Calling all animal lovers in Gwinnett! If you’re looking for a family-friendly activity this summer that will give you up close to incredible wildlife, it’s time to head over to the Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary for a visit. Located in Lilburn, this sanctuary provides a forever home to a variety of unreleasable wildlife and provides an exceptional educational experience for visitors of all ages to enjoy. 

The sanctuary originally opened its doors in 1962 as the Yellow River Game Ranch, providing a home for injured and orphaned wildlife. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the ranch had to close in 2018, with the fate of the resident animals left to a dedicated group of volunteers. Locals Katy and Jonathan Ordway heard about the closing and reached out to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which was in charge of re-homing the animals and the property and ultimately decided to purchase the property. Today, they’re joined by an exceptional crew of staff, keepers and volunteers who collaborate with the GDNR and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure they’re giving resident animals the best life possible! The property is now known as the Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary and has seen a variety of upgrades to enclosures and programming. 

I recommend carving out a few hours to spend at the sanctuary so you can take your time exploring all of the wildlife. You can either make a reservation online on their website or secure your tickets in person at one of the ticket windows. A cool add-on to your ticket that you can also purchase is a  feed cup! It includes an assortment of carrots and lettuce in a souvenir cup that you can use to feed specific wildlife.  There’s also gem mining and animal encounters available for an added layer of fun to your visit. 

Once you’ve secured your map from the ticket area, it’s time to check out all of the adorable wildlife on the property, from gray wolves and black bears to fallow deer and so much more! Follow the trail that winds through the property and stop along the way to see each enclosure’s residents. If you have a feed cup, there will be specifically marked enclosures where you can give the animals their preferred choice of veggie! Each enclosure will also have a helpful plaque with information so you can learn more about the wildlife. 

After you’ve seen all of the wildlife and made the most of your experience, don’t forget to pop into the gift shop! They have a wide selection of adorable merchandise from t-shirts and embroidered hats to plush animals and more. While your time at the sanctuary might be over, you’ll have a cute souvenir to remember the experience and time to plan your next visit!