Cory Getz 3, hugs a goat kid at the American West Heritage Center on Friday March 26, 2022.
WELLSVILLE – The American West Heritage Center is home to three-year old cowboy Cory Getz. He walks around the corrals with farm animals and their babies like he owns the place. He knows which corrals he can climb in and out of. He especially likes the kid goats; the lambs are harder to catch and the calf likes to lick him too much and he’s not real fond of that.
Cory’s father, Chance Getz, is the farm manager of the center and life there is the only home he has ever known.
The kid goats are fun to snuggle with, he said.
This weekend, thousands of families will come to see what Cory’s been able to get an advance look at: this year’s crop of newborn animals at the Baby Animal Days. The festival of newborn animals begins Thursday, March 31 through Saturday, April 2, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and continues April 6-9. Tickets are $10 each at the door.
With COVID-19 restrictions behind them they are opening the center like it was before the pandemic. There will be more hand sanitizing stations than in the past.
Sarah Gunnell, a staff member there, learned a lot of valuable lessons from COVID last year and said they hope to implement some changes with regards to spreading people out.
“We are doing more to space the animals and people out,” she said. “With two long weekends this year we have to handle the crowds more efficiently.”
The Utah Petting Zoo Gone Wild will be there from April 1 to April 2 and will have some of their exotic animals on display.
“Utah Petting Zoo Gone Wild is expected to bring a yak, camel, zebra, alligator and wallaby,” Gunnell said. “Yellowstone Bear World will be on site from April 6 through April 9.”
The bear line closes at 4:30 p.m.
“The pony and train rides are included in the ticket price,” she said. “We have a bison tour that cost $3 extra.”
Gunnell said the other living historical displays will also be open during Baby Animal Days. There are also wagon rides, food vendors, and people can choose their own adventure. This is the kick-off to their summer activities. Children generally love going down and mining gold and gems found in the mine.
The living history museum on 275 acres is expecting up to 30,000 visitors during the weeklong event and is usually the biggest fundraising activity of the year. The other big events during the year are the Fall Harvest Festival and the Haunted Hallow.
The mission of the AWHC is to create an educational and entertaining environment that inspires their patrons to learn, live and celebrate the American west heritage by exploring the diverse culture that shaped Cache Valley and surrounding region from 1820 to 1920.