Lion Country Safari Atlanta 1972

READ FIRST...
When I was 18 and still in high school, Lion Country Safari came to the Atlanta area, and settled in Henry County, where I call home. I started at LCS literally on my 18th birthday. I immediately found myself drawn toward the elephants because they are such amazing animals with incredible intelligence. At the time African elephants were trained and handled somewhat rarely in captivity. In fact Moja, our first elephant had a terrible seven years of previous zoo captivity. She never had any contact with any other animals including humans, when she came to the LCS at 8 yrs old. Just a week or two before the park opened to the public Moja launched a full blown attack on me. I was rammed in five steps to full speed and knocked into the air. I landed on my feet and started running. I had no where to go and she was much faster. With my life flashing before my eyes, I saw a stick on the ground on about my fifth step running, and knew my only chance was to stop, stand, and face her. In my most powerful, and commanding voice, I commanded her to "STOP". She did, 6 inches from me with her trunk hanging cocked and curled inward and twitching. She was ready to finish what she started. I yelled loudly to back it up. She did nothing, I yelled it again even more assertive and she moved one step back. I knew then that I would survive. An incredible trust was then molded between us. In the video you will see that I continued to use a simple stick as opposed to the traditional elephant hook". I never had another problem with elephants.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Lion
• Country
• Safari
• McDonough
• Henry
• County
• Georgia
• African
• Elephants

[mastacow53]

This is so cool!. I worked there during the Spring-Summer '73-'75. I worked for Vern McGran and Rick Aiken. I have so many stories. I haven't been back to that area since '75.

[sedafire]

Share your stories...I would like to hear them.

Ranger Rick the Rhino man...and I was there when he fed the Cheetahs his thumb.

I recently got in touch with Frank Evans who wrote a book about elephant training.

You're the Elephant Man: If You're Still Alive After Two Weeks, You're Permanent by Frank Kinsey Evans and can be found at Amazon. I ordered my copy.

[Crayons39770]

So there are no remnants of LCF left in Manderley? I always heard about them, but never checked it out...

[sedafire]

No animal barns but the lake and a lake front road that is one of the original roads remain.

I have many great moments that I came still remember as a result of these few remaining spots. I was there only recently. A couple of my favorite spots were we spent lots of time with the elephants. I wonder if the people living there would be interested in the stories that could be told about their yards.

[icky2dsticky]

yates- it is in Manderly subdivsion. Get off 75 in stockbridge and turn right, go to the next light (carmax light) and turn left- take that road past lake spivey on the right. You will come to an intersection were a ingles is on the left- turn left there- go 4+ miles and Manderly is on the right. Turn in and proceed to the end of the entrance- turn left and hopefully something will remind you. Sedafire- is those directions still accurate? Been years since I have been there. Stockbridge has grown

[sedafire]

It is off of Walt Stephens Road next to Lake Spivey. Two years ago the elephant hut was still there too. You have to look hard to find it now.

Also I just want to point out that I was there in the beginning and not the end.

They desperately needed an exit off of I-75.

[Zootours]

wow! I never knew there was a lion country safari in Atlanta LOL

[indyfan22k]

Between 1967 and 1974, Lion Country Safari, Inc. opened 6 animal parks, one near each of the following American cities: West Palm Beach, Florida; Los Angeles, California; Dallas, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Richmond, Virginia.

The first park, in South Florida, is the only Lion Country Safari still in operation

[ladycestius]

I live in Monarch Village, most remnants are gone now since they finished the neighborhood 4 years ago, but I've seen some of the old cages and remnants of the fountain shown in the last scene of this video. Any stories you have to share, please do.

[ladycestius]

Actually I live in Monarch Village and would love to hear stories! I've seen remnants of the lion cages before they finished the neighborhood and remnants of the fountain shown in the last scene.

[blkedoutshdw]

Wow, this video really took me back. I went to the safari as a kid. I later hung out in the empty cages and puffed on things that made me laugh. What's next-a video of Mr Hatcher shooting people with rock salt for swimming in his lake. I have tons of irreplaceable memeries from this area.

[mastacow53]

I seem to remeber Rick saying he bought a Camero with his thumb accident. When I was there Billy Liggett and another guy took care of the elephants. I'm terrible with names.

Do you have any pictures from LSC.

I started out in the meat room prepairing food and feeding the birds. I also helped the women in the nursery. From there I started feeding the primates out in the lake. From there I did pretty much everything there was to do in the park.