Want to stay overnight with giraffes? New East Texas inn will offer unique animal encounters
NEW BOSTON, Texas (KETK) – Nestled in the countryside of New Boston is 900 acres bought by Tony Dierolf and his wife Tiffany.
They opened a unique inn that gives customers the opportunity to connect with nature while enjoying plush comforts of a hotel: The Giraffe Inn and Safari. It offers a one-of-a-kind getaway right in the piney woods of East Texas.
What are these fuzzy black caterpillars taking over East Texas?
“Interacting with nature itself and kind of getting away and relaxing from everything,” Giraffe Inn & Safari owner Tony Dierolf said.
It started with a dream to own a safari, and only grew from there.
“Something that I wanted kids to be able to enjoy and/or the public to be able to enjoy,” Tony said.
Tiffany always wanted a place to experience giraffes up close, and Tony made it happen by bringing the Giraffe Inn & Safari to life. Their website describes the experience: “Here, the wilderness is your neighbor, and giraffes roam freely, visible right from your room.”
Caldwell Zoo welcomes new baby monkey
The main attraction are the giraffes, but they aren’t the only species you will see. The safari includes sloths, water buffalo, fennec foxes, lemurs and porcupines.
The eight rooms for rent that give customers access to feed giraffes. KETK reporter and weekend anchor Tori Bean feeds a camel Chuck wagon dining option on the property A look inside the gift shop at the Giraffe Inn and Safari The check-in station at Giraffe Inn and Safari A baby kangaroo at Giraffe Inn and Safari Masai giraffes Kong and Freckles seen at Giraffe Inn and Safari A look inside the gift shop at Giraffe Inn and Safari A room in The Lodge Bed and Breakfast on the safari property Alpacas at the Giraffe Inn and Safari A fennec fox at Giraffe Inn and Safari A lemur at the Giraffe Inn and Safari Inside the Lodge Bed and Breakfast A baby kangaroo during feeding time KETK reporter and weekend anchor Tori Bean holds Ruby Roo, a baby kangaroo KETK reporter and weekend anchor Tori Bean gets a kiss from Jaba the camel Tony and Tiffany Dierolf at the Giraffe Inn and Safari Zebras at the Giraffe Inn and Safari
If you want the full experience, you can book one of the rooms giving you access to feed the giraffes right from your room.
“You can see them in a big four-by-four picture window and just kick back in the comfort of your own room and experience the giraffe,” Tiffany said.
There are eight rooms with access to the giraffes, but if that isn’t something you want to do, they also have The Lodge Bed and Breakfast on the property. Not only is there the option to spend the night, but there are also daytime events where you can come and go, including spending time with the animals.
“We have fishing, we have nature hikes, we have all kinds to offer,” Tiffany said.
Over $60K on the line at Lindale Championship Rodeo
Guests can enjoy a petting zoo and drive through the safari. People can also get special animal encounters like feeding kangaroos.
“If the public will support it, our intention is to grow this thing, to an endless ability and offer a variety of options to do,” Tony said.
With a focus on preservation, they plan to hold educational programs and workshops in the future. You can look at their initiatives on their website.
Tony and Tiffany hope they can eventually expand to all 900 acres for a full day of safari fun in East Texas. The Giraffe Inn & Safari is hoping to hold their grand opening around the beginning of June.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
