Shipshewana is well known for its shopping and dining opportunities — but what about glimpses of rare wildlife? Getting up close with wild animals can elevate any destination to legendary status, and that’s exactly what visitors can expect at Dutch Creek Animal Farm Park. Featuring an incredible menagerie of exotic animals, the Amish-owned Dutch Creek invites guests to experience these creatures in a hands-on environment.
From Hobby Farm to Farm Park
Dutch Creek traces its origins back to 1993 when owner Vernon D. Miller began collecting whitetail deer as a rather unique hobby. The collection of animals expanded over the years, but after having two sets of twins and feeling a need to stay home with his family, Miller opened the park to the public in 2008 with a collection of about two dozen species. Today, the park features more than 300 individual animals spanning 73 species, including American bison, water buffalo, elk, camels, giraffes, zebras, and red kangaroos. The park is also home to one of the only Poitou donkeys in America, Miller said.
“Natural Bridge Zoo in Virginia is the only other place I know of that has Poitou donkeys,” Miller said. “I just happened to get mine because I’m a good friend of the former owner, Karl Morgensen.”
Any animal that can be described as “a little different” fits in well at the park, Miller said with a laugh, adding he is particularly fond of the more exotic species like the zebras and kangaroos. The park is also home to numerous crossbreeds, including a zorse — a zebra/horse hybrid — and a zedonk, a zebra/donkey hybrid.
An Up Close and Personal Zoo
Unlike an ordinary zoo, however, the animals at Dutch Creek are far more than just display pieces. Guests may get up close with these incredible specimens on the park’s signature horse-drawn wagon rides, during which up to 20-30 guests at a time are pulled through Dutch Creek and may feed animals as they approach the wagon. Visitors may also drive their own vehicles through the park, but those choosing to do so may not feed the animals; the wagon ride, Miller said, is more immersive and experiential.
“Most of the animals come right up to the wagon so guests can feed them,” Miller explained. “It’s a longer tour too — we try to make it 30 minutes.”
The experience is not without its restrictions, however. Dutch Creek is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture, which prohibits guests from bringing their own animal feed for the safety of the animals; only feed supplied by Dutch Creek may be given to the animals.
Dutch Creek includes other family-friendly attractions like the Corn Box — similar to a sandbox, but filled with a foot of corn with a slide to drop younger park-goers in. A petting area allows guests to commune with animals like donkeys, cattle, goats, rabbits, and fowl. Children may also enjoy barrel rides and horse and pony rides. The park hosts a concession area selling burgers, pretzel bites, and soft-serve ice cream and a small gift shop with plans to expand to a larger shop. Additionally, Dutch Creek will host a brand-new, indoor petting farm experience from Nov. 22 to Dec. 23, providing even more opportunities for guests to enjoy the holidays in Shipshewana and more hands-on encounters with extraordinary animals.
Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday from May 1 to November 2. To learn more or schedule a group tour, call 260-768-4416.
