“Life on the ranch” by Lit’l Bit

Hello,  this is Little Bit, the top dog at the Double Diamond Deer Ranch.  We are located 3 miles south of Cook Forest State park on route 36.  We are a short drive from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Erie, Altoona, Johnstown, State College ect.  I know this is important with these gas prices.  I want you to come visit me here on the ranch so I can show off my “deer” family.  And visit with your “dear” family.  I can’t believe it, but I have been reporting to you for 9 years now.

Don’t worry I can still handle the job.  I may be a little “wider” but I am also a little “wiser”.  You will usually find me at the front desk as you come in to pay your admission and get a hand stamp that is good all day.   Here at the ranch we now have 23 deer.  All whom have lived here all their lives and will stay till they die of old age.  Every deer has their own personality and characteristics  so that customers soon learn to tell them all apart.  In the summer months they are all turned together in 16 acres to run and play and  “bed” where ever they want to.  Every evening at 6 p.m. we have “Treat Time.”  My favorite time of day.  I get to go inside the fence and help round up all the deer (show off) and bring them over for you to pet and feed.  This is in the summer months. This is included in your admission and everyone has a good time.

We are open 7 days a week beginning Mother’s Day weekend through Thanksgiving. We  open at 10 am and close at dusk.  We have a neat gift shop with lots of different stuff, like this past year we got novelty socks and underwear and everyone loves them.  Who knew??? We have everything from toys to hand carved antler jewelry.  We even sell shirt’s with my picture on.  Just in case you miss me when your gone.  Also in the gift shop you may see the 2 newest  family members Tippy and Whiskers.  They are brothers, and of the feline variety.  Yes, more cats.  I have 5 cats to contend with here now.  But I give them all a run for their money.   Attached to our gift shop we also have our wildlife museum “The Buck Barn”.  It now contains 104 taxidermy displays.  We have many world class bucks on display including a full body replica of “Goliath” world’s largest whitetail deer.  And there is always something new being added.  Everything from mouse to a moose.

Our Flea Market, located next door, begins its 12th season.  It is indoor and outdoors and there is room for over 30 vendors.  Each year we have some really friendly vendors who give me “treats” and a pet, or let me sit with them behind their tables.  I like going over to the flea market.  And you will too.  Lots of neat stuff that you can afford.  It is open every weekend from beginning of May until mid October.  So if your up at your camp and run out of something be sure to check our flea market to see if we have it.  Might save a trip to Brookville or Clarion. (those gas prices again.)

Well I gotta go make my rounds, there is always a cat to chase, a bunny to visit (yes, I am not allowed to chase them) or just sleeping on the couch my favorite past time.  Hope to see you this season.  I will be waiting  to hear that familiar, “Where’s Little Bit?”