General Beauregard Lee Predicts an Early Spring at the Yellow River Ranch
Feb 02 '02
The Bottom Line Groundhog Day at the Yellow River Game Ranch is extremely entertaining, and the ranch itself is an amazing experience for all.
Before the movie, Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray was released many years ago, I've always held a fascination with the groundhog itself. What other animal has a holiday named after it!? (I know people call Thanksgiving, Turkey Day, but that doesn't count!)
Just the idea that an animal could possibly predict the weather sounds really amazing, doesn't it? Punxsutawney Phil has been predicting the weather now for many years, but being that I was raised here in the Old South all my life, do you REALLY think that I would trust the "word" of a Yankee animal to predict the weather? I don't think so! (laughing)
So, when my youngest son found out that there was a celebration of Groundhog Day rather close to us, we decided to do something really insane -- wake up at 5:20 a.m. to make a trek to see the Southern groundhog instead, General Beauregard Lee, at the annual Groundhog Day celebration at the Yellow River Game Ranch, Lilburn, Georgia.
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day at the Yellow River Game Ranch is something amazing to say the least. While not as elaborate as the celebration that we have seen in the movie of the same name, this experience with General Beauregard Lee, aka the groundhog, was one I will not forget.
Groundhog Day 2002
This morning, a record crowd of nearly 300 people attended the festivities at Yellow River Game Ranch at the home of General Beauregard Lee, the official weather prognosticator of the South. After arriving at the ranch, we entered the Southern Acadian style office where there is a gift shop containing various gift items, and foods that you can purchase for feeding the various animals on the ranch.
Admission to Groundhog Day at Yellow River Game Ranch is free until 9:30 a.m. for anyone wanting to attend. One of the clerks gives you a sticker to wear displaying Beau on the front and also gives you a free pompom shaker and card to wave saying "Go Beau! Go Beau!"
After walking down a darkish path lighted by Christmas tree lights, you can't miss where Beau is located. He has a well lit cage with a metal rail behind it. A marker noting commendation from the National Weather Service is displayed prominently on the side of the cage. This was given to Beau's uncle, General Robert Lee, who predicted the weather up to 12 years ago. The Yellow River Game Ranch has been having these ceremonies now for 22 years.
Even though we were there about 6:40 a.m., there was already a great crowd starting to form there of at least 125 or so people. Camera crews from all of the major television stations were there, and there is a problem with viewing the festivities because these cameras will get into the way. We discovered that it is better to see the actual view of Beau by going on the far side of the area near his case where the bell is located.
After many speakers and another pronouncement of yet another doctorate degree upon General Lee, Beau was inticed to come out of his elaborate new Southern "mansion" by his cheerers who waved many signs, were dressed for the occasion, and chanted as the bell was rung -- and Beau emerged rather gingerly from his home on his own. At this point the officials of the ranch declared that he had not seen his shadow and that we would have an early spring.
Needless to say this was an interesting experience to say the least. With everyone whooping, it was not cold at all even though outside the temperature stood at 39 degrees as dawn emerged here in Georgia. And after the pronouncement, most of the individuals who attended the festivities, went along the ranch to view the rest of the animals there.
Yellow River Game Ranch
This was my first visit to the Yellow River Game Ranch, and it will not be my last. This amazing ranch does not hold exotic animals such as ZooAtlanta, but it holds a charm all its own. On over 20 acres, there are numerous species of wildlife and domestic farm animals all available for everyone to view and/or pet.
I was amazed to see black bears, cougars, wildcats, and coyotes. I was even more amazed to see deer free to roam all over the ranch coming up to people to be petted and fed. Children were able to interact with all sorts of farm animals of all kinds. Everything is right there in front of you where you can see things face to face.
One of the most amazing things for me today was to see a cougar just a couple of feet from me. The cougar was laid out on the caged area and purring so loud it sounded like thunder -- a very content animal indeed. The story behind most of the animals there at the ranch is that they were rescued or had imperfections that would cause them to not be able to survive in the wild.
There's a trail that you can follow throughout the park to see all of these various animals who are all labeled as to their names and habitats. While there are no official 'concessions" there is a coke machine around the trail that you can stop and refresh yourself on the way.
The gift shop is filled with amazing trinkets and treats that you can purchase for the animals to eat. On the trail there are vending machines though that you can put change in to get additional treats as well.
Prices for the game rance are as follows:
12 Years and Up - $6.00
Ages 3 to 11 - $5.00
One Child - Under Age Three - Free With Adult Admission
The hours of Yellow River Game Ranch are:
Regular Hours: 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Drawbacks to the Yellow River Game Ranch
The main drawbacks to the Yellow River Game Ranch are the following:
Non-Lit Sign
If you are traveling to Groundhog Day at the Yellow River Game Ranch, and you do not know where it is exactly, it is easy to get lost. The sign that indicates the entrance is not lit and it is not at an intersection of a busy street. You'll have to watch your mileage if you have made a map on Mapquest to make sure you do not pass it up!
Gamey Smell
The next thing that is a deterent to enjoying the game ranch is that there is a smell about the place on many areas of the trail. I know this is an animal park, but even this was too much for me.
Lots of People On Groundhog Day
With the increased popularity of Groundhog Day and General Beauregard Lee, it is becoming difficult to park and get a good place to watch the festivities. In addition, the camera men from the television shows will get in your way if you're not in the right place. To get a great view, you have to get there right when the park opens at 6 a.m. or at the latest 6:45 am, or you will be unable to see what is going on.
Recommendation
Even without Groundhog Day, the Yellow River Game Ranch is a marvelous place to bring children of all ages. The animals are friendly and love to be seen and even after the crowds left, General Lee was entertaining the audience with his stunts by running around the many trees in his caged area and digging holes.
The tameness of the domesticated animals who will come right up to you with tenderness makes this an ideal place for young children to have their first experience with animals in a zoo type environment.
Definitely because of the close proximity of the animals and the overall family closeness of this experience, I will give a high recommendation to the Yellow River Game Ranch in general and especially for its Groundhog Day festivities.
I have to say that I had a better time that I anticipated and I look forward to coming to see General Beauregard Lee again next year.
Note: For more information about Yellow River Game Ranch, go to http://www.yellowrivergameranch.com .
Personal Note: I have to really "dispute" the prediction that was announced there today at the game ranch. After it was more "sunlight" out there, it was quite obvious that there should have been a shadow. However, in all of the 22 years, General Lee has been wrong only one time and that was in 1993 -- when that famous March blizzard caught everyone by surprise!
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