GROVE CITY, Pa. - A Lawrence County staple has opened up a new safari, years in the making, this time in Mercer County. 

After nearly four years of permitting, design, and construction Keystone Safari, in Grove City,  opened to the general public for the first time.  

Visitors can enjoy several indoor heated areas including the Gift Shop, Reindeer Barn, and Giraffe Barn. There are several outdoor exhibits to check out on the way between the main buildings and heated areas. 

Those familiar with the Living Treasures Wild Animal Park in New Castle can expect a  similar experience on a larger scale. The Grove City Keystone Safari sits on 144 acres. 

Guest can feed and interact with the animals. 

However, Keystone Safari will also offer additional experiences for visitors. 

A zip-line adventure park, including a beginner and intermediate family courses, will be open in early Spring. The Safari bus ride which will tour larger areas of the park is expected to open before the end of Summer

The park will also have several seasonal attractions including large-scale holiday lighting displays, family photos with sleigh and live reindeer, and camel rides, which will all only be available at the park between now and early January. 

Visitors can also expect to see some familiar faces- several animals including the rare Barbary Lions and local celebrities- Levi, Blue Jeans, and Calvin, the parks' giraffe family have moved to Keystone Safari. 

Currently, the well-known Lion family, June and Cash, have a new family member, "Nala," a four-month-old lion cub born to the pair this summer. 

There are several other babies and new faces to meet including Harley and Joker, the one-year-old hyenas, Calvin the one-year-old Giraffe calf, black bears, several reindeer calves, and many others.

Both parks are owned by the Guiher Family. 

The new park opens after 13 consecutive years of growth at the Guihers' Living Treasures park in New Castle.

The Guiher family says that as the Living Treasures park grew attendance, staffing, and animal population, it became apparent that a new facility would be needed. 

The Guiher family says they have no plans to close Living Treasures in New Castle even with their large, new park opening only 20 miles away. 

"Our growing number of visitors at Living Treasures in New Castle are who allowed us the opportunity to pursue the dream of the new park. Where some animals are moving to our new facility, we expect to also add new and improved homes for our animal residents and some new faces," Park owner Adam Guiher explained. 

Existing and future season pass holders for either park will be able to visit both facilities without paying a general admission. 

Hours and Rates for Keystone Safari from now through early January:

  • Thursdays: 4:00 - 9:00 p.m.
  • Fridays: 4:00 - 10:00 p.m. 
  • Saturdays: Noon - 10:00 p.m. 
  • Sundays: Noon - 9:00 p.m.

Hours of operation may change during inclement weather.

General Admission Rates:

  • Adult (ages 13-61): $10.00
  • Child (ages 3-12): $8.00
  • Senior (age 62+): $8.00
  • Children ages 2 and under: FREE