Searching for activities during a world-wide pandemic for your family to do isn't an easy task. We're all looking for fresh air with outdoor exploration to get us out of our houses. We'd visited Build an Ark Animal Rescue in Ellijay, Georgia, for the first time last fall, and on Sunday, we decided to drive up from Atlanta to see the animals again. It's a large property so being outdoors and wearing masks when necessary wasn't that hard to do. Susan Littlejohn founded the rescue in 1993 in Rome, Georgia, later moving to the mountains of Ellijay.
You can walk around the property to visit with the animals in their enclosures and some like Bella the pig roam freely. Tom fed Bella who's a pot bellied pig who much prefers fruit over veggies. She allowed me to pet her head several times. Not sure I've ever petted a pig before.
Build an Ark is a simple place not an organized place like the Atlanta Zoo so don't go expecting a tour and fancy enclosures. In fact, make sure you watch your step while walking around. It's a farm environment and the animals really LIVE there. The rescue hosts retirement home residents, special needs groups, and visitors who either read up on it or happen to drive by. They do accept donations to visit and at this time don't charge a set ticket price. However, with costs of $5,000 to $6,000 per month to support the animals in addition to the pandemic, they may need to start charging for tickets. What you do get with your donation is a very generous box of fruits and veggies to treat the residents with and that's always fun.
Last fall during our school break we got to see the animals in their barn. The barn was closed this time when we visited and I can only assume it was due to COVID reasons. Not having visitors be in an enclosed space despite its size.
On Sunday, we wore our masks and greeted Ms. Susan along with some volunteers and chatted a few minutes. Once again, she gave us a nice sized box of food for the rescues. We also had a chance to use a food scoop (guess that's what it's called) with duck food to hang out with the many ducks either swimming in their pond or waddling about. The rescues on the “farm” are those that have been lost, abandoned. or past their prime – like the horses. There are donkeys, sheep, pigs, an alpaca, ducks, rabbits, puppies, cats, and sometimes more all finding their way to this happy and safe place. As I mentioned above, it is not a fancy environment, but it is one that's peacefully located in a beautiful mountain setting. You can safely ride in your car, and then be outside with the animals and social distance yourselves from the humans. There are chairs where you can hang out too if you just want to watch your kids or sit for a bit if you're on your own.
We'll go back again since we love the mountains and finding interesting spots to explore. There won't be any festivals this year like our last fall break, but Ms. Susan and her beloved rescues will still be there.
Build an Ark Animal Rescue
32 Eagle Mountain Drive
Ellijay, Georgia
