where moments become memories

You are about to embark on a magical journey through our farm by visiting 5 different stations.  Enjoy fun reindeer facts, Santa's quotes, and hands-on activities as you explore.

This cozy spot is full of cheer!

Here's what you can do:

Photo Op in Santa's sleigh: climb aboard Santa's century old antique sleigh for a perfect photo opportunity!  Imagine you're helping Santa deliver gifts around the world.  

Discover Santa's desk.  Explore the items in Santa's work area. Can you spot the following items?

Snow globe

Elves' To Do List

World globe

Santa's glasses

Santa's favorite reindeer photo

Santa's quill

Santa's nice list

If you brought one, mail your letter directly to Santa using our North Pole Express Mailbox. 

Find Santa's favorite book, 'The Night Before Christmas.' Read the book together. What is your favorite part of the story? Did you know that this tale was originally written by Clement Moore as a gift to his children to be read on Christmas Eve?

FUN FACT: 

Reindeer have been associated with Santa since the 1822 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "T'was the Night Before Christmas?"

Santa's Quote: 

"Spread joy and kindness every day.  The magic is in YOU!" 

Explore and learn with these activities:

Feel the reindeer hide!

Reindeer fur is super warm. It helps reindeer stay cozy even in freezing Arctic temperatures. 

Reindeer have two layers of fur. The outer layer is made of long, hollow hairs that trap air and keep them insulated, while the inner layer is soft and fluffy for extra warmth. 

The fur is also water-resistant, which means it helps keep reindeer dry when it's snowy or rainy or when they are swimming. 

Reindeer fur changes color with the seasons.  It's usually darker in the summer and lighter in the winter, helping them blend in with their surroundings. The color of their fur helps reindeer blend into their environment, protecting them from predators.  

Because the hairs are hollow, reindeer fur helps them float in water.  This is handy when they need to cross rivers or lakes.

Hold Reindeer Antlers!

Reindeer are the only deer species in which both male and female grow antlers! Males usually have larger antlers than females.  Can you find the male reindeer antler?

Reindeer grow a new set of antlers every year.  After they fall off in the winter or early spring, a new pair starts growing right away.

When antlers are growing, they are covered with a soft, fuzzy skin called velvet.  This velvet has blood vessels that help the antlers grow.

Reindeer antlers can grow into many different shapes and sizes.  They can look like a crown with lots of branches. 

Reindeer use their antlers for many things, like digging for food under the snow, defending themselves, and showing off to attract mates. 

Antlers are very strong and made of bone. Even though they look heavy, reindeer carry them easily because they have strong neck muscles.

Baby reindeer start growing their first set of antlers at about 3 weeks of age!

Reindeer Food Samples:

Discover what our reindeer love to eat!

Reindeer kibble: this is made by Purina and we buy it in 3 TON increments.  This is the primary source of nutrition for our herd and they eat 50-100lbs per day depending on the season. 

Oats, barley and orchard grass: Reindeer receive oats and barley as treats and they eat orchard grass for its nutrition and fiber.

Lichen: this is a reindeer's favorite treat in the wild.  We collect this and offer it to the reindeer - they love to nibble it from branches.  Lichen is a cross between a fungus and an algae, and can survive in the extreme environments where reindeer live.  

Beet Pulp: beet pulp is a bi-product of the sugar beet industry.  Once sugar for human consumption has been extracted from the sugar beet, the fibrous material left is made into feed for animals.  It is packaged in 50lb bags in pellet form.  We soak our beet pulp in water overnight to make it the consistency of oatmeal.  Our herd eats 10 gallons of beet pulp every day. 

FUN FACT: 

Reindeer antlers are the fastest growing tissue on earth and can grow up to one inch a day during its growth period. 

Santa's Quote: 

"Remember, it's not what's under the Christmas tree that matters, it's who is around it."

Observe our magnificent reindeer in their pen.  Our star, Elivis, is the big bull. 

Here's what you can do:

Reindeer Viewing: 

Watch the reindeer as they play and interact with each other or just have a nap.  Notice their unique personalities and behaviors.

 Reindeer bond for life and tend to stay in family units.  Can you tell which reindeer are related by their behavior?

Can you tell which reindeer are male and which are female? 

How many reindeer can you see?

A baby reindeer is called a calf. Calves are born in the springtime and grow very fast. Can you see any reindeer calves?  

Who is your favorite reindeer? 

If you had a reindeer, what would you name it?

Reindeer live 12-15 years in captivity. We have calves under one year old up to our 13 year old reindeer, Sprinkles.  Can you guess which one is Sprinkles? She has very beautiful antlers!

FUN FACT: 

Reindeer are excellent swimmers.  Their hooves help them paddle through water as they migrate across rivers and lakes. 

Santa's Quote: 

"BELIEVE in the Magic of Christmas and your heart will be light as snow."

Here's what you can do:

Feed our chickens and turkeys. They love attention and treats! 

Use the feed provided to give our poultry a tasty snack. Watch as they cluck and gobble in delight. 

Learn about poultry: Our turkeys and chickens not only provide us with farm fresh eggs, but they also have an important role in keeping our reindeer safe. Reindeer can become very sick and even die from a  tick-borne illness called Babesia.  Our poultry help to keep our reindeer safe by eating all the bugs they can find!  This keeps both our reindeer and chickens healthy, and the bugs provide wonderful added nutrition for our birds.   

FUN FACT: 

Turkeys can blush! When they are excited or frightened, the skin on their head and neck can change color.

Santa's Quote: 

"Even the smallest creatures can bring the greatest joy."

Here's what you can do:

Invite your friends to play!  Find a fun lawn game and take turns playing.  Which game is your favorite? 

Look for the reindeer true/false game.  Can you guess which are true and false? (hint: they're all true!)

FUN FACT: 

There are a lot of magical stories written in literature about reindeer, but did you know that reindeer have been domesticated for 2,000 to 3,000 years? The process of domestication likely began in Siberia and spread to other parts of Northern Europe and Asia.  The indigenous peoples of these regions, such as the Sami in Scandinavia and the Nenets in Russia, have long relied on reindeer for transportation, milk, meat, and hides, integrating the animals deeply into their cultures and livelihoods.  

Santa's Quote: 

"Goldendale Reindeer is a special place where my reindeer live a beautiful life when they are not flying with me.  Goldendale Reindeer is a place where moments become memories and guests become friends. "

ABOUT US:

We are Daniel and Tanya, married ER RNs, and animals lovers with adventurous spirits.  Yes!  We still work as nurses to help fund our farm.  

We moved to the PNW from Northern California during the height of the pandemic in October of 2020 with a dream to live a simpler country life and start a reindeer farm.  We purchased our first 5 reindeer in April 2021 and opened to the public in October of that year. We offer small group reindeer experiences to guests.  We are first generation farmers and hope to make this our 'main career' one day and retire from the hospital.  Daniel is an Army Veteran.  

Don't forget to share your photos and memories with us on social media using hashtag #goldendalereindeer

Word of mouth is the best advertising! If you enjoyed your visit here, we'd love it if you shared your experience with a 5-star review on social media, Google, Trip Advisor or all three! 

Want more? For more information about our seasonal events including our enchanting BELIEVE in the Magic of Christmas event, or to book small group or private tour experiences, go to our website at goldendalereindeer.com. Add your name to our email list and receive a free reindeer coloring page!

Thank you for visiting Goldendale Reindeer!