Wildlife Sanctuary Circa 1970? (Largo, Upper Marlboro: land, rating, money)

[Calvert Hall '62]

Largo? Lanham? Landover? I'm sure it started with the letter "L." Future wife and I drove through an area that had lions and other wildlife. Wasn't much of a place; in fact, the only creatures I can recall are the lions. We just made the one trip.

[G1..]

Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary and Visitor's Center

[Calvert Hall '62]

Originally Posted by G1..

Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary and Visitor's Center

Thanks for responding, interesting place, but I'm recalling a set-up that featured wildlife imported from Africa, although, frankly, I recall only a pride of lions. Something tells me that it didn't go over too well and folded.

[MidValleyDad]

I seem to remember a wildlife park possibly as part of the Six Flags (or whatever the name was back then) is that Landover?

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by MidValleyDad

I seem to remember a wildlife park possibly as part of the Six Flags (or whatever the name was back then) is that Landover?

Yeah, that was near Landover. Out 214 a few miles. I think it was called Adventure World or some such.

There was a guy below Croom who had a bunch of exotics, but that's down below Upper Marlboro near Baden.

[kjg1963]

It was the Largo Wildlife Preserve in the early 70's. I remember going there when it was renamed Lion Country Safari. I think it was renamed again as Wild World and then Adventure World and now Six Flags.

[Calvert Hall '62]

Wow! Thanks, guys. Glad I followed up. Thought for a while there I may have been going crazy imagining the place.

[NativeTongue]

Never heard of this place (too young), but my first thought would've been in Largo/Upper Marlboro where Six Flags is. Looks like it closed since it wasn't generating enough money after ABC bought it.

[crisgodfrey]

It was called Lion Country Safari originally. That land became Six Flags. It was located in Largo. The last time I remember going there was before Kings Dominion opened in 1972. Before the official opening of Kings Dominion in 1975, there was only an african village and a very similar "lion country safari" but with a monorail instead of having to drive your car. In the african village, there was a movie building where you could see information about the future of the park. I think most of the business that would have gone to Largo, ended up in Kings Dominion.

[Moth]

Originally Posted by crisgodfrey

It was called Lion Country Safari originally. That land became Six Flags. It was located in Largo. The last time I remember going there was before Kings Dominion opened in 1972. Before the official opening of Kings Dominion in 1975, there was only an african village and a very similar "lion country safari" but with a monorail instead of having to drive your car. In the african village, there was a movie building where you could see information about the future of the park. I think most of the business that would have gone to Largo, ended up in Kings Dominion.

Yea I remember that place.

They advertised on TV- or was that when it went to Kings Dominion? Some guy with a quasi-South African/British Colonial accent would narrate, "My name is Gaylord. Come see my friends at Lion Country Safari!