Reindeer Ranch - Agri-Tourism Opportunity
Business + Property for Sale | 7.85% CAP | Popular Tourist Attraction
Marketing description
Welcome to Hardy's Reindeer Ranch where the North Pole meets the Wild (Mid) West. This is an extraordinary investment opportunity to own and operate one of Central Illinois' most beloved tourist attractions and banquet centers. Nestled on 10.5 acres, just north of the University of Illinois in the Village of Rantoul, this property hosts over 60,000 visitors annually who come to experience the Christmas magic and fun activities the Reindeer Ranch has to offer. This property includes a 130 seat fully equipped (3,456 sf) banquet hall with service kitchen, custom built (1,987 sf) timber frame gift shop, Amish built (2,240 sf) livestock barn/shed/workshop, (1,171 sf) pole barn, fenced pasture, parking and corn maze. The 3-bedroom (2,200 sf) farmhouse with attached garage was built from reclaimed hardwood and features an open concept and oversized 2 car garage. Sale includes land, buildings, all equipment, tools, tractors, reindeer herd and all inventory, as well as proprietary information including vendors, motorcoach tour accounts, website and social media accounts. For the past 30 years Hardy's Reindeer Ranch has been a seasonal destination for visitors and Motorcoach tours from near and far. The Ranch offers fall and holiday experiences for the whole family including an up close "kiss" and introduction to the herd of 23 real Alaskan reindeer, adjacent 10-acre Corn Maze, pumpkins, hayrides, Christmas trees, pedal race carts, and paintball gallery. Guests gather and warm up around the potbellied stove in the gift shop and stay for lunch at the Klondike cafe. Throughout the year, the farm hosts a variety of group entertainment packages and private events, including family reunions, school groups, weddings and company retreats. This property lies within 2 miles from the I-57 corridor, 2 hours from the city of Chicago, minutes from Rantoul sports complex and Air Base, and within 25 minutes of the University of Illinois's main Campus. This outstanding agritourism opportunity provides the infrastructure and potential to step right in to a well-established business model or bring your agricultural venture or vision to life. ***Sellers are in the process of re-platting and rezoning the parcel that the business operates on, this listing replaces a previous listing for a larger parcel of land+business+business property. Adjacent corn maze acreage is available for lease with property purchase.
Investment highlights
ABOUT THE REINDEER RANCH
The Ranch is located on the rich soil of Central Illinois outside of the Village of Rantoul.
The ranch is open to the public 5 to 6 days a week, September through December and hosts private groups and bus tours throughout the remainder of the year. Every year over 60,000 visitors come to the ranch to experience an up close and personal visit with the reindeer and spend time enjoying the meticulously groomed, park-like spaces full of unique ornamental trees and perennial flower beds.
The 10-acre corn maze at the Reindeer Ranch is legendary and draws thousands of students every year from the University of Illinois, and visitors from all over the state that come for the challenge. The design of the maze changes every year and is a difficult challenge with 8 check points. Open at night for Moonlight Madness, the maze can be done with flashlights for those who dare. This unique attraction has become an adventure customers look forward to every fall.
The gift shop has a specially curated selection of Christmas ornaments, gifts, souvenirs and snacks, providing a delightful shopping experience and decorating inspiration. The potbellied stove at the heart of the store, provides a cozy spot for visitors to warm up during the winter, enjoy the magical atmosphere and admire the craftsmanship of the building itself.
The Klondike Café, a banquet hall that currently seats 130, was built in 2000. Decorated to mimic a Wild West Saloon and equipped with a catering kitchen and restroom facilities, this space provides the opportunity to host many large groups for family picnics, reunions, weddings, and school visits. A service window on the south side of the building allows for weekend concessions throughout the fall season.
Additional experiences at the ranch include paintball, pedal cars, hayrides and a playground for small children.
The Reindeer Ranch is recognized by the Illinois Bureau of Tourism, Visit Champaign County and featured annually by local TV, radio, newspaper and online magazines as a unique Agri-tourist destination that is to not be missed.
THE REINDEER
The main attraction at the ranch, the herd of 23 true Alaskan Reindeer, are friendly, magical animals. One can partake in a Reindeer Experience Tour to get up close and personal with a reindeer. Visitors are given a treat to feed the reindeer and those brave enough are encouraged to go in for a “kiss”, a wonderful photo opportunity. Several of the reindeer are sometimes leased to other businesses during the Christmas season.
The reindeer live outdoors year-round, rotating between several pastures, with shelter from the sun and wind at their disposal at the North barn. Mark and Julie have learned to care for the reindeer over the years with the help of the University of Illinois Vet Med. The reindeer are fed a diet of hay, shredded beet pulp and oats and are fed twice daily. The Reindeer shed their antlers every year, the males in the fall and the females in the spring and these antlers are sold in the gift shop.
2 to 3 baby reindeer are born on the farm every year in the Spring and the Hardy’s open the ranch for limited hours to meet the babies and shower them with attention. Handling the reindeer when they are young and surrounding them with people early on, make the reindeer at Hardy’s so personable with visitors.
BUS TOURS AND EVENTS
The Reindeer Ranch is experienced in accommodating groups of various sizes and offers several affordable options depending on activities and the time of year.
The Reindeer Ranch has become well known in the group tour industry. The uniqueness of the farm and its offerings make it a viable attraction for the motorcoach industry. Aside from the reindeer experience, the Reindeer Ranch offers tour groups a chuckwagon style BBQ dinner in the banquet hall complete with a Branson style dinner show. Other options include the Interactive Midwest Mystery Tour, and customized receptive packages. The Reindeer Ranch works proudly with the Champaign County Visitors Bureau and other area attractions to put together hub and spoke itineraries for 1-to-3-day visits to Central Illinois.
Packages are custom designed for private groups of all sizes and can include lunch or dinner, reindeer tours, buggy rides, time in the gift shop and more. Weenie Roast packages are popular with school groups and clubs and include hot dogs, s’mores and activities as the Reindeer Ranch is a popular destination for school field trips as well.
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