Inside St. Louis

Grant's Farm

     Our inside St. Louis feature isn't all about food, but it is all about St. Louis.  This month we feature Grant's Farm, located in South St. Louis County.  While Grant's Farm does offer great food, and some of the best beer available, there is a lot more offered by this unique family attraction. 

     Grant's Farm is named after the 18th President of our country, Ulysses S. Grant.  He lived on the 281-acre farm with his wife in the 1850s, the time period between the Mexican-American War and the Civil War.

     Today the land is owned by Anheuser-Busch, to show the Busch Family's dedication to animals and their commitment to wildlife conservation and preservation.

     The farm is home to over 1,000 animals, represented by more than 100 species, from six of the seven continents.  While there are many different areas a visitor can enjoy at Grant's Farm, the first part of everyone's tour is a tram ride. After driving past Grant's log cabin, the tram enters the  wildlife  area  called  Deer

Park.  Here guests can view many different animals in their natural habitat. This area is home to many types of animals from various parts of the world roaming the 281-acre terrain.   Some of the animals that might be spotted in this area include: Axis Deer, Bison, North American Wapiti (elk), Black Buck Antelope, Zebra and many others.

     The Antique Warehouse is currently home to two of the original trams which toured visitors through the farm.  Today the trams have been replaced by more modern Ford vehicle trams.

     After the tram ride, guest enter the Tier Garden.  There are many up close encounters with the animals in the Tier Garden. Most enjoy petting and feeding the pygmy goats, and viewing the numerous other animals including Kangaroo, Tortoises & Birds.   Guests can also enjoy the Elephant Education Show,

where two African Elephants, Bud and Mickey, entertain the crowd.  Also during any given day animal encounters and sidewalk interactions take place, where the animal keepers bring their animals out for all to see up close and even touch.

     Finally, guest enter The Bauernhof, which is German for "farmstead."  The Bauernhof is a beautiful stable and carriage house surrounding a large courtyard, typical of a 19th century Bavarian farm.  As promised, this is where visitors to Grant's Farm eat.  Guests can enjoy  traditional  German  fair  including

 bratwurst and pretzels.  Other foods including pizza and chicken strips are also offered.  Here Anheuser-Busch shows off their great hospitality by offering all guest over the age of 21, two complimentary Anheuser-Busch products. 

     The courtyard is a great place to sit and enjoy a beautiful afternoon while sipping on a Budweiser and eating a bratwurst.  After enjoying your meal, a short ride on the tram back to the parking lot is required before exiting the farm.  However, don't forget to stop by   the   Clydesdale   Stables,   parallel   to   the

parking lot.  There guests can view the World Famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales.

     Grant's Farm is a wonderful family attraction.  It has recently been ranked the seventh best family attraction in the entire country by Zagat.  More than 24 million guests have enjoyed Grant's Farm over the past five decades.  All visitors to the farm can enjoy the wonderful atmosphere, the large variety of animals and the educational experience provided by the many knowledgeable staff members.  Grant's Farm is free for all to enjoy, however there is a $10 per vehicle parking fee.  So, plan a day with the family or friends, pile up in the car and visit Grant's Farm for a great time.

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ANTIQUE WAREHOUSE GRADE: A