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"Owlcatraz" Native Bird and Wildlife Park Business For Sale
Shannon, New Zealand
A unique taste of Paradise Price reduced by committed vendor "Owlcatraz" is a Native Bird and Wildlife Park boasting spectacular native bush, the Wairuru Caves and Lake Owlsmere with thousands of newly planted trees and shrubs. The main focus, however, is the nocturnal house stocked with New Zealand native owls (the morepork or Ruru). This is a purpose-built area without barriers between the visitor and these magnificent creatures. There is also a large walk-through enclosure for the endangered North Island Weka. 
New Zealand owls, known as morepork or Ruru
"Owlcatraz" offers numerous other attractions including farm animals, a Jerusalem donkey, domestic animals and familiar cage birds. One of the stars is a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo that talks, eats, meets and greets. Another star is the truly enormous steer BIG SNOW, a Romagnola. He lets children sit on his back - he thinks he is a human. Staff at "Owlcatraz" provide guided tours to locals and tourists from all around the world. This is THE PLACE for Fact, Fantasy and Fun and the interaction with tame animals provides Education, Entertainment, and Enjoyment for all age groups. In the native bush visitors find wooden and stone bridges, well maintained pathways, a wishing well, bird feeding stations, an old waterwheel and lots of fascinating ‘critters on the logs’. This is a truly picturesque and beautiful property. There is a gift and snack shop in the main reception building and a Thomas "lookalike" miniature train that runs from the picnic area to the lolly stop station. "Owlcatraz" is also an award-winning tourism business that regularly wins "Top Visitor Attraction" and "Top Host Customer Service" Awards. 
Happy tour group in the Reception Building
The owners of "Owlcatraz" wish to retire and they have put their successful business on to the market. "Owlcatraz" is in an ideal location just 1.5 hours north of Wellington and 30 minutes south of Palmerston North. Over 650,000 potential customers live in this catchment area. "Owlcatraz" is being offered as a going concern business with freehold title to land, buildings and the owner's residence. It would ideally suit new owners who want a country lifestyle and a proven business that, in its present format, will earn income immediately. There is also ample space for the new owners to extend the business by adding other birds and animals or to provide a café service offering teas and lunches. Tourism services "Owlcatraz" is a multi-faceted business with income from: - Guided tours through the Wildlife Park. Visitors come from word of mouth recommendations, from passing motorists who see the bold roadside signage and from pre-booked groups, especially schools and clubs.
Guided tour spotting a "critter"
- Sales from the gift and snack shop.
There are also opportunities to increase the bottom line through charging for miniature train rides and for tea and coffee. This has not been a focus for the current owners as building the property has been their priority. Freehold and leasehold property "Owlcatraz" comprises a mix of freehold and leasehold land on the southern outskirts of Shannon in the Horowhenua. The business operates from 6.6776 hectares of land with freehold title plus an additional 3.83 hectares of leasehold land. The leasehold land comprises the "paper roads" that surround the property. There is an annual rental for the leasehold land of $200. The property includes a reception building (110 square metres) with office, gift shop, separate toilet block and a two-room storage shed. There are several farm sheds including a large deer shed and a hay barn. 
Owners 4 bedroom residence
The house on the property is a large four bedroom character home (173 square metres) with recently added spa room ensuring total relaxation after the Park closes at the end of the day. There is a four-car garage (85 square metres) and numerous other sheds and out-buildings. The old Shannon lock up (jail) has been relocated to the property and houses an amazing collection of owl memorabilia. The lock up is on loan to the Park from the District Council and is to remain on the property, although not included in the sale. Assets being sold
A complete list of all buildings, assets and chattels being sold is available to interested buyers. Main items include: Buildings - Dwelling with garage, deer shed or barn, various farm sheds, storerooms, plastic greenhouse.
- Purpose built nocturnal house, weka enclosures with wooden house.
- Reception building with verandahs and office, toilet block.
Assets - Man-made cave complex, wooden bridges (5), stone bridge, pond and fountain.
- Large barbecue, outdoor wooden tables (6), plastic tables and about 40 chairs.
- Ride on mower, push mowers (2), microwave, fridge, water filter, sound system.
- Five aviaries, Lake Owlsmere photographers hut, water wheel, wishing well.
- Security camera, security alarms on house and reception, 2-way radios (5).
- Fog machine (in nocturnal house), signage, animal enclosures.
- Thomas "lookalike" train with 3 carriages, 200 metres of track and a station.
- Swings for children, glass fish tanks (3) with pumps.
Office - Phone, cabinets, shelving, cash register, video and camera.
Farm and domestic animals - Kune pig, a huge Romagnola steer weighing around 2000 kg, an Angus micro mooee, an alpaca, red deer, fallow deer, a huge sheep, a Jerusalem Donkey, two huge ostrich and other small animals.
- Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Love bird, lorikeets, budgies, canaries and finches.
- Giant Flemish Rabbits, Guinea pig, chinchilla, goldfish, gheko, and skink.
- Ducks at Lake Owlsmere, pigeons in the picnic area.
Day to day management at "Owlcatraz"
Business Hours:
Monday to Sunday - open from 9.00 am with guided tours between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm. Staff:
"Owlcatraz" is operated by the two owners with assistance from one full time employee, one casual employee doing maintenance, 3 adult casual tour guides on call as required, and two student casual guides (usually weekends and school holidays). If required, the present owners are prepared to assist the new owner, terms by arrangement. Shop Stock:
Stock at valuation will total $2000 to $3000 and is included in the sale price. Awards:
This Wildlife Park has won the Electra Tourism Business of the Year Awards 1998, 2000, and 2002 (each of the years that the business was entered). "Owlcatraz" has also won the Tourism Horowhenua Customer Service Awards. Permits:
"Owlcatraz" has Department of Conservation (DOC) permits to hold NZ moreporks, reptiles, German owls and North Island Weka. The present owners are willing to work with the new owners and offer training, and to oversee the birds until the new owners attain the standards to hold the permits required by DOC. All other aspects of the Wildlife Park do not require permits. Trademark and Bookings:
The business sale will include the "Owlcatraz" Registered Trademark, advertising brochures, lists of phone contacts, forward bookings, return visitors, and marketing. Advertising and Promotion:
Advertising is done through signage on the roadside and through advertisements in local newspapers, on local radio, and in Travel Guides. The business Web site http://www.owlcatraz.co.nz brings many visitors, especially from the schools. Best promotion by far comes from word of mouth recommendations from fascinated and happy customers. Call Ross or Janette on +64 6 362 7872 or mobile 027 253 3955 Shannon and the Horowhenua District The Horowhenua District is nestled between the Tararua Ranges and the Tasman Sea. The district is known for its temperate climate and for dairy, sheep, cattle and deer farms, market gardens, and plantation forestry. Shannon (population of around 1400) has a large primary school, churches, food and butcher shops, petrol station, cafes, and a couple of pubs. A number of farm-related businesses are located in Shannon including a transport operator, engineering trades, farm supplies and services. Levin (about 10 km away) is a bustling provincial town that offers good shopping, wonderful educational opportunities, and great sporting venues - from full sized covered swimming pool and fully lit Sports Domain to the new AstroTurf hockey centre. Nearby Palmerston North (33 km) provides all of the services to be found in a large city along with excellent educational and science facilities including Massey University, Polytechnics, allied Teaching Centres, and Crown Research Institutes. And Wellington, New Zealand's Capital City, with its vibrant night life is just over an hour away. To find out more about Shannon and the Horowhenua region, click on these links: http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/S/Shannon/Shannon/en
http://www.horowhenua.govt.nz/
http://www.horowhenua.org.nz/
http://www.lwtc.org.nz/
http://www.levinlinksgolf.co.nz/
http://www.levinnorth.school.nz/
http://www.horowhenua.school.nz/ |
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