Lion Country Safari, the 254-acre drive-thru wildlife park in Loxahatchee in Western Palm Beach County, has been sold to a company tied to billionaire Larry Ellison for $30 million, ending 58 years of ownership by the park’s founding family.
The park announced the transition on November 19, 2025, stating:
“After 58 years of leadership and dedication to wildlife, conservation and education, Lion Country Safari is saying farewell to the last members of its founding family, as ownership transitions to the Larry Ellison family who has a longstanding commitment to wildlife conservation.
Our proud history and exemplary record in animal care, welfare and preservation will continue to be a core focus in the future. Operations will continue as normal, and our commitment to engagement, guest experience and wildlife conservation remains unchanged.”
Ellison—worth an estimated $250 billion—has been expanding his presence in Palm Beach County, including his 2024 purchase of the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa and a home in North Palm Beach. As noted in the statement from the park, Ellison also has a history of wildlife conservation, including opening a wildlife conservation center in California.
Opened in 1967, Lion Country Safari remains South Florida’s only drive-thru safari with free-roaming animals from six continents. The park says guests can expect the same experience and continued commitment to conservation under the new ownership.
