilstem Ranch. Staff was, Our family travels all over the world in search of destinations like this, so imagine our surprise when we discovered Wilstem's Ranch an hour from our home!! touch his ears) and how to be safe when near him.. Our family travels all over the world in search of destinations like this, so imagine our surprise when we discovered Wilstem's Ranch an hour from our home!! Wilstem Ranch is a ton of fun, the caretakers seem to really know their stuff and love their animals. And if this was not enough pleasure, by the time we left the ranch we saw the elephants walking to their overnight quarters – basically freely roaming in this beautiful landscape of perhaps a 1000 acres to their barn. I spent $400 dollars (for two people) for the Rise & Shine Package and was sorely disappointed at the time I got to spent on the spa portion of the elephant experience. We spent many hours here doing a drive thru safari, wagon ride and exploring the walk up exhibits. Exotic” and “G.W. But I do think how this is phrased on the website is confusing. This was nothing like a circus performance. The owners were very accommodating and arranged a private run for our son after they were literally flooded out a couple of days earlier. Located in French Lick in the Indiana region, Wilstem Cabins features accommodations with free private parking. Full view. This roadside zoo churns out tiger cubs for use in photo sessions, even though it was investigated after 23 tiger cubs died within a seven-month period. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. We all could witness the joy the three had reaching the tree tops with their trunks and enjoying themselves in a mud/water hole. Everything was nice and clean! If your anywhere in the area make Wilstem a priority visit. Speed limit of 4.5 mph. Wilstem, "A Southern Indiana Property of Distinction," is a secluded 1,100-acre working ranch in southern Indiana's rolling hills. We had just moved two households into one and definitely needed a weekend away. Booker gave us precautions re. Most everyone was. I thought I would get the "encounter" with the Roos and Crew. However, the actual Kangaroo mini encounters ($7.50 each), is not included with purchases. read more. Wedding Vendors in … Doors must remain closed at all times, including vans. Book a Cabin. We did the elephant spa/encounter and the drive thru safari. Is this your business? See all things to do. All that said, it was clean, quiet and relaxing. In addition, when I booked the Rise & Shine package, the website says: "ALL Elephant Encounter Experiences Include: ROOS AND CREW ENCOUNTER." Wilstem: Disappointing - See 260 traveler reviews, 294 candid photos, and great deals for Paoli, IN, at Tripadvisor. Wilstem: Wilstem Ranch - See 260 traveler reviews, 294 candid photos, and great deals for Paoli, IN, at Tripadvisor. I also didn't understand that the 10 person limit was only for the first 30 minutes of the Rise & Shine Package. Wilstem, Paoli: Hours, Address, Wilstem Reviews: 4.5/5. See all things to do. This place is phenomenal. Wilstem: Elephant spa day - See 260 traveler reviews, 294 candid photos, and great deals for Paoli, IN, at Tripadvisor. No reviews yet! At a recent visit with family from out of town to French Lick we decided to explore the Wilstem Guest Ranch just a few miles outside French Lick on Hwy 150, between Paoli and French Lick. Had a great guide in the vehicle in front of us. When you book, just make sure you know what you want out of the experience and ensure the package you want provides it. Wilstem 4229 US-150 W Paoli IN 47454. We’re looking forward to visiting again soon to try the other activities! Planned a vacation centered around a visit to Wilstem Ranch, one of the last places that offer true elephant encounters. GRIZZLY RIDGE AVAILABLE Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 am until noon and Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. We all could witness the joy the three had reaching the tree tops with their trunks and enjoying themselves in a mud/water hole. Check it out - highly recommended. Switched drivers twice, so everyone that had a license could have a turn. The sloth was sleeping; when I asked to see him, the guide petted him until he woke up enough to let me take his photo. You will get to touch and get private photos, then join the Elephant Spa Encounter where you will assist with bathtime, and join the Elephant Education Encounter! Encounter our giraffes or elephants, meet our kangaroos, soar on our zip lines, and many other activities! We held a baby wallaby. 4229 W US Hwy 150, French Lick, IN 47454, United States of America #3 of 5 hotels in French Lick. We went on a rainy. We got so close to the Grizzly's and the kids were so impressed, we came home and bought, "Grizzly Project" on Amazon so we could watch and learn more about Bob and Screech! Wilstem. Must stay in your vehicle, no hanging out windows. 10,343 were here. The fact that Wilstem is a private ranch with such large, exotic animals, I was concerned what it was we would be walking into. Reviews. We came too late for that and picked the next available time slot at 2PM. The Spa Encounter that is included with this package allows up to about 30 people. This personal encounter is limited to a small group of 10 people and is very exclusive. Please choose a different date. I did the Rise and Shine Elephant Encounter. To our surprise we found a piece of heaven! About Wilstem Guest Ranch: Wilstem Guest Ranch is located at Po Box 88 in French Lick, IN - Orange County and is a business listed in the categories Farms, Cabins Cottages & Chalet Rental, Dual-Purpose Cattle Ranching And Farming, Cabins, Cottages & Chalets and Farms & Ranches. We did the giraffe, sloth and wallaby encounters. See all things to do. … Here's the thing, the 10 person limit is only for the first 30 minutes of the Rise and Shine Package. Location. Two thumbs up for sure!! Encounter our giraffes or elephants, meet our kangaroos, soar on our zip lines, and many other activities! We spent many hours here doing a drive thru safari, wagon ride and exploring the walk up exhibits. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The cottage was much bigger than a hotel room, which was great. Each unit features a fully equipped kitchen with a microwave, a fireplace, a seating area, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with shower. Our entire family LOVED it. There isn’t an admission fee to enter the property but each attraction is priced individually. Do you dare enter this haunted place of your own free will? Must stay on gravel path. 9,766 were here. Wilstem Guest Ranch. Box 88, French Lick, IN (812) 936-4484. Closed now 8:00 AM - 5:00 AM. French Lick Review: Wilstem Guest Ranch and Big Splash Adventure November 7, 2012 July 18, 2013 With a new baby, a rambunctious toddler, and a busy work schedule for Nate, life has been crazy. If you look at the Wilstem website, it says: "The Elephant Rise &. Hotels near Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, Big Splash Adventure Indoor Waterpark & Resort. And you’re welcome! TripAdvisor reviews reveal that staff at Wilstem apparently provide misleading information about the elephants’ life histories, telling guests that they were “adopted as orphans” from Zimbabwe and live in a “sanctuary” in Florida when not at Wilstem. I was willing to pay the pricey price to "hug a giraffe." Is this a must-do if you are traveling with a, Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for, Is this a place or activity you would suggest for. 4229 … Sign Up. No such thing happened at the Wilstem ranch – my impression was: this must be the next best thing for elephants besides being completely free (and unprotected) in the wilds of Africa. Be sure to look for the sign! A few things could have made the cottage (Honeymoon Cottage) better, but overall a nice place to relax and unwind. We learned that the elephants will be at the Wilstem Ranch until Labor Day. Their vision for the ranch is completely u... Read all 263 reviews. 8.5. They were a lot of fun and we had a fantastic time! You won’t be disappointed! We also went to Big Splash, played mini golf, tried the rock wall, checked out some of the shops in French Lick and lost $$ at the casino. Wilstem has resumed operations! Guest Ranch P.O. No such thing happened at the Wilstem ranch – my impression was: this must be the next best thing for elephants besides being completely free (and unprotected) in the wilds of Africa. Be sure to look for the sign! It's an elephant filled morning!" I got to pet a giraffe and feed him carrot sticks. It was absolutely amazing! If you just want to wash the elephant, choose the "Premium Spa Encounter." Then we rode the wagon up to an area with bleachers to listen to a lot of info about the elephants. Request Quote. I anticipated that the cottage would be set up more like a hotel room (i.e. This brought back memories from childhood when I saw elephants in circuses and was deeply disappointed to see these animals in an environment that was clearly not made for them and performing tricks. There's really nothing to compare it to, you can touch them and they welcome you to take photos! A coworker told us about the Elephant Experience. Book an Encounter. Check out our family travel vlog to Wilstem Ranch, an amazing hidden gem in French Lick, Indiana! Guests' Choice See the property ... We stayed in the ranch house and there were so many beds and bedrooms. Wilstem is located on US HWY 150 between French Lick and Paoli. I love seeing animals up close. Box 88, French Lick, IN (812) 936-4484. The employees were very educated and helpful. Rented a one hour ATV ride for the four of us.