New safari park in Cape County offers family entertainment

More than 200 people have visited Cape Girardeau's newest family attraction, Lazy L Safari Park, since it opened last weekend.

"What was great was being able to touch the animals. We fed the camels and one tried to eat my hair and then gave me a kiss to make up for it," said Sharron Werner. Werner went to Lazy L on Saturday and told her friends and family about the great time she had.

The walk-through zoo includes an animal nursery, reptile aquarium, petting and feeding zoo and acres of land with more than 500 animals, including antelope, emus, kangaroos and porcupines. Lazy L will be hosting birthday parties and offering camel rides as well. It will operate animal rides at fairs and special events and Nativity scenes during the holidays.

"It just offers family entertainment that I think [Cape] has needed for a long time," said co-owner Vickie Lantz. "And I tried to build it as a place you could come and relax."

Cape Girardeau's Convention and Visitors Bureau is marketing the park as one of several family destinations, in addition to Discovery Playhouse and the Cape Splash family aquatic facility.

Lucille the camel greets visitors at Lazy L Safari Park in Cape Girardeau County. (Laura Simon)

Lazy L "is so different and novel; it gives a good picture or snapshot of agritourism, which directly represents the Cape experience," said Stephanie Lynch, director of public relations and marketing at the Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Up until this point the only things to market were the River heritage attractions," Lynch said. "Now we're looking at how we can incorporate those family-friendly attractions into the Cape identity."

The bureau is using its monthly newsletter, Facebook and Twitter to promote the new Cape attractions.

Drive-through zoo

Todd and Vickie Lantz started their collection of exotic animals in 1988, but at that time the park was not open to the public. The Lantzes had a drive-through zoo from 1992 to 1995 on a different piece of land.

In 2002 the couple pleaded guilty and were sentenced for violating the Lacey Act, which deals with interstate commerce and transporting goods across state lines. Vickie Lantz was charged with aiding and abetting the transportation of big cats and received six months' home detention and five years' probation, a sentence that was lessened to 200 hours of community service and five years' probation. Todd Lantz was charged on a conspiracy count regarding the transport of endangered species. He received five months in prison, three years' suspended release and was ordered to pay $5,000 restitution to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Save the Tiger Fund.

Kangaroos hop around in their pen at Lazy L Safari Park Monday, June 21, 2010. (Laura Simon)

"That was like 10 years ago, we served our time. Our animals and license were never taken away from us," Vickie Lantz said. "We're trying to get something out there and doing something the Cape community needs."

The Lantzes are in the business of buying, selling and trading livestock and decided to open the land to the public because so many people wanted to see the animals.

"There were like wrecks out here because people were stopping by and looking at these animals all the time, getting out of their car and walking in our yard with no permission, so we thought we'd open it up," Vickie Lantz said. The family, Todd and Vickie and their four children, are the only employees at the park and work every day to feed, water and take care of the animals.

"I hope it's a success for them," said Lazy L neighbor Dorothy Seyer, "and I don't mind the traffic."

Seyer has lived next to the Lantzes for more than 20 years. Seyer keeps some of Todd Lantz's donkeys and horses in her yard and in return he keeps the weeds pulled.

"They're good neighbors; you can't beat them."

No parking problems

Although Vickie Lantz had heard the biggest problem would be parking, she said the lot was never more than half full, because visitors cycle through, usually staying an hour or two and then leaving. She also said if the problem ever occurred cars could be parked at the house or in the pasture.

Paul Graham, who took his family to Lazy L on Saturday, said "I think that they will have a lot of work to do to make this a sustainable venture." He said he'd like to see signs telling a little about each animal and an employee present at the goat feeding area.

Vickie Lantz said the park was built with expansion in mind. She said some of the animals would be moved to different cages and the family is building and making changes all the time.

"Something that's been in mind is a tram that can take people out to see the deer and the different types of field animals," Vickie Lantz said.

She said next year there will be more special events and Lazy L might expand to take corporate parties and reservations for the evening feeding of the animals.

Lazy L Safari Park will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day and on the weekends during April, May, September and October. The admission gate will close at 6 p.m., and admission prices are $5 per person ages 2 and older. The Lazy L Safari Park is at 2763 County Road 618.

breutzel@semissourian.com

388-3654

Pertinent address:

2763 County Road 618 Cape Girardeau, MO 63701