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Whether it involves a walk through experience in July or a leisurely drive through Aikman Wildlife Adventure has brought a new perspective on zoos for visitors as they experience up close encounters with some 150 animals.

•November 16, 2016•

By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

If you’ve ever wanted to escape to the “wild” or see animals and nature up close, you don’t have to travel too far. In fact, you can “walk on the wild side” all year long at Aikman Wild Life Adventure.

It has more than 150 animals that are a part of 60 different species and native to six continents. Located west of Arcola the park opened its drive-through experience March 11 with the walk-through following 4th of July weekend.

Since opening, the park has already had more than 30,000 visitors becoming a popular attraction in the area.

The entire concept of the park actually appeared as a dream to owner James Aikman. Back on October 22, 2013, he dreamed that he and his wife Kelsey were running a wildlife park.

When Aikman had this dream, they already had plenty on their plate with Kelsey  within two weeks of delivering their son. While Aikman agreed with his wife, he had the same exact dream the next evening.
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