Brand new state of the art busses will provide you door-to-door service for your camel adventure from the Eureka Hotel Casino.  Busses are equipped with charging ports for every seat.  Photo by Teri Nehrenz

Brand new state of the art busses will provide you door-to-door service for your camel adventure from the Eureka Hotel Casino. Busses are equipped with charging ports for every seat. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

The time you’ve been waiting for since early spring has finally come. The Camel Safari in Bunkerville is officially open for business and owner Guy Seeklus can’t be excited enough about sharing his very large, very cuddly camels with the world.

Trek around 80 of the 176 acre farm on an unforgettable safari atop one of their majestic camels. Your ride is led by an experienced Camel Safari handler. You will also get a tour of the farm and an opportunity to get up close and personal with your camel for an experience you’ll never forget.

Colton Teerlink grooms baby Fabio for his picture.  Photo by Teri Nehrenz

Colton Teerlink grooms baby Fabio for his picture. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

Seeklus moved the camels to the desert during the latter part of 2015 hoping to have the safari opened by early spring. As with most permits, plans, construction and inspection timelines that never work out on our time frame, the same held true for Seeklus and his amazing camels; but it was well worth the wait.

The farm is very picturesque with palm trees and the Virgin River bordering the farm and mountains in the distance. There is brand new fencing and shelters for the herd and clean, open areas with smooth pathways for touring. Your tour can happen either on the camels or the all- terrain Segways that are also available for rent at the farm.

Fabio is the newest member of the herd and the baby who will win your heart.  Photo by Teri Nehrenz

Fabio is the newest member of the herd and the baby who will win your heart. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

During the process of expanding his Safari to Bunkerville, NV (The Bellingham, WA farm and safari is still open) Seeklus had the opportunity to work with a variety of organizations in many different ways but was most impressed with County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick and local Mesquite Regional Business CEO George Gault.

Seeklus stated in a recent interview with the MLN, “I cannot express enough my sincere gratitude or how impressed I was with Marilyn Kirkpatrick. She is a politician who does her job and does it well. She gave me an invaluable number of resources that were available for businesses starting up in Clark County and other resources that really helped me out with getting the Camel Safari up and running here. Can you believe it, a politician who actually works for their constituents; how rare and how wonderful!”

The camels are eager to have contacts with humans and will reach through the fence, especially if you have Brussel sprouts; it’s their favorite treat.  Photo by Teri Nehrenz

The camels are eager to have contacts with humans and will reach through the fence, especially if you have Brussel sprouts; it’s their favorite treat. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

Seeklus went on to tell the story of a visit to the farm by Gault, his wife Linda and their granddaughters. It was a social visit. Seeklus invited them out to the farm because Gault had been so instrumental and invaluable in helping him with the particulars of opening a business in or around the Mesquite area. It wasn’t supposed to be a day that anyone was working but the conversation inevitably turned to hopes and dreams for the farm.

“It was said very casually,” explained Seeklus, “We were just chatting about some of my dreams and I mentioned that I would love to be able to get something going with the Eureka as a pick-up destination for the Safari. Then my attention was back on the granddaughters, his wife and the camels. I’d really forgotten what I said the minute I said it but George didn’t. He sort of wandered a few feet away and got on his cell phone, I didn’t think anything of it. I just kept playing with the girls and Fabio (the baby camel). The next thing I knew George was off the phone minutes later and came up to my side. He stood there for just a second and said in a low voice, ‘You’re all set to begin picking customers up at the Eureka.’ I couldn’t believe it, just like that; he’s really amazing.”

At the time of the interview Seeklus and his crew, led by Colton Teerlink, were getting the farm ready for a photo shoot with some of the former ‘Bachelor’ show women. The shoot was for the ladies’ personal portfolios and had nothing to do with the show itself but they were excited to have received that sort of recognition right off the bat.

Right now the Safari is offering only the basic services and tours but Seeklus hopes to expand services to include weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, family reunions or any other large gathering which will be catered by the Eureka Casino.

State of the art busses will pick you up at Eureka’s door and bring you out to the farm where you can relax and enjoy the day; the busses will take you back to your hotel as well. The bus is fully equipped with air conditioning, comfortable seating, a 22 inch television and electronic charging ports at every seat. Seeklus said, “I have a 16 year old daughter; I know how important the charging ports are.”

Spend some time with these truly amazing creatures by visiting the farm. It is an experience you will cherish forever. Camel Safari is open seven days a week. For more information on the CamelSafari, hours of operation or booking tours and events visit their website at www.camelsafari.com or call 800-836-4036.