The T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station is situated at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Barefoot Landing is a large complex on the intersection of 48th Avenue South and Route 17 and next to the Intracoastal Waterway . There is also a T.I.G.E.R.S. Wild EncounterTour, located just 17 miles south of here. The Institute of GreatlyEndangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S) was set up to promote globalconservation with educational and entertaining programs and was foundedby Dr. BhagavanAntle , who is a trainer of big cats and other exotic animals.
T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station is a wildlife exhibit and living tiger museum with all proceeds benefiting the rarest tiger in the world, the Golden Tabby tiger. It is located at the complex dockside by one of the pedestrian bridges and is open to visitors of all ages. The attraction is usually open March and October and visitors are advised to check hours of operation before heading to the attraction.
There are many types of animal here but of course the main attraction is the tigers, which visitors can watch as they play and relax including Bengal tigers, Siberian tigers, Royal White Bengal tigers and the Golden Tabby tiger. Visitors get the opportunity to have photos taken as they sit down with a full-grown tiger, hold a baby cub, or come face to face with a 500 pound adult tiger. There are other big cats here too as well as a grizzly bear, birds, elks and many other animals.
The Wild Encounter Tour is a guided walk through a beautiful 50 acre preserve, which is taken in the company of professional photographers taking photos and video footage to capture the experience for the guests. Visitors can interact with apes, orangutans, and chimpanzees, watch tigers swim, observe gray wolves, fly trained falcons and again have the chance to sit small cubs on their laps. In addition to this the tour comes across Bubbles the four ton African elephant and the Liger, which is a cross between a lion and a tiger and is the largest cat in the world.
The T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station is open daily and the Wild Encounter Tour begins at 10am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday but small children are not permitted on the Tour. Souvenirs and gifts can be purchased at the Tigers Den Gift Shop, which is next to the big cats' enclosures. Visitors can get more information about the complex from the Barefoot Welcome Center, which is located at the Dockside Village fairly near the T.I.G.E.R.S Preservation Station.
Many dining areas are situated in the Barefoot Landing complex either side of the lake, with options to eat inside or out and serving many different varities of food such as pizzas, salads, sandwiches and other hot meals. Of the sixteen or so dining areas, Bully's Pub and Grill has pool and darts for visitors as well as lunch dinner and drinks. Dick's Last Resort serves up buckets of messy ribs, chicken and some seafood, whilst there is live entertainment served in the evenings too.
