OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Like most of Ocala’s defunct attractions, Tommy Bartlett’s Deer Ranch lost its footing as Florida’s theme park renaissance redefined travel. Yet, for a time, this gentle petting zoo charmed visitors traveling Silver Springs Boulevard by offering a peaceful wilderness pause.
Established in the 1960s by renowned showman, Tommy Bartlett, known for his Wisconsin Dells water-ski shows and “Robot World,” the ranch stood beside Silver Springs, sharing parking and attracting tourists before they boarded glass-bottom boats. Bartlett’s vision featured dozens of fallow deer – and occasionally other domestic animals – that greeted guests wanting a hands-on wildlife encounter.
Visitors could purchase feed to hand-feed the deer in open pens, pose for on-site photos, and linger amid rustic, hand-painted etiquette signs. The ranch also hosted seasonal events like “Santa’s South Pole,” complete with a jeep-pulled “sleigh” ride and holiday décor.
Tommy Bartlett’s Deer Ranch became part of the broader Silver Springs tourism experience. In 1963, after ABC-Paramount purchased Silver Springs, they engaged in a lease dispute with Bartlett – which led to Bartlett transferring control of the site. The attraction was then rebranded as International Deer Ranch, signaling Bartlett’s departure…