Wander With Me: A Detour to Wilstem Wildlife Park in Indiana

*You know it’s official when you see the sign! Wilstem Wildlife Park — drive-through safari meets dinosaur detour, right in Amish country.*

Sometimes I wake up and have no idea where the road might take me. That’s exactly what happened the other day. I grabbed my keys, pointed the car someway, and somehow ended up in Indiana at Wilstem Wildlife Park — one of those drive-through safari attractions I’ve seen pop up online and thought might be fun to try.

It sounded promising: animals, encounters, even a zip line. But if you’ve followed me for a while, you know I keep it real. This one? A mixed experience at best.

First Impressions: Customer Service Matters

*Behold… the tiny, flimsy feed cup that started it all. Four of these later, my car looked like a farm buffet. Lesson learned: hold on tight!*

Things started off a little rocky. I asked the lady at the desk if I’d miss anything if I ran to the restroom before buying my tickets — I told her I hadn’t purchased anything yet and still needed to. She assured me I’d be fine. Except… I wasn’t. When I got back, I was told the zip line was no longer an option. So much for that plan.

From there, my only choice was the wildlife drive-through. When I asked how much feed would be enough, I didn’t get much guidance, so I bought four cups. And when I say small, I mean tiny and flimsy. Between the bumps in the road and the aggressive emus, I ended up with feed scattered all over my car. Casualties were high. 😅

The Drive-Through Safari

*When your new friend decides personal space is optional 😂 This curious face came right up to my window at Wilstem Wildlife Park — definitely not shy about snack time.*

The drive itself had some highlights — the animals were still the best part. The goats and deer were sweet, and the emus… well, they were chaos on legs. 😂

*These two were the definition of bold — no hesitation, just horns, hooves, and hungry eyes right at my window.*

But compared to other parks, like the one in Port Clinton, Ohio, this one felt smaller and cost more. The roads are rough — hilly, full of potholes, and not well maintained. If you’re not in an SUV or truck, prepare for a bumpy ride (and possibly more spilled feed).

*Caught this beauty taking a breather among the trees. Not something you expect to see in southern Indiana!*

One fun surprise was a little drive-through dinosaur exhibit, complete with animatronic dinos from different time periods and continents. It wasn’t mind-blowing, but it added a fun twist to an otherwise uneven experience.

Other Encounters & Experiences

Wilstem offers several other animal encounters — elephants, giraffes, sloths, kangaroos, and more. They sound fun in theory… but here’s the catch: every single one happens earlier in the day. Even though I arrived before 3 p.m., I was told the only thing still open was the wildlife park.

Honestly, given the customer service I got just trying to buy tickets, I’m not sure I’d trust the quality of the other encounters. If you go, definitely plan ahead, call before you drive out, and manage your expectations.

Beyond the Park: The Community Around

The area surrounding Wilstem is an Amish community, so if you do visit, be respectful of the people and their way of life and culture (photos, etc.). Things move slower here, and that’s part of its charm.

Right down the road, I noticed a drive-in movie theater, which you hardly ever see anymore.

Final Thoughts

Would I go back to Wilstem Wildlife Park? Probably not. The combination of poor communication, rough terrain, and high prices made it a one-and-done experience for me.

But do I regret going? Not at all. It was still a gorgeous day, a chance to decompress, and another pin on the map. Not every detour turns out perfect — but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth taking.

*Feed casualties: high. Morale: still good. 😂 My car looked like it hosted a petting zoo buffet by the end of the day.*

Pro Tips If You Go

🕐 Arrive early — all encounters happen earlier than the listed times.
🥤 Meter the feed output as much as you can — the cups are tiny and spill easily (and the emus will absolutely try to rob you). Think of the animals past the first couple hundred feet (like the deer and the zebra, etc.)
🚙 Take a sturdy vehicle — the roads are rough and hilly; a truck or SUV is your friend here.
🎥 Explore the area — check out the Amish shops, catch a movie at the drive-in, or enjoy the holiday setups.
🐾 Manage expectations — this isn’t a large-scale safari like Port Clinton, but it’s still a nice drive and a way to support the animals.

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Tell me about an unexpected detour you had that didn’t turn out as planned. Comment below!

Even when a stop doesn’t live up to expectations, it can still be a story worth sharing. Every detour adds a new layer to the journey — and maybe a few feed pellets to your floor mats. 🐐

Until next time, Wander With Me 🗺️✨