A carnivore-rescue facility on the Eastern Plains increased fees for daily visitors this weekend from $15 to $50.
Operators of the Wild Animal Sanctuary, a 30 miles northeast of Denver, said the price increase is part of a necessary, cost-driven plan to encourage potential patrons to become long-term “supporters” of the facility.
Someone who donates $200 to the sanctuary over a 12-month period is recognized as a supporter, said Pat Craig, the organization’s executive director.
Supporters can visit the sanctuary without paying a daily fee. They can also bring guests, who will be admitted free of charge.
The sanctuary has about 165,000 people from the greater Denver area who are considered supporters, Craig said.
On the sanctuary’s Facebook page Monday night, more than 2,400 people “liked” a post explaining the daily price increase, and another 600 people shared the post.
“We want to address the recent changes to the visitor policies at the Sanctuary, as it has caused much grief for a certain demographic of people,” the Facebook post said. “Being a , we face unique challenges in order to exist.”
Some past visitors to the sanctuary vented frustrations about the daily-fee increase in comments below the group’s Facebook post.
“I can barely pay a $200 car payment, but loved visiting the sanctuary to see how previously abused animals survive and thrive in such an environment,” Miranda Mergler, a barista, posted on Facebook. “But I guess I’m considered an unruly and disrespectful customer that isn’t welcome.”
Others protested the daily price increase.
Craig said most visitors to the sanctuary on Sunday and Monday took the price increase in stride; some, however, turned away.
“The last thing we want to do is exclude anyone,” Craig said. “Only a small handful said, ‘We can’t afford it.’
“The rest said, ‘We absolutely believe in it.’ ”
Seniors — ages 70 and over — still are admitted to the facility free of charge.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/kierannicholson
