Did you know that there is a bison ranch in nearby York, South Carolina? Tatanka Bison Ranch, at 8088 Kays Drive, York, South Carolina, is about 48 miles from the center of Charlotte.
It’s very close to Historic Brattonsville, Draper Wildlife Management Area, and Windy Hill Orchard and Cidery.
You might also be interested in this big list of animal encounters in the Charlotte area.
The story of Tatanka Bison Ranch
After Fred Ilse retired from the corporate world in 2014, he found an abandoned, but stunning, 215-acre property in York County. He envisioned it as the place he wanted to spend his retirement and realize his life-long interest in farming.
Shortly thereafter he was traveling through North Carolina and saw a herd of bison alongside the highway. He learned that in the 1700s bison were common in the Carolinas before disappearing from the North Carolina landscape.
Tatanka Bison Ranch became a way that Ilse could combine his interest in farming with his interest in America’s National Mammal, while offering something unique to the community.
Visiting Tatanka Bison Ranch
Tatanka Bison Ranch offers a several tours:
Safari in South Carolina Tour
Travel in the comfort of a 6-seater, 4-wheel drive UTV. It seats four adults or three adults with two children. Enjoy a conducted tour of the scenic ranch and the bison handling facilities. Then finish your 2-hour, educational visit with a close-up viewing of themajestic bison herd. This is safari-like experience, suitable for everybody interested in learning more about our National Mammal.
Cost is $125 per tour.
Red Dog Tour
The covered, 1994 Japanese firetruck will seat up to 9 adults, or up to 11 people including children. It has cushioned seating with easy step-up access. (It can also accommodate a wheelchair, up to 23” wide.) Take a 2-hour tour of the scenic ranch and its bison handling facilities. View the herd, while learning more about these amazing animals and how they are reaised holistically.
Cost: $15/adult, and $10/child under age 15. Minimum fee of $125 per tour.
Bison Buggy Wagon Tour
The covered wagon, with its cushioned seating has easy step-up access, seats up to 20 adults and
children. Enjoy the conducted 2-hour tour of the scenic ranch and its bison handling facilities. Then spend time viewing our herd, while learning more about these sociable, yet wild, animals. This will be an educational and memorable group outing.
Cost: $15/adult, and $10/child under age 15. Minimum fee of $125 per tour.
The tours are normally offered Sundays through Fridays, because the ranchers are at the farmers’ market on Saturdays. However, tours will be offered Saturday, September 11th, 2021. They’re flexible on tour times.
Call 704-860-2130 to book your tour. More information is available on their website: tatankabison.com.
You should book at least a day or two ahead. They don’t take walk-ins, since it’s a gated ranch. The bison are wild — not tame or domesticated.
On the two-hour tour, you’ll learn about the history of the area and about the ranch, the natural environment, and, of course, the bison, including their family structures and herd instincts.
You’ll take a ride across the ranch to the corral and handling facilities, and learn how these work and what they do there. For the last 45 minutes you’ll get a close view of the main herd.
The herd currently includes 16 calves, and you can see their interaction with each other, and with their “mamas and daddy.” You’ll get to see “Big Boy,” the huge bull. (He’s the dad.)
Because of the terrain the ranch is not wheelchair accessible. Also, dogs are not allowed, as they remind the bison of wolves, their main predator.
Purchasing Bison Products
Tatanka Bison Ranch’s primary mission is agritourism and education, but it is a working bison ranch, and offers bison meat for sale. You can purchase products from the ranch store, at Charlotte Regional Farmers’ Market on Saturday, and by delivery (within a 30 mile radius of York.) Please call 704-860-2130 before coming to the ranch, as it’s a gated ranch.
If you go on a tour you will get 10% off any meat purchases that day.
The ranch is a member of the National Bison Association and abides by their code, which ensures the humane and sustainable raising of bison.
The animals are 100% grass-fed and 100% grass-finished, and no growth hormones or antibiotics are used.
Learn more about Tatanka Bison Ranch’s products here.
If you enter the ranch store, you must wear a face covering.
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 
