Portrait of a lying wolf 3 originally uploaded by Tambako The Jaguar
According to this article in the Star Tribune, a Farmington furniture store which has been an imposing sight along MN-50 will close and then reopen as a wildlife education center and bar/grill.
From the article:
“The Habitat” will display a variety of native animals in their natural surroundings inside large, fenced-in pens. The inside of the log building will feature a bar and grill and gift shop. The walls will be adorned with animal mounts accompanied by educational text.
This is certainly an interesting idea and one that I welcome in the area but I really have to wonder about the survival rate of a large endeavor such as this. Let’s compare the well known North American Bear Center in Ely to this project in Farmington:
1. Ely is a tourist destination with many people flocking there at all times of the year for outdoor activities. While that’s true of Ely, Farmington has no such visibility.
2. The North American Bear Center currently charges $8.50 for adult admission while The Habitat plans to charge $7.50.
3. The North American Bear Center has corporate sponsorship already, something which The Habitat only hopes to achieve at this point. But even with the visibility, admission rates and corporate sponsorship of the Bear Center, they are still nearly 3/4 of a million in debt and begging for money to stay afloat. Will these problems filter to The Habitat as well, especially after the changes (including landscaping to make you feel as if you’re “up north”–I assume like Ely, 70 additional acres of land for petting farm animals–which you can do for free at any number of local farms or the Minnesota Zoo) to the property to accommodate this venture?
Now on to what really intrigued me about this article…the fact that they are planning to have a bar and grill inside named the Predator-n-Prey Bar and Grill. Here are my thoughts on that:
1. Do we really need yet another bar and grill in the South Metro, let alone on the outskirts of Farmington (land of the Legion, Gossips, the Longbranch, etc, etc, etc?) serving the same old tired menu items such as Honey Weiss, Michelob Golden Light, cheese curds, and burgers?
2. Farm to fork opportunities are ripe in that area, why not try and get something a little different and really put yourself on the map not only for the animals but also the food. Make it a double-whammy!
3. Their website states this will be an excellent location for catered events with wildlife viewing at every turn. I guess I’d be more willing to go with the Minnesota Zoo for that type of event but being that I had my wedding there and while I hated their planning staff, I guess I’d be more inclined to do that then a new outfit.
—
Anyway, enough about what I think…how about you? Would you be willing to go to The Habitat to see their animals and eat their food or have your event catered there? Would this be something you’d be willing to visit more than once? Do you agree that a bar and grill just isn’t necessary and instead something a little more exciting might be better? Whatever you have to say about The Habitat in Farmington go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear what you have to say!
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February 24th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
I’ve always wondered how such a obvious large facility can do enough business out there to stay afloat. My only guess could be it was old family property and the income from other businesses or former businesses is what supported it. Or internet sales. I.e. I’ve driven by but never had an urge to stop in.
Thus my guess is, they don’t care. They’re gonna do it anyway. As I suspected.. after seeing page 2 of the article. It’s simply a new generation of a family with a different take on what they like. Eunice liked furniture, Terry likes animals and food. No due diligence done, I bet.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
It sounds kinda odd to me. Good luck though.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Just don’t ask where they get the meat from…
February 24th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
there is some family money there, they are an eccentric , well intentioned bunch.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
The bar and grill is a horrible idea, but as I have read in other posts, it seems that if you serve alcohol in the South Metro your chance of being successful are much greater. If you look at direct competition for this (I don’t even know what to call it) they are up against the MN Zoo.? They are too close to the Zoo to ever get traction in this area for wildlife viewing. If they have any chance it will be as a bar and grill. I wish them the best and I might check it out once, but I’m sure I will stick with my family Zoo membership for this type of activity.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
I don’t get it. It’s an interesting building, but I just don’t get the bar, grill, and wildlife education center combo. I guess if they can make the restaurant successful and take the money from that to fund the other stuff it could possibly work. That is really out in the middle of nowhere though. Hopefully it won’t become a country drunk hangout. That crappy little two lane road and a bunch of drunks could be trouble for the rest of us that have to drive it.
February 24th, 2010 at 11:01 pm
[...] Roehl’s stormy forecast for a wildlife education center / bar/ grill in Farmington, oven fries vs. the February blues, [...]
February 25th, 2010 at 9:29 am
That road is a pretty well traveled road. I’m sure they will get some folks to stop by that are on their way to Rochester, or Red Wing or Wisconsin. I can’t imagine it’ll be packed like a place in town, but if it’s a nice place and the food is decent I can see it doing good enough. Heck, I might stop in during a Sunday drive.
The only real concern I would have, and it’s more for the proprietor than anything, is that wild animals have a history of killing their keepers. I hope she is very careful and understands this, not thinking her animals are different. The recent death in Florida underlines this point.
March 18th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
This sounds like a great idea. I will visit often. From what I can tell its about educating people on hunting, fishing and how to get the kids outside. Its actually kinda funny to hear personal comments about the owners from people who have never even stopped in. Its also funny to read that all this articles information comes from a dif article and the writer has NEVER talked to the owner personally. She never states its a sanctuary, so why the comment on the meat? Opinions are just opinions untill you know the facts. Maybe before passing judgement people should find out the truth……… Education is the key, Not a bunch of gossip.
March 18th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Dan, your reading comprehension skills appear to be lacking.
March 18th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Oh personal attack. Was that suppose to bug me? LOL
There are so many more important things to do than argue with someone who has second hand knowledge and listens to gossip. Maybe you should go to there outdoor educational center and get outside and enjoy mother nature. Maybe you wont be so grumpy. Have a nice night.
March 18th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Dan,
No a personal attack would be calling you a stupid fuck but what I said instead was clearly fact. From what I can see, nothing about a sanctuary was mentioned here and the “meat” thing was clearly a joke. As for not talking to her in person, you’re right I didn’t because I don’t have time for that but since you seem to have personal knowledge of the operation why don’t you go ahead and give more information than two pointless comments?
We’ll be waiting with bated breath.
Thanks,
Bill
March 19th, 2010 at 8:24 am
“She never states its a sanctuary, so why the comment on the meat?”
Did I miss something here? I guess I’m not familiar with the subtle (or not so subtle??) differences between a “sanctuary” and a “wildlife education center.” If it was a “sanctuary” does that mean we WOULD have to think about the source of the meat?
Signed,
Confused and Curious
March 19th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I for one can’t wait for ‘The Habitat’ to come to Farmington. I wish they had one open already! So many kids and adults would have so much fun. It would put Farmington on the map! It’s to bad that some people commenting just don’t know what they are talking about. Gossip, gossip, gossip….are we all still in High School? Grow up people, and get a life.
March 19th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I wonder if someone could shed some light on this “gossip” thing we keep hearing so much about as I’m really not sure what the fuck these people are talking about.
March 19th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
If it isn’t a “Sanctuary” does that mean we’ll be able to hunt freely? YAY!
March 19th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Mmmm meat!
March 19th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Really? Put Farmington on the map? Wow. Because all of those other towns with wildlife education centers are on the map.
I was curious to know if a center like this really could put a town on the map. So, I Googled “wildlife education center minnesota.” One of the top 10 searches was the Audubon Center (http://www.audubon-center.org/). It’s in Sandstone, MN. Maybe I’m in the minority, but I’m a bit of a geography geek and couldn’t tell you how to get to Sandstone, and the Audubon Center looks like a place that’s got their A game on as far as education centers go, with a restaurant and everything. (“We are very proud to have been chosen the Official Best Environmental Education in Minnesota for 2009.”
So forgive me for thinking that a wildlife center won’t do squat to put Farmington on the map, especially with the well-established Minnesota Zoo just minutes down the road. Good luck to them though, hopefully they’re able to make it work.
March 19th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
I wonder if TBella is a wolf that snuck into a Wireless hot spot to post that comment…she seems awfully supportive of Wolves and not so supportive of high school (I guess I see her point since Wolves aren’t welcome in high schools, which in my opinion is sad).
March 19th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
I, along with hundreds of others are supportive of wolves and other native Minnesota wildlife. Minnesota Zoo? I haven’t been to impressed by them. From what I gather, ‘The Habitat’ would allow you to be close to the wildlife, and actually learn about them, in an up close and personal way. Having the bar and grille is just the icing on the cake :), plus the education center, and pond for teaching children to fish, since their parents are far too lazy to get off their butts, and allow their kids to play their stupid video games. Farmington WILL BE put on the map when ‘The Habitat’ is up and running. Too bad so may negative people can’t and won’t understand that.
March 19th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Oops…forgot to mention to Bill: “GFY”. You’ll probobly need to use your reading skills to figure this one out. Have a lovely day :)
March 19th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Well, if nothing else, your optimism is either inspiring or naive, or maybe both…
March 19th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Oh, and Bill’s reading skills would probobly [sic] be helped if what he’s reading were spelled correctly. ;)
April 5th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
They got a story at the Kare11 website today: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=847515
They now have live streaming video… well a picture that updates every 20 seconds, of the den of a mommy wolf that is due any day now. She isn’t in there yet.