Seacrest Wolf Preserve in Chipley, Florida, lets you get up close to these magnificent creatures just north of the Gulf Coast
One of the more unusual day trips you can take from one of your upper Gulf Coast Florida vacation spots, is to the Seacrest Wolf Preserve, 3440 Bonnett Pond Road, Chipley, Florida.
This amazing preserve is 50 miles north of Panama City Beach and 85 miles north of Destin.
This is a research facility that is available to the public for tours and tent or RV camping (or staying in a rustic cabin), all by reservation only.
The preserve is home to Gray, Arctic and British Columbian wolves. Guided tours are given only on Saturdays and last three and a half or four hours. Or, you can arrange a V.I.P. tour for an additional fee. You can make reservations during the week when the office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 850-773-2897.
Included on the Saturday tours are encounters with small animals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and a coyote.
The gates on Saturday open at 11 a.m. and the tours begin at 1 p.m.
As you might imagine, viewing wolves in their natural habitat can be tricky. So, the preserve has specific rules for how you should dress and where and how you should park your vehicle if you arrive before the gates open. They are very specific about pants, tops, and shoes. Please read their website closely before arriving at the gate. Keep your hats, scarfs, and bows in your car. You cannot wear anything made of leather, vinyl, suede, down or fur based. In other words, don’t try to look like a wolf or a wolf’s meal. Only disposable cameras are allowed. Cell phones are not allowed around the wolves.
Also, no child under 10 is allowed on the wolf tour, though they can attend the small animal encounters.
The mission of the preserve is protecting wolves through education.
Tour hours: 1 p.m. on Saturdays only. Gates open at 11 a.m.
Admission: Saturday wolf encounter tour is $35 per person. Participants must be 10 or older. V.I.P. Tours and group tours available at a higher price.
Phone Number for reservations: 850-773-2897. Call for reservation Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.