What to Expect/Physical Demands
When your family arrives to the Seacrest Wolf Preserve, you’ll park in the grass parking lot outside, where two staff members will greet you, check in your group and complete your paperwork. Guests should arrive 10-15 minutes prior to their scheduled tour.
Once you’re checked in, it’s time to head into the first wolf enclosure, where your tour guide will educate your group about the different wolf species and individual personalities of the wolves you’re meeting. As you walk through the wolf enclosures, the wolves will energetically greet you, asking for your attention and affection in their own unique ways. The majority of the wolves were raised from pups on the property, making them highly human social and eager for affection.
Each of the 10 wolf enclosures on the property are 2-3 acres large, and the length of walking through the woody, natural habitat varies. Most often, the wolves come to the front of the enclosures, but depending on the time of year, such as breeding season when the wolves tend to hang out at the back of the enclosures, guests may experience a longer walk. There are several logs around for brief walking breaks.
Accessibility for Disabled Travelers
Both the restrooms and giftshop are accessible at Seacrest Wolf Preserve, and the staff is dedicated to making the tours as accommodating as mother nature allows. Guests with mobility devices should expect twigs, rocks, and unlevel, grassy ground with unpredictable mud and sand; there are no paved trails inside the natural habitat enclosures.
For guests with service animals, these are welcome on the property, but they are restricted to 500 feet from the wolf enclosures. The Seacrest website elaborates on this safety protocol: “Wolves are the natural competitors of dogs, and the presence of a dog would be disruptive, causing the wolves to become agitated and possibly behave aggressively toward one another.”
Additionally, guests who may require emergency medication such as an EpiPen should speak to their tour guide upon arrival as the tour guides must carry these items during the tour.
What to Leave in The Car
For the safety of the wolves and guests, many items are not permitted inside the wolf enclosures. For a complete list, visit the Seacrest website. Here are a few items you should be prepared to leave in the car:
- Cellphones, cameras or electronic devices
- Items made of leather, vinyl, suede, down or fur-based material
- Backpacks
- Jewelry including dangling earrings, necklaces, bracelets or other valuable items
- Accessories like hats, gloves, scarves
- Nonprescription sunglasses
- Water bottles and food items
- Rain gear including umbrellas, rain jackets and ponchos
Food and Drinks
Chipley is a rural area with limited stores and restaurants nearby, so families should consider packing a picnic and cooler to enjoy after the tour or some light snacks and drinks for a break during the tour. All food and drinks must remain by the gift shop and pavilion area; they are not allowed inside the enclosures.
Restrooms
There is a wheelchair accessible restroom located by the Seacrest gift shop to use before and after the tours. The Private VIP Tours include a break halfway through the tour for guests to use the restroom or get a quick snack. Families on the Saturday group tour should speak to the tour guides if they need to stop during the tour for a restroom break.
