After hiatus during pandemic, Doebel's petting zoo is back for 2023 Christmas season
CLYDE - Christmas in Clyde hasn’t been the same since COVID-19 waylaid the free petting zoo that Doebel’s Flowers has hosted since the mid-1970s. Now, the goats, pigs and chickens are back, and Christmas is Christmas again in Clyde.
Actually, it’s even better. Eric Doebel, who co-owns the flower shop with his mother, Cheryl Doebel, transformed the petting zoo pen, making it bigger and more accessible than ever. The pen, featuring floor-to-ceiling fencing, was constructed closer to the front of the store, and its open-air design allows visitors to watch the animals from outside the fence or get a close, hands-on view on the inside.
Petting zoo now more open to public
“I had this vision of an open petting zoo,” Eric said “I thought people would feel more comfortable. It’s open, and there’s better traffic flow. I spent many hours and many nights building it.”
Doebel’s petting zoo features goats, pigs, ducks and chickens and is open whenever the shop is open. Current hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. A pony and a donkey join the zoo on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m.
Doebel's partners with Shooting Star Farm
Some of the animals belong to Shooting Star Farm, owned by Tim Sidoti, in Fremont. Shooting Star Farm’s petting zoo is well-known in the area as a popular guest at the SCRAP antique tractor event in Gibsonburg and at Spiegel Grove in Fremont.
Doebel’s partnership with Sidoti helped the petting zoo make a memorable comeback.
“Tim provided the chickens and the ducks, and he picked up animals from another farm and delivered them to us,” Eric said. “He even delivered straw and hay.”
The petting zoo was started by Eric’s father, Cliff Doebel, in the mid-1970s. The winter décor and sleigh, which generations have used for photo ops, are as much a part of the tradition as the petting zoo. Cliff taught Eric how to transform the flower shop into a winter wonderland, and Eric is glad he can offer the experience for his father’s customers’ children and grandchildren.
When customers leave the petting zoo pen, they are greeted by a sea of red poinsettias in the greenhouse and gift shop filled with holiday merchandise.
Poinsettias still part of Doebel's greenhouse
“We pride ourselves on our unique Christmas décor,” Eric said. “We also have a nice selection of grave blankets and pillows. They are handmade by me, my mom and one of our employees.”
On Saturday, Doebel’s was packed with customers buying snowmen, ornaments, lighted décor and artificial Christmas trees. Many took family photos on the sleigh, and dozens of children and their parents stepped into the pen to pet the pigs and giggle over the goats. Among them was 5-year-old Easton Lewis of Fremont, who was still smiling as he washed his hands at the sink after leaving the pen.
“I like the ducks the best because my brother likes ducks,” he said. “I like goats because they’re friendly.”
The petting zoo is free, but donations to help cover food and heating costs for the animals are welcome. The petting zoo will continue until the weekend after Christmas, weather permitting.
Doebel’s Flowers is at 401 West McPherson Hwy. For more information, call 419-547-9538 or visit doebelsflowers.com.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Petting zoo returns to Doebel's Flowers after pandemic pause
