Three brand new attractions – a Pirate Ship, Gem Mining Station, the grand opening of a Capybara Exhibit and a lower entry cost than previous years – helped attract an estimated 500 visitors to Infinity Acres Ranch’s annual Spring Carnival on June 1.
A walk-in exhibit where attendees could feed and pet the world’s largest rodents, capybaras, was a big hit. Capybaras are a semi-aquatic species of rodent native to South America that have a gentle temperament.
“They had a blast,” with the visitors “and they really enjoyed all the attention that they were getting,” said ranch owner Laura Steere.
The capybara duo came from other zoos, with local ranch personnel working to maintain a social connection to get them ready for the grand reveal.
“They are really gentle animals,” said Steere, who also acknowledged they require a lot of care. The duo won’t be available to travel to events, but Steere said if they have offspring, then the young animals would travel for a period of time.
The Gem Mining Station was also a hit, giving kids and adults an opportunity to collect gemstones.
“This was the maiden voyage for the gem mine. It started off a little slow, but as soon as people tried it, we had a line,” Steere said, adding the station is mobile enough to be featured at events and is easy to use for both children and adults.
The Pirate Ship Playground was also a hit with youngsters. The ship, which was funded by Woodmen’s Life Insurance Company, is surrounded by a playground. Many children took to the ship to pretend that they had become pirates.
Of all the new additions, Steere said that the capybaras were her favorite. “They are so sweet and affectionate; they have my heart.”
She said the ranch is always considering trying new things, and she was impressed with the number of new attractions. “Three surprises for this year is way overreaching our usual goal.”
The ranch had many other animals on display, and families could walk a llama around a short obstacle course run by Hannah Young, one of the three United Way interns. Volunteers and interns talked to attendees about the various animals and helped them interact. Snacks were also sold under a shelter, where an open mic was available for aspiring musicians.
“Seeing the community come out and support Infinity Acres Ranch gave me the biggest joy. I was so pleased with that,” Steere said.
Many families also offered to help during the festival. “It’s a great opportunity for people to come together and share some family fun,” Steere said, and added that she loved being able to capture pictures of children enjoying their time on the ranch.
The entry fee for the carnival was reduced to $5 due to the economic situation of the community. “Everything is costing more now, so we decided to do something different and drop our fee for this year’s event,” she said.
Infinity Acres’s next upcoming event is their Animal Adventure Summer Camp, with three different dates. A Different Abilities Camp also will be offered. It is free for qualified families. Additionally, the ranch is always looking for volunteers. Those interested may visit www.infinityacres.org for more information and to fill out a volunteer application.
