The idyllic scenes of Deer Valley Ranch, not so far from the world-famous Plitvice Lakes, are as incredible as any place in a storybook. Here, roe deer and hinds will literally eat out of your hands. And the breathtaking nature will take you back to the realm of your childhood and offer the chance to escape from reality. Although this destination looks magical at any time of the year, it turns into a real winter fairy tale under layers of thick white snow.

A Perfect Place for a Snowy Weekend Getaway

Behind this beautiful place stands the Bićanić family. Their love for these timid and graceful animals resulted in opening a unique open-air zoo home to more than 100 game animals. ''For us, it is a privilege to take care of animals, and we do it with special love and joy. We are not the owners of the animals; the ranch is their home...'' - emphasizes the Bićanić family.

Indeed when you walk through this fairytale ranch, you feel the respect the owners have towards the animals; you feel the love. We usually don't have the opportunity to see these beautiful and graceful animals, not to mention get so close to petting them and feeding them from our hands. It just sounds unbelievable! But this is the greatest specialty, the magic we could say of the Deer Valley Ranch. Animals like to connect with people as if they wish to return their owners' love by giving it to others.

‍

Sightseeing Tour With the Owners

A walk through this beautiful ranch, 12 km from Plitvice Lakes and 100 km from the capital city of Zagreb, will fill your heart with warmth. While visiting the ranch, you can feed and pet deers and hinds and capture great pictures, reminding you of this unforgettable experience. After the tour, the Bićanić family will treat you to homemade local delicacies, natural juices, and liquors, as well as products from neighboring family farms. Sounds fantastic, right? Due to the great interest, it is necessary to announce your visit four days in advance. Namely, Deer Valley Ranch works only by appointment and is closed on Mondays. The time of the tour is determined by the owners according to the weather conditions at that moment. The tour price for adults and children over 15 is 13.27 euros per person. For children from 8 to 14 years old, it is 9.29 euros per person, and for children under seven years of age, entrance is free

‍

Things to Keep in Mind When Visiting the Deer Valley Ranch

The 15 hectares of Deer Valley Ranch are home to more than 100 red deer, fallow deer, and Slavonian pigs and horses. Keep in mind that while these deer are calm and not fearful, they are wild animals; after all, you are in their habitat. So respect that! Don't throw trash, and don't make loud noises because the safety of the animals is in the first place. Also, pets are not allowed.

If you want to visit this one-of-a-kind place in Drežnik Grad that looks like it jumped straight from the Disney fairytale, make sure to announce your visit. You can contact them via email or call; all the information is on their website. This is a golden opportunity to connect with animals and nature in a unique way and make beautiful memories you will cherish forever.

‍