Valley Of The Kings Sanctuary And Retreat

I am 60 years old and have been volunteering at VOTK for 2 years now and I am in love with all the animals and enjoy the people I work with. I volunteer about 6-7 days per month and drive an hour to get there. It is worth it! The sanctuary has been around for 51 years. The owners, Jill and Jim, have hearts of gold: very knowledgeable, compassionate and very strict with rules--keeping humans and animals safe. Their entire lives have been committed to the animals of the sanctuary. I witness the animals being playful and happy. We feed them 7 days a week, and I enjoy watching them eat. Also, the many sounds of the farm are therapeutic; Tigers chuffing, a donkey loudly braying (named Ruby), hybrid wolves howling, roosters crowing, etc.... I also give tours for members. Many members comment on how healthy the animals look and how much space they have. I love giving tours for people who love animals as much as I do. Yearly memberships, food pantry's, grocery stores, local farmers, volunteers and followers on Facebook help keep the sanctuary going. I have the utmost respect for Jill and Jim. As long as I am able, I will be a helper for them. They ARE heroes!

Basically a roadside zoo that adds animals to their collection while profiting off your sympathetic donations online. Failed multiple inspections (this is public info) and received many bad reviews so they reached out to solicit positive ones to keep the grift going. Just sad keeping these large animals caged/fenced in small enclosures. Do NOT donate to this place. Sad these animals will spend their remaining time here.

Was awesome! The big kitties are amazingly beautiful and the foxes for what we went for were beautiful. They seem to take good care of the animals. None looked starved or deprived . My son is sponsoring covu the fox and it took a couple tries to get him out of his house but when he did my son was overjoyed! We can't wait to go back!!!

If I could give VOTK 6 out of 5 stars, I would. They truly treat their animals like family and are incredibly kind. Although I'd love it if the cages were bigger, I didn't think they were too small; they are about the same size as most big, good zoo's. Sometimes it looked like they only had one area, but if you look closely, they had another big cage attached so they actually have a lot more room than some people think. I've never been to a place that tries so hard to honor their animals and give them the utmost dignity and respect. VOTK is in critical need for volunteers and funding, so I'm going to start volunteering there one or two days a month. If you are interested in having a really cool experience and volunteering there, contact them and they will happily accept you, even if it's only for 1 hour once a month. They are also always in need of meat and produce, so if you have any extra that isn't bad but maybe not fresh enough that you would want to eat it, VOTK will gladly take it when you visit. The cool thing about VOTK is that they aren't just a big cat rescue; they also have bears, over 50 barn cats that freely roam, emus, goats, horses, geese, alpacas, a woodchuck, foxes, and wolves. They are also a farm and barn cat sanctuary. They truly appreciate their donors and if you have a membership here (which costs less than a lot of zoo tickets), you can visit as many times as you like with one tour guide that will take you through the place and tell you all about the animals. Another way that I know that all of their animals are loved and happy is because when you approach their cages, they actually come up to you and show signs of trust. The tigers will lay on their backs with their bellies up, indicating feeling safe and trusting. Despite many of these animals being abused previously, it is clear that they feel safe, happy, and healthy here. VOTK is what every sanctuary and zoo should strive to be. Their mission is not to make a profit or exploit their animals in the slightest, but rather to give them a final resting place where they can feel safe and can live the rest of their life without being exploited or abused. They treat their animals like people and give them so much respect and dignity. I cannot recommend VOTK highly enough and think they are a truly unique and special place.

Amazing volunteers. So grateful a rescue like this exists in Southern Wisconsin. Highly recommend thinking of them for cash and food donations. There is a wish list on their website.

Very cool place to spend a few hours. A big fan of their mission. You do need to be a member (or with a member) to be able to get in.

Amazing place!- I've been a volunteer here now for a little over a year. I've gotten to know the owner, and volunteers as well as the animals. The animals are happy and healthy.

You can feel the love for all animals and see how much they care for them. From the volunteers to the businesses and stores that donate produce. If you care for animals at all, this is the place for you to show it!

This is a "Piece of Heaven". You will not find a more peaceful place to get up close to the animals. It is privately owned and operated. The animals are well cared for, I would say loved but "Spoiled" is a more accurate word. A must see, to truly appreciate animals. It is run by volunteers who are committed to these animal's hook, line and sinker. An incredible way to spend an afternoon and enjoy God's gifts. The exotic animals have come from horrific situations and live a safe, peaceful life and are looked after by people who respect, love and are committed to their well-being. Don't miss it-YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!

Meh, went there on a Harley Davidson ride to see what this was all about. I think Brookfield zoo back in Brookfield, IL was better than this. I was somewhat disappointed and sad for some of the lions and tigers housed here despite being an animal rescue for exotic, large, wild cats from Africa and Asia. the female lions are just lying around not active. the housing quarters seem smaller than what a zoo provides. Anyways that is all. Also the staff for both here and the facilitators at Woodstock Harley Davidson in Woodstock, IL should know better on where to park your motorcycles with such a group of 100 riders on motorcycles. there were other animals too like a wolf hybrid, alpacas, sheep and goats and peacocks too. wasted my $25 dollar donation for something i could have done better if it wasn't for my dumb co-worker motorcycle friend who thought this was free.

What a Remarkable Place! I have been to Valley of the Kings (VOTK) a couple of times and have a number of friends who visit at least once each year as members. Without a doubt this is an amazing place with amazingly wonderful volunteers. Most recent visit was August 30, 2015. The lions, tigers, bears, foxes, horses, dogs, donkeys, wolves, goats and.... all appear to be well fed and very content. The staff simply love these animals and it shows. They know the nuisances of each animal whether a particular lion does not like cameras aimed at them or a person leaning forward on a gate. Back to the volunteers: Can you name me a group of people who have the fortitude to step inside wild animal enclosures (yes, each animal is in a holding area nearby) and clean poop, scrub all areas and do what is necessary for the animal's well being? Oh, did I mention handling the fresh dead carcass (the food these animals eat) that they place in the enclosures for the animals. Then there are all of the volunteers I never see including those that handle the finances, medical needs and other aspects of each animal's life. Truly amazing. VOTK is a very clean place that is wonderful for folks of all ages. You cannot leave without being more educated and respectful of all wild animals. Truly a sanctuary for animals that make it there. Hoping this treasure in the Country continues its successful mission.

These animals are truly loved! It is most apparent in the newsletter full of stories about each animal. Also the volunteers and effort given to each animals preferences and dignity. While it is sad to see majestic cats living in smallish enclosures...thank goodness for people who have made it their life's work to take care of animals who have been discarded and who never should have been pets or attractions! I have to say I really enjoyed the other animals who have been given shelter as well. Especially the lamas! The horses, birds and bears are awesome too. This sanctuary well deserves support!

Who would expect to find a sanctuary and retreat for lions, tigers, and other large cats in a small farming community in Wisconsin, but there is one, and it is an amazing place. You have to be a member in order to visit--which I am--and I eagerly look forward to the times I am able to make the excursion there from Chicago. Unfortunately we live in a society where many exotic animals are used for what they can provide (and often abused in the the process) before being cruelly discarded. Valley of the Kings attempts to change that by providing a permanent and safe home for such animals. The task isn't easy, however, and it is only through the lifelong 100% dedication of the directors that it is possible, and even then, they would not be able to do it without a very dedicated staff of volunteers. Truly they put me to shame. If you are interested in becoming a member, or even just in supporting the work, I urge you to check out the Valley of the Kings website. You'll be amazed at what you see and learn there. And if you are fortunate enough to actually visit the shelter and retreat, it is an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life. I'm planning to visit again very soon and I can't wait.

VOTK is one of my favorite places on this planet. Jill and Jim do an amazing job providing shelter, food, and love for the animals. I first visited about 20 years ago and became a regular while I lived in Illinois. After my first visit, seeing the majestic cats up close, I came to realize that there has to be a God. Thanks to all who volunteer and donate to take care of these beloved creatures.