The rising star power of The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg in south Weld County is starting to reap dividends.
Later this week, the 720-acre haven for abused lions, tigers, bears and other large mammals is getting a paved road to its entry gates. It replaces a narrow gravel road that can’t keep up with the rising number of visitors to the sanctuary.
“Paving the road makes sense for the county with regard to maintenance, and it may help even more visitors make the trip to visit the animals,” said Pat Craig, executive director of the sanctuary.
Craig began the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation Center in 1980 as a place where animals kept in road-side attractions and fetid, cramped zoos could roam freely in secured compounds.
Craig, who saw the facility nearly close in 2006 over financial problems, changed its name and began marketing the place to bring in more donations. He’s since built an $800,000 walkway so visitors can see the animals without getting too close to them.
The sanctuary produced national headlines last year when it took in several abused lions rescued from a zoo in Bolivia. And this summer, it took in 17 wolf hybrids driven from their own sanctuary in rural Larimer County by the High Park Fire.
All that has fueled visits to the sanctuary. In 2010, about 50,000 people went through its gates. In 2011, the number of visitors doubled to 100,000 and this year that number will likely increase again, say county officials.
That prompted them to approve paving County Road 53, which feeds traffic to the sanctuary.
“The increased traffic to County Road 53 has experienced is good news for the sanctuary and for Weld County,” said county commission chairman Sean Conway. “We are glad people all along the Front Range are becoming aware of the work the sanctuary does for neglected and abused animals, and they are taking the time to visit Weld County and support this charity.”
Traffic counts taken on County Road 53 showed that while traffic during the week was consistent with other gravel roads in the area, weekend traffic increased dramatically.
“Traffic counts over the weekend were double the weekday numbers, and the county determined that the road met the requirements for paving,” said County Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer.
A ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the end of the paving of County Road 53 will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at The Wild Animal Sanctuary entrance, 1946 County Road 53.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
