Reindeer Farm: Palmer, Alaska

We’d heard wonderful things about Reindeer Farm and decided to visit as an end to our week. It was easy to find the location (beside the unmaintained trailhead for Butte). When we first arrived, we saw a sign noting check-in was located within the gift shop. We paid the admission fee and joined a tour that had just begun.

In our group, the tour guide, Mike, shared a lot of interesting information on reindeer. We learned that reindeer shed their antlers yearly and each year they grow larger. The antlers are covered in velvet while growing, and nerves carrying blood flow through them. (Because of this, and to avoid accidents, we were told not to touch the antlers). We also got to hold a large antler that had been shed (it was surprisingly heavy). At the termination of the informational segment, we were asked to sanitize hands and shoes (walked across a mat) before entering the pen.

A small cup of was provided to each person and we entered the reindeer pen! The reindeer came right over. They were gentle in taking the food. Since we were there in June, they were shedding their coats and gaining their new ones. The reindeer were of various sizes and ages. The largest one, Red, was a sight to behold. Carl was the runner-up in terms of size, next to Red.Our tour guide was enthusiastic about the animals, and knew the history on each and every one and some cool trivia on movies made around there as well. In addition to the reindeer, we also met Dolly the bison. She was born too late in the season, left by her mother, and found at another location and eventually taken in by the farm. Rocky, the moose, was found abandoned in the Kenai. He also ended up at the reindeer farm and is now a year old. There was also an elk. Although when we were there, he wouldn’t approach the feeding area. At the end of the tour, we got the chance to pet some Angora rabbits and hold the chickens.

Address: 5561 Bodenburg Loop, Palmer, AK 99645

(907) 745-4000

This was such a great place to visit—definitely a fun family find.