Wild Animal Sanctuary named No. 1 best thing to do in the US this summer

The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg has been named the No. 1 attraction in the U.S. this summer by Travel Lemming. In total, six Colorado attractions made the list of 150, including the West Elk Mountains (No. 17) and Saint Mary’s Glacier (No. 82).

The annual list aims to help Americans discover unique attractions around the country and in their own backyards. This year’s list confronts the rise of AI chatbots head-on, explicitly highlighting that humans handpicked every attraction on the list.

Attractions following The Wild Animal Sanctuary in the top 10 rankings include a Bavarian Village in Washington (No. 2), a culturally rich Latino neighborhood in Chicago (No. 4), and a hot air balloon festival in New Jersey (No. 7).

The article praises The Wild Animal Sanctuary as a place where visitors can “watch rescued wildlife roam, interact, and play.” It notes that “Many [of the animals] are acquired from private citizens, roadside attractions, and defunct zoos. Recent rescues include the 9 lions airlifted from war-torn Ukraine, and the 39 tigers once owned by Tiger King’s Joe Exotic.” 

Reacting to its No. 1 designation, Pat Craig, the executive director of The Wild Animal Sanctuary commented, “We are both excited and honored to be chosen by Travel Lemming writers as the number one destination for summer fun in the USA.” 

“Our Wild Animal Sanctuary is not only the largest carnivore sanctuary in the world, but also offers guests a life-changing experience by viewing more than 550 lions, tigers, bears, and many other rescued animals living in large natural habitats.”

The full article is available in our e-Edition. Click here to subscribe.