Grand Canyon, Arizona:  "At the Deer Farm you don't just look at the deer, you walk among them, you touch them, you let them eat right out of your hand."

The Grand Canyon Deer Farm is one of those quirky roadside attractions found along Route 66 that fortunately survived the transition from Mother Road to Interstate 40. The big red barn with the green roof on Deer Farm Road is easy to spot from the freeway, although the name is something of a misnomer. Located twenty-five miles west of Flagstaff and just a few miles outside of Williams, the farm is still some distance from the Grand Canyon. Yes, there are deer roaming the pine-shaded grounds that will eat out of your hand, but the variety of occupants have expanded over the years, with an entire array of miniatures. The collection of pint-sized animals include pygmy and Nubian goats, a miniature horse, a pair of zebu (miniature cattle), and a miniature Sicilian donkey, making the deer farm an appealing destination for kids, the young at heart, and animal lovers of any age.



That's what Pat and Randy George thought back in 1972. They had planned a trip to see the Grand Canyon for the first time when they spotted the deer farm and just had to stop. The couple didn't make it to the Grand Canyon that day. Pat laughs when telling the story, knowing how crazy it must sound that she would forego seeing one of the world's seven wonders for the chance to visit a petting zoo. Although it took a few more years to actually make it all the way to the Canyon, the Georges returned often to the deer farm with their growing family. It was on a serendipitous visit fifteen years later when they learned the farm was up for sale. Jobs at Honeywell and UPS paled in comparison to the opportunity of pursuing their love of animals while providing a great environment to raise three boys. The Georges have been following their bliss ever since.