Bear Country U.S.A. announces a restructure of its ownership.

June 28, 2010
Author: Stephanie Casey

Bear Country U.S.A. announces a restructure of its ownership.

Following a legal suit to determine ownership of Bear Country, U.S.A., co-founder Pauline Casey and three of her children Shannon Ballard, Mike Casey, and John Casey, are now the owners of the popular Black Hills tourist attraction. Pauline's oldest children, Kevin, Dennis, Brendan, & Sean Casey, were recently bought out of the business and are no longer shareholders of the Corporation. “I am glad for the family’s sake that this chapter has ended. We wish Kevin, Dennis, Brendan and Sean well as they move on to other endeavors”, Pauline said.

The drive-thru wildlife park was founded in 1972 by Pauline and her late husband Dennis "Doc" Casey. Pauline will continue to play an active role in the management of the park. "I am excited about this new era at Bear Country U.S.A. and the preservation of the dream which my husband and I built so many years ago. We have been in the community for 38 years and look forward to continuing to provide a unique and educational experience for our visitors for years to come", she said.

Relatedly, two ranches owned separately by Casey family partnerships, the Casey and MillIron ranches bordering Wind Cave National Park, will be sold at an absolute auction conducted by Martin Jurisch and Associates on July 21, 2010.

""The Scouts had a great time at Bear Country USA. They have never been that close to bears before. The Scouts I had with me were the older Scouts that have backpacked in Yellowstone Nation Park, and Philmont, New Mexico and have been on canoe trips to Boundary Water going deep into Canada. At night they have always had to put their food in bear bags and hang them high in the trees so the bears could not get at it. In all those trips we never had a bear in our camp. After seeing your bears, close up, and see how big they were, one of the Scouts in the back seat of my pickup said ""Holy cow, now I know why we hung the bear bags"". After we drove through the Wildlife Park we stopped at the snack bar and walked through the exibits. The hardest part of the day was getting the Scouts away from the baby bears and back in the cars. (You have a great wildlife Park) We spent a week in the Black Hills, the main reason for the trip was to bike the Mickelson Trail, but the highlight of the trip was Bear Country U.S.A.. That night, after we ate, while sitting around the camp fire we drank a Pepsi Cola toast to you and your Wildlife Park. On behalf of all the Scouts and Adults from Troop 554 Littleton, Colorado, I want to thank you very much for allowing us to visit your Wildlife Park. Thanks again, Assistant Scoutmaster BSA Troop 554""

Rick Brentrup
Littleton, Colorado