Five generations on the same Michigan land

The land at 3262 Mertz Road has been in the Green family for five generations. Over that span it's been a working farm in a handful of different configurations — the way most Michigan family farms have had to be, to stay in one family that long.

In 1999, the family began raising trophy whitetail deer on the property. Deer ranching is a serious craft: genetics, land management, nutrition, and patience. Over two decades we built a herd with a strong reputation in the Midwest whitetail community, and in the process got to know our animals the way a shepherd knows a flock.

A few years ago we added the petting zoo and the public tours. The idea was simple — we get to see healthy whitetail, elk, and bison from our kitchen window every morning. It seemed a shame not to let families in the area see them too.

What makes this different

We're not a theme park. We're a working ranch that happens to open the gates on weekends. The tour is run by a family member. The animals are the animals we raise. When you come, you're seeing the real thing — a Michigan ranch doing what Michigan ranches have done for generations.

Our commitment

Animal welfare is non-negotiable. Our deer, elk, and bison live on the range with room to be animals. We don't push tours when the weather is dangerous for the herd. We don't let visitors feed outside food because it makes the animals sick. And we close for the hardest parts of winter because our animals need quiet time, too.

That's the ranch. Come see the herd for yourself.