Pinconning, Michigan - Deer Acres Amusement Park

Deer Acres Amusement Park has undergone some changes in the past year. The McDaniels, a family from Elgin, Illinois, purchased the park from the original and long time owners Rodger and Sharyl Cederberg. Among the biggest of the changes is the name: now shortened from Deer Acres Storybook Amusement Park to simply Deer Acres Amusement Park.

Also, unfortunately due to state Dept. of Natural Resources regulations we no longer have the deer! The park is still full of many other animals and storybook characters. We still have the rides and even offering a flat rate admission which gets you unlimited rides for your visit. [Kimberly McDaniel, 06/18/2009]

Deer Acres is an absolute classic roadside stop, in Pinconning for nearly 50 years. A virtual time capsule, and I have to believe this place is exactly the same today as when when people stopped here in a brand new 1959 Cadillac on their way to cross the new world's wonder... the (then) brand new Mackinac Bridge... a glorious view of the pre-computer era.

Outside is painted in 1950's turquoise. Inside there are all the traditional storybook characters in a nice park-like setting with picnic tables here and there. The park has a few interesting rides, including an ancient Ferris wheel that has been immaculately restored. It is probably from before WWII and has rivets everywhere and the seats are naturally finished wood. The Ferris wheel runs as smooth as silk. There is also a miniature train and a half scale Model T ride that runs along a guided road.

The main attraction, and the reason this place seem so popular with kids, is the large cage full of all types of young deer.. that is the Deer Acre part of the park. You can go in, pet the deer and feed them. People from the passing train must toss food, because when the train goes by all the deer run to the fence closest to the track. [Richard Weiss, 09/20/2005]

A Mother Goose theme park combined with a children's petting zoo.

"As you stroll down delightful storybook lane, you'll find yourself reciting nursery rhymes you'd almost forgotten. You'll see all of childhood's fantasy characters. (They're life size and sculptured right at the park.) Deer Acres Storybook Amusement Park, a family project, is noted for its beauty and cleanliness. A visit to Deer Acres Storybook Amusement Park will be a memorable experience for you and your family."

The above description is from their website. I was there as a child and then took my children there. I plan, in the near future, to take my grandchildren there also. [Jane Smith, 09/15/2001]