🐾 Kids at the Dog Park: Real Stories, Safety Risks & Smarter Solutions
If you’ve spent time at an off-leash park, you’ve probably seen it:A parent strolls in with a stroller 🚼 or […]
Discover Rustic Retreat Deer Park, an exceptional attraction in the heart of Athelstane, Wisconsin. This family-friendly park offers an up-close, interactive experience with a variety of wildlife including deer, bison, trumpeter swans, and even friendly wolves. Ideal for families and animal lovers, this destination is known for its welcoming atmosphere, hands-on encounters, and educational tours guided by knowledgeable staff. The park is clean, peaceful, and dedicated to animal care and conservation, making it stand out as more than just a dog park—it’s an educational haven for all ages.
While Rustic Retreat Deer Park is not a traditional fenced dog park, visiting guests often have opportunities to interact with wolf-dogs and enjoy scenic outdoor walks, with plenty of areas for relaxation and learning. Kids will love feeding the deer and swans, while dog enthusiasts can enjoy guided wolf walks and meet well-cared-for animals in a safe environment. Advance tickets are recommended, and the park is consistently praised for its safe, clean, and memorable experiences, perfect for those looking for dog-friendly activities and pet-friendly trails near Athelstane, WI.
When our family was all together this week, we decided to come here for an afternoon – what a fun educational experience!
It’s an up close, hands on encounter with wildlife, with lots of interesting information along the way.
Our group enjoyed feeding the mama bison, her baby was still a little shy and just peeked from behind her, so cute.
There’s a beautiful trumpeter swan couple in the pond that come up on the bank to eat.
We took a wolf for a walk, and another wanted a belly rub! These guys are tamer and better behaved than many dogs we know, helping to undo the negative perception many have of wolves.
Highly recommend!
This deer park is one where you can get close and personal with the animals. Hand feed deer, buffalo and trumpeter swans. You also get to walk wolf-dogs around outside of the fences. Tom is very informative and makes it a fun tour for kids and adults alike.
It is so beautiful there and so much fun interaction with all the animals! The owner educates you on the animals before you get to go in and feed the deer! Also before we spend time with the wolves! Which are so loving and great to take your pictures with them! And they will howl on the owners command! The bison we feed from behind the fence and they are a beautiful animal! Very safe environment! Definitely recommend checking his new place out! We had a great time! Thanks Tom Mueller! 😊❤️
This is one of my favorite places on Earth! Tom is very knowledgeable and a fantastic tour guide! The animals are well cared for and loved. The deer and wolves are very friendly! There is no other place that I can think of, where you can safely get that close to bison. Their power and beauty are something to experience! I take everyone I know, every chance I get because the experience is amazing! I HIGHLY recommend visiting Tom and the animals! I promise you won’t be disappointed!
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Absolutely incredible experience!🦌 Rustic Retreat Deer Park is clean, peaceful, and deeply educational. The animals are clearly well cared for, and the environment is healthy and safe for everyone; humans and wildlife alike. The owner is so knowledgeable and kind, he even changed my perspective on wolf conservation with real, respectful conversation.🐺
🦢He gently guided my scared 86yr old grandmother to feed swans by hand, a moment of pure grace we’ll never forget. You don’t just visit this place … it stays with you. Highly recommended for families, nature lovers, and anyone who wants to see what true animal care and conservation looks like. 🌿