By: Bernie Iven
While there are many farm animals in Logan County, many people are surprised to learn that the County is also home to a number of more exotic animals.
Indeed, Logan County has a ZOO… in Rushsylvania!
That’s right.
The En Gedi Ridge Zoo opened to the public in May of this year, offering a unique and welcoming experience that offers up-close and personal animal encounters that are simply unavailable at large metropolitan zoos.
But why the name?
En Gedi is an ancient oasis area of Israel just west of the Dead Sea.
It’s the place where David sought refuge from the pursuing King Saul.
Unlike the mostly dry areas of Israel, it is characterized by rushing waterfalls, gurgling streams, and lush gardens.
In Hebrew, the name translates to “Spring of the Young Goat.” It is a place of refreshment, restoration, and peace.
So it’s no wonder Dr. Trent Reynolds and his wife Krista chose the name for their zoological garden.
After all, their animal sanctuary is the home to many goats, including the Nubian Ibex—a native of Israel’s En Gedi.
And importantly, the name also calls attention to their commitment to refreshingly serving others in the example of Jesus— the Living Water!
Trent is a veterinarian who works at the Northside Animal Clinic.
He grew up on an Indiana “hobby farm” where his parents cared for a number of exotic animals.
He kept those experiences in his heart when he moved to a farm in Logan County and began to do some “hobby farming” of his own.
Krista is a teacher of special needs students and, on occasion, has taken some of her goats to school for her students to get to know.
The experience had a profound calming effect upon them.
With their children now grown, the couple has combined their unique talents to bring their En Gedi-like refreshment to Logan County and beyond.
En Gedi offers hands-on, personal, interactive animal encounters.
Trent gives customers careful instructions at the beginning of the tour.
Almost all animals can be fed, and most can be petted.
In fact, they very much enjoy it.
This is impressed upon you when, upon travelling up the gravel driveway, the emus run to the fence in anticipation of meeting you.
Trent and/or Krista escort you through your tour and are entertainingly assisted by two goats, Beatrice and GiGi, who follow the tour everywhere it goes– often causing delightful mischief.
If you get even slightly tired, Rocky the Cat will be happy to plop on the floor in front of you and let you and all the children scratch his belly.
Swallows swoop from over the barn stalls, scooping up any potentially annoying insects, and the Guinea fowls help out by consuming them in the yards and fields.
As we observed the Emus, Trent showed us a large avocado-sized emu egg and noted that, unlike most birds, emus have two feathers on each quill.
Two of the zoo’s four camels, Eva and Marcy, are also near the entrance to greet you.
Rather than hooves like horses, their feet expand between folds of skin to give them natural “sand shoes,” enabling them to trek over sand rather than sinking into it.
They love to be fed carrots.
And what is the difference between an Alpaca and a Llama?
Trent and Krista explain it to you as you pet and look over both.
Mel and Sidney, the two Kangaroos, love to be stroked.
Their fur has a delightfully soft feel.
If you are a bird fancier, you can visit with Pickles the McCaw and the amazing Tumbling Parlor Pigeons.
Peacocks, guinea fowls, and Zebu cattle can also be seen.
Of the antelopes, the African Nyalas are intriguing.
The male and female look so completely different that they appear to be different species.
The Male has a Moose-shaped, chevroned nose, and the doe-shaped female has delicate white vertical stripes.
Peek into a quilted handbag and Krista will show you the nocturnal Australian flying squirrels known as Sugar Gliders… Honey, Maple, and Cane.
Their huge, glistening eyes beg you to say aww!
And zebras.
Trent describes them as “nervous horses”, attributing this characteristic to being the reason that these horse relatives cannot be domesticated.
They notice anything new.
For example, the first time they saw children’s strollers, they became quite uneasy.
So, because they thrive in calm environments, the zebra pen is one place that Beatrice and GiGi are not allowed to visit.
And zebras are never nervous around carrots.
They love them!
As the animal encounters conclude, you’ll have noticed by now that there are no carnivores in this zoo.
But as interesting as the peaceful herbivores are, what really makes the En Gedi Zoo experience so great is the knowledgeable explanations and moving stories of Trent and Krista.
You can see in the twinkling blue eyes of Trent and the engaging smile of Krista a great passion for what they do.
Others have noticed too.
The Logan County Visitors Bureau has recently given En Gedi a grant to put up an entrance mural at the farm.
But until then, look for the two white brick entrance posts at the zoo driveway entrance.
The entrance is just north of, and on the same side as, Sunlight Windows.
The animal encounter takes about an hour and a half, and to keep it intimate, Trent and Krista like to keep encounter tours to 10 or fewer people.
You’ll want to bring a water bottle and wear shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
For now, all tours are by appointment, and you can find more details by going to their website HERE.
Also, follow them on social media HERE.
