Published March 23, 2025 | Updated June 15, 2026

Starting in 1996, cornfields near Ashland, Nebraska were turned into one of the best safari parks in the country.

The park’s origin was the result of a call between Bill Grewcock, a longtime Henry Doorly Zoo benefactor, and Dr. Lee G. Simmons, the zoo’s director. The two met with Gene Mahoney, the zoo foundation’s executive director and driving force behind the nearby Mahoney State Park, to discuss a 200-acre plot of farmland that had become available. They recognized the need for a dedicated conservation and breeding space separate from the zoo.

Gary Pettit, a zoo employee, spent two years preparing the site. Once he moved in, he never left. Pettit continues to live on the grounds and now serves as its deputy director. The initial plans for the grounds to remain closed to the public but after it started, board members realized it would make for an enjoyable drive-through facility that offered views of scenic prairies and wetlands while showcasing North American animals including bison, elk, black bears, eagles, cranes, wolves, and many more. In total, the park has around 350 animals of more than 50 species.

Affiliated with the zoo, the park operates primarily as a drive-through with a 4-mile road that meanders through the 440 acres, about half of which is open to the public. It also offers areas where you can get out and take a hike, listen to educational talks and demonstrations, or possibly interact with an animal. Since opening in 1998, it has steadily grown and now attracts more than 400,000 visitors each year.

The park offers a glimpse of how Nebraska appeared centuries ago when wagon trains full of pioneers crossed the Great Plains. Like Henry Doorly Zoo and Lauritzen Gardens, it is a top attraction in the area and has claimed first place in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Safari Park five years in a row, and well worth a visit when it opens for the season.

The park is typically open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting at the end of March through the end of October. It also features a visitor center and tram rides if you’d rather not drive.

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More pictures

• Omaha World-Herald archives
• – lee g simmons wildlife safari park
• Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park
• THE WILDLIFE SAFARI PARKS CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORY | Omaha Zoo Foundation
• Morning Lift through the Wildlife Safari Park with the man who calls it home