Lions roar in Rockton
AUG. 22, 1969
IN THE SPRING of 1969, Beverly Township council looked at a proposal for a lion safari on a site northeast of Sheffield. On April 29, 1969, all the neighbours within roaring distance — about half a mile — were invited to a meeting. The residents voted unanimously to welcome the newcomers. A 200-acre parcel of land was purchased along Concession Seven and Cooper Road off Highway 8, with options on a further 250 acres to be picked up within 6 months. After a number of delays, the Lion Safari portion of the park opened Aug. 22, 1969.
Significance
NOTHING OF THE SORT had ever been attempted in Canada. The Chipperfield family — of English circus and animal farm fame — had considered sites in New Brunswick and Niagara Falls before deciding on Beverly because of the similarity of the scrub area to that in Africa. They also had preserves in Australia, Germany and France. In its first full year of operation in 1970, 600,000 people visited the farm. The $250,000 African Lion Safari and Game Farm Ltd. was the sixth such facility in the world. The safari now attracts up to 400,000 visitors each season, and is one of the biggest tourist draws in Hamilton.
The Chipperfield family, of English circus and animal farm fame, decided on Beverly because of the similarity of the scrub area to that in Africa. AFRICAN LION SAFARI OPENS