Commonly Asked Questions

Since the 1940s, Olympic Game Farm in Sequim, WA has been dedicated to the welfare and well-being of animals. As a drive-through wildlife exhibit, we are entirely funded by tourists and are a fun place to experience wildlife at your own pace. We strive to be a source of wildlife education for families and tourists!

Letter from Robert Beebe, President

With over 200 animals on-site, our driving tour leaves our visitors with vivid memories of these amazing creatures; experiences which, at first are hard to imagine, become pleasantly surprising. Friendly llamas and yak eat bread from your hand, clowning bears stand up and wave, and the elk and buffalo peacefully graze in the pastures.

Olympic Game Farm worked exclusively for Walt Disney Studios for 28 years, filming here at the farm and on the Olympic Peninsula, as well as on many different set locations. A few popular titles produced with our past animal actors are “Charlie the Lonesome Cougar,” “The Incredible Journey,” “White Wilderness,” and “Grizzly Adams” television and movie series. In 2012, we had used our black bear “Kitty” and wolf “Brutus” in “Serenity Farms”. In winter of 2013, we used “Kitty” once again in a National Geographic documentary on black bear in the city. Summer of 2014, “Leland” a black tail deer was used in the filming of “Captain Fantastic” as well as Olympic Game Farm used as a filming location for a scene.

After the death of Walt and Roy Disney, Disney Studios began to move away from the nature films that had been so dear to Walt’s heart. In 1972, with the approval of the Disney Studios for using the Disney name, Olympic Game Farm, Inc. was opened to the public. Our founders Lloyd and Catherine Beebe retired from the filming industry and focused solely on caring for their animal actors, concentrating on offering “in need” captive bred animals a new and loving home. Olympic Game Farm will continue to accept in-need wildlife, as space permits and with the proper authority approvals. We cannot accept local animals from the wild without proper permission from Washington State Fish and Wildlife.

Lloyd Beebe passed along his trait, his dedication, and his love for wildlife to his grandsons Robert Beebe and James Beebe, along with their uncle Kenneth Beebe, who have taken over the daily operations of the Olympic Game Farm since 2008.

Thank you for your interest,

Robert L. Beebe

President, OGF

Recognitions

We won the Wildlife Conservation of the Year award in 1996 from the Washington Association of Conservation Districts (WACD). Lloyd and Catherine Beebe and Olympic Game Farm were honored through a Senate Resolution 8612 on January 20, 2011. Lloyd Beebe won Filmdom’s Famous Five’s 1960 from Film Daily.

Caribou moose

FAQs

Are pets allowed inside our vehicle while driving?

Yes, pets are allowed as long as they are kept inside an enclosed vehicle and unable to escape your vehicle. All pets must be on a leash when outside the vehicle in permitted areas.

Why was the game farm started?

In the 1950’s to 1972, Olympic Game Farm (then called Disney’s Wild Animal Ranch) was originally designed as a holding facility for the animal actors of Disney Studios. During breaks from filming, the animals were trained, housed, and cared for while waiting for future filming. Disney Studios had asked us to keep the public and cameras out of the Farm.

White tiger at Olympic Game Farm
Bears at Olympic Game Farm

However, in the summer of 1972 after Roy Disney’s passing, we allowed people in to see what the Farm was all about. This informal opening was also a test to see if we could achieve our long-term goals in caring for the animals without a steady income from Disney Studios—to see if we could make it on our own. After that summer, we let Disney Studios know how well we did. Disney Studios ultimately held a vote from their Board of Directors and decided it was ok to continue to be open to the public and retain any earnings received. That same year, we officially opened to the public as a private wildlife organization and became incorporated in 1973.

Where do the animals come from?

Several of the animals are either rehomed, come as overflow from other licensed facilities, or have been received from other properly licensed individuals.

How do you afford to feed them?

Currently, all proceeds from tourism are put into animal care and feeding. This includes all operating costs (employees, licensing, feed, utilities, repairs, etc.) associated with caring for our animals. In the past, filmmaking and tourism was the mainstay; however, as the years and societal attitudes have evolved the film industry genre, live animal actors are no longer in high demand. We do receive donations from the local dairy farms and equestrians, or from a farm hobbyist. Income made from the summer season carries the Farm through the lean winter months. This presents tough budgeting constraints and is a tremendous struggle each year.

Do you accept random donations?

Yes, the Olympic Game Farm does accept any reasonable donations. Naturally, the best donation is monetarily, but we will consider all other types.

Are you open year round?

Olympic Game Farm is open year round but will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day in order to spend time with our families.

Do the animals come out during the rain or snow?

Yes, most if not all the animals are accustomed to our Northwest weather. All the animals have their own shelters and privacy areas if they need.

When is the best time to view the animals?

We always suggest mornings to early afternoons to be the best times, as most of our animals tend to lounge in the later afternoon times and take naps.

What is the difference between a wildlife park and a game farm?

A wildlife park/zoo is usually publicly funded by city, county, and/or state funds or a group of investors. Game farms are usually in connection with commerce, such as breeding, selling, or trading and are privately funded by the owners. Some game farms are associated with “canned” hunting but Olympic Game Farm does not practice this. In our case, “Game Farm” denotes that there are game animals located and housed here but not for hunting.

Are the animals at the Game Farm still used by the movie industry?

We have used a few of our current animals in several films, “Serenity Farms,” “Captain Fantastic,” and a National Geographic documentary on black bears and city encroachment. However, we are not actively seeking animal work in the film industry.

How long does the tour take?

Typical drive tour takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour but it is completely self-paced. The admission ticket is good for all day until closing. On major holiday weekends, wait times and lines can and do occur, thus extending drive tour time.

Are we allowed to bring our own bread to feed?

No outside bread at this time. Throughout the year (depending on the season) other food items will be available for purchase. This is at our discretion.  Specific days, food items and other information will be available upon arrival.

Why can’t we bring in fruit or other food items to feed the animals?

You can donate fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, or fresh-caught fish to Olympic Game Farm but U.S.D.A. (APHIS) has a strict rule about customers feeding our animals. Wheat bread is the ONLY type of feed allowed to be given by the customers. Olympic Game Farm will accept fresh fruit and fresh vegetables but it will need to be inspected by us and fed out by us or under strict observation if permitted by senior management. Bread has been proven to be an excellent source of fat and fiber for our animals. Large animals differ from humans and domesticated animals tremendously, with their fat & nutritional needs. Rotten, moldy, or freezer dried items will not be accepted. We cannot accept anything from your personal freezer. Please call and check first about any other food items.

What other type of feed is given to the animals besides bread?

Each animal has a well-balanced nutritional diet based on their nutritional needs by our veterinarian care plan. Meat, poultry, fish, nuts, berries, vegetables, fruit, roots, vitamins, minerals, hay, & grain are fed daily, during business hours and after closing.

IMPORTANT

We do ask for customers to not take it upon themselves to decide what is best to feed our animals. Any food items other than the bread brought to feed will be held at the gate until the tour is over and it will be returned. Violators will be asked to leave.


We ask this, not only because of the U.S.D.A. rule, but also because each animal is carefully monitored and fed daily. Some of the animals are not allowed certain foods due to medical reasons, dental problems, allergies, being strict carnivores, etc.


For the best interest of our animals, it is important only wheat or whole grain bread from the Game Farm is fed to them. Produce or meat could make the animals sick.

Are convertibles/open vehicles permitted?

All vehicles must be fully enclosed at all times for your safety. Jeeps, Broncos, etc. must have sides and tops on, making it fully enclosed. NO MOTORCYCLES, SCOOTERS, MOPEDS, OR BICYCLES ARE PERMITTED on drive tour.

Can R.V’S or buses drive through the farm?

Yes. We have a delegated road for larger vehicle. The only animals you will not see are the prairie dogs and sika deer.

What was the difference between the original walk tour and the new “Mini Tour”?

The difference between the original walk and the new mini-tour is:
• In the original tour, a tour guide would walk visitors through the predator area in addition to the barn and aquarium and was only offered to groups of 10 people or more when scheduled in advance at an additional charge.
• In the “mini-tour,” all visitors can enjoy the experience at their own leisure but the predator compound is not included as this area is included in our driving tour.

When are the busiest times? Or what times/days to avoid long lines and traffic congestion inside OGF?

PLEASE plan your trip to Olympic Game Farm prior to your arrival here.

The busiest weekends are Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the busiest days of those two holiday weekends. Saturday and Sunday can see over 500 cars each day with peak times from ranging from 11 a.m. to 4-5 p.m. Traffic congestion throughout the Farm is always a concern during this time and we ask that all visitors be conscious and courteous to other visitors who are also trying to enjoy themselves as they drive around the Farm. Remember, your receipt is good all day until closing so that you can go around multiple times as needed. Also, our animals do get tired towards the afternoon/evening and can/will start to ignore people as the day wears on.

On a typical summer week, Saturday would be the busiest day and slowly tapers to the lowest day of Wednesday, then building back up each day. Beginning from 11 a.m., the peak traffic begins and eventually lessens after 3 p.m. as the animals grow tired and head to their sleeping areas for the evening.

Our employees do work as fast as possible to keep the entry traffic lines moving smoothly and quickly; however, the lines move as fast as our patrons allow us to work. We encourage that our visitors already have family plans/arrangements (such as who is paying and with what form of payment, also to know the ages of children, any discounts, etc.) made prior to entering the Farm.