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The Mission of the Elephant Sanctuary
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee exists to provide captive elephants with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well-being, and to raise public awareness of the complex needs of elephants in captivity, and the crisis facing elephants in the wild.
Links and Resources
For more links and resources worldwide, please visit the Sanctuary's official website, www.elephants.com. The Elephant Sanctuary is a refuge for elephants who have been held in captivity and performers in various circuses or penned in zoos now need of the peace and quiet of the Sanctuary to recover from their past. The About Us page has a list of values and
Although visitors are not permitted at the Elephant Sanctuary, the trust has a wonderful learning center in downtown Hohenwald, The Discovery Center, where guides will inform visitors about the history and interesting details of the Elephant Sanctuary. Be sure to read about the Center in our website, and then plan your next visit.
An Elephant Never Forgets
In 1995, The Elephant Sanctuary was founded on 110 acres in Lewis County, Tennessee. Tarra, a former performing elephant, was the first resident, and construction of the first barn was completed.
Barbara, a former circus elephant, was the second elephant to find sanctuary in Tennessee in 1996. That same year, Jenny arrived. An emergency fundraising campaign was developed to bring her to The Elephant Sanctuary from a Nevada animal shelter.
Shirley and Jenny were reunited in 1999, after 25 years apart. They immediately recognize each other from their previous lives as circus elephants. Also in 1999, the first EleCam, a live-streaming video feed from the habitat, went live on www.elephants.com.
Visitors were not allowed at The Elephant Sanctuary for the safety of both elephants and humans. Many elephants later and a Sanctuary encompassing 2,700 acres of peace for its residents, the EleCam system and the Elephant Discovery Center were welcome additions to engage adults and children, to create awareness and educate them of the plight of captive elephants and the conservation efforts worldwide for elephants.
Visit The Discovery Center
Increasing public knowledge is key to creating a world where elephants no longer live under constant threat of poaching, habitat loss, conflict, or capture. The Elephant Discovery Center offers hands-on self-guided exhibits and educational programming that explores the many ways elephants shape our world.
Upcoming Events
HOURS OF OPERATION
Tuesday - Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed Sunday and Monday.
Holiday Hours
Closed November 24th-26th
Closed December 23rd-24th
Closed December 31st
The elephants' habitats are closed to the public. Visitors to The Discovery Center will not see or interact with elephants.
PARKING AND ACCESSIBILITYPlan Your Visit
The Elephant Discovery Center is open to walk-in visitors, groups, and fieldtrips.
Distance Learning Program
For more information and to request a Distance Learning program, please email Morgan Kaelin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 931-796-6500 ext. 108.
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Nashville’s Big Back Yard, an economic and tourism initiative focused on a natural watershed region wending through the Natchez Trace National Parkway, features 12 rural communities. Leiper’s Fork is the northern anchor, not too far from Nashville. The Big Back Yard journey traverses Tennessee’s southwest quarter down into Alabama’s legendary Shoals region—the mother ship of American music.
The featured rural communities’ common thread is the historic architecture and a timeless, charming small-town atmosphere, some with a river running through it.
Join correspondent Tom Wilmer for an exploration of Nashville’s Big Back Yard with Aubrey Preston, the visionary behind the program. Preston, a resident of Leiper’s Fork, realized there are upside economic and cultural opportunities in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic for refugees from urban centers across America, seeking a rural alternative to urban life.
Next up is a visit with Mike Wolfe, host of History Channel’s 'American Pickers' tv series, at his home in Leiper’s Fork. Wolfe takes us on a journey across America and close to home, providing a contextual lens for Nashville’s Big Back Yard’s various initiatives.
We also speak to Liz McLaurin, president of the Land Trust for Tennessee in West Nashville. The Land Trust is a true greater-good engine of engagement for those who want to become involved with Nashville’s Big Back Yard’s Land Trust preservation initiatives.
You are invited to subscribe to the Lowell Thomas Award-winning podcast travel show, Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, featured on the NPR Podcast Directory, Apple Podcast, iHeartradio, the NPR One App & Stitcher.com. Twitter: TomCWilmer. Instagram: Thomas.Wilmer. Underwriting support provided by Honolulu based, Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative.
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