Checking out barnyard animals with my son Andrew at Suson Park Animal Farm in south St. Louis County was our Friday fun day.
Here he could see horses, sheep, cows, chickens, and other farm animals.
HISTORY OF SUSON PARK
The original property owner was Sidney Saloman, Jr. He originally owned Sportsman’s Park, which was where the St. Louis Cardinals once played and he even acquired the St. Louis Arena and became the owner of the St. Louis Blues hockey team for a time.
St. Louis County bought the land from Salomon in 1962 to turn into a park.
The name of this park originated with Salomon as a combination of his children’s names, Susan and Sonny. It opened to the public in May 1964.
SUSON PARK VISIT
I parked past some small lakes at the end of the drive into the park where I saw the animals and barns.
GOING TO SUSON ANIMAL FARM
We entered through a large red barn. Here they have miniature horses. Each stall has the name of the animal on the front of the stall.
A small section near the front houses saddles, horseshoes, and other horse riding equipment so you can learn a bit about horses.
Andrew and I talked about the horses while I pointed out a similarity.
“His blonde mane is the color of your hair,” I said to him.
“It is not.”
He seemed to take offense to the horse’s streak of blonde.
After here we went to our right and headed to see the goats and sheep.
Feeding the Animals
“Can I feed them?” Andrew asked.
He had seen an animal dispensary that had pellets for the goats and sheep and seeds for the chickens.
“Sure.”
Andrew put the quarter in and turned it while I caught the pellets. We fed the goats and sheep first.
The black and white-haired goats were way in the back until they saw us come up to the fence with food in our hands.
“How do you do this?” Andrew said.
“You have to put your hand out flat and they will lick it off with their tongue.”
He put it out and said, “Ewe.” Then laughed and he was fine with it from there.
Sheep were found in the fenced-in area next door.
They were less aggressive than the goats when it came to feeding.
Next, we fed the chickens, ducks, and geese.
“Don’t put your hand out like the sheep, just drop the seeds down on the ground near them and they will eat them up,” I pointed out.
I didn’t want the ducks or even the chickens to accidentally bite him.
The chickens were in the barn and they rushed over as we came up with the seed.
Andrew enjoyed giving the animals snacks.
After we were done, we cleaned our hands with sanitizer which was available nearby.
Dirty Pig
Out of the chicken coup, we saw a huge pink pig in a deep puddle of dark slimy mud.
“Do you want to splash around with him?”
“Dad, he’s a muddy mess,” Andrew said.
The pig snorted at him as we headed on.
Stand and Pose
Next along the walk, we stood behind a painted board that made him look like a farmer giving hay to the pigs.
Cow Life
In another barn, we came across horses and cows.
“What is the glass structure over there?” I said.
“I don’t know.”
“That is for milking a cow. You take the suction to the utter and the milk goes into the tank.”
We saw brown and white and dark black cows all curled up sleeping here.
Tall Order of Horses
On our left were horses with light brown coats, white hooves, blonde manes, and black eyes.
“Are they taller than me,” Andrew said.
“I think they are even taller than even me.”
One was kicking with his leg.
I told Andrew not to get too close.
Seeing Horses Outside the Stalls
One horse stood still and had a black mane looking at his friend across the way half-way in the stall.
“His but is sticking out of the stall,” Andrew said laughing.
OUTSIDE THE ANIMAL FARM
Going Around the Ponds
The park has three ponds and the closest one had a cement walkway.
“Can I bike around it,” Andrew said.
I had his bicycle and helmet in the hatch of the SUV so he rode while I walked.
We first headed up to the playground that included slides, a climbing wall, and slides.
Andrew enjoyed the ropes course that he found.
Next, we went back around the main pond, and then I went past it and towards the back using a natural surface trail.
I could have gone back walking long service roads and doing a loop around the backside of the park.
Yet, I headed back the way I came then turned to the right and went around the pond with a bridge.
Then I went between two ponds heading towards the farm area.
Also, back here is a children’s fishing pond with cement benches on the shoreline.
Then I was back by parking after having checked out the many ponds in the park.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Andrew enjoyed feeding the goats, sheep, chicken, and ducks. The place was clean and had plenty of hand sanitizer stations. It was also free, although donations are accepted. I think for anyone with kids and want to spend the day checking out the farm animals this is a great place to go!
The park itself also had walking trails around the nearby ponds and I hiked 1.3-miles around the lakes. This involved a mix of natural surface, paved, and gravel pathways so many surface changes in walking around the park.
DETAILS:
Drive: Take Interstate 55 south to Interstate 270 and take it north. Use the second from the right lane to take exit 2 for Mo-21 S. Continue on Mo-21/Tesson Ferry Road to Wells Road. Make a left on Wells Road and look for the entrance to Suson Park on the right and the Animal Farm is in the back of the park.
Hours: Animal Farm House 9 am to Dusk and Barn House Hours 10:30 AM to 3 PM. I would probably go when the barns are open to ensure seeing the animals.
Admission: Free, but donations accepted
Address: 6073 Wells Rd, St. Louis, MO 63128
MORE ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
Dad Hikes: Lone Elk Park
Lone Elk Park in West County St. Louis is the only place where you are guaranteed to see elk or bison in a gated park.
Here you can hike the four-mile earthen and rock White Bison Trail in the elk section or you can see the wildlife by driving through the park on a mostly one-lane road.
PARKS NEARBY
Dad Hikes: Cliff Cave Park
Near St. Louis is Cliff Cave Park with panoramic Mississippi River views and a cave to check out along its trails.
Bee Tree Park: A Mississippi Bluff Fit For a Telephone Executive
A former telephone executive mansion, Mississippi River views, and a forested lake were part of my explorations of Bee Tree County Park in south St. Louis County.
