Big Cat Encounters

Experience a Once in a Lifetime, "One-on-One" personal encounter with one of the planets most powerful, precious, and dangerous species. A once in a lifetime, edu-tainment experience. Parties Welcome.

One of the most unique tourist destinations in Pahrump is the Big Cat Encounters Ranch. Located in south Pahrump on five acres of grassland, the Ranch offers the opportunity for vistors to see tigers up close and personal.

Currently, the ranch has 8 rare tigers both

white and tabby hetrozigous species, a liger and ten rescued stray dogs. Visitors can pet the tigers and romp with the baby tigers, who are as playful as kittens. The Ranch also offers a "Swim with the Tiger" program and a unique "Big Cat Educational Program". Currently Karl appeared in Animal Planet's "Fatal Attractions.

Karl Mitchell, owner and operator of Big Cat Encounters Ranch, started in the animal world 25 years ago when he trained his house cat to ride on his motorcycle with him. A veteran animal trainer was impressed and invited Karl to help him in his business. Eventually Mitchell became a sort of animal guru, able to train animals ranging from antelope to zebras. His real passion has become the big cats of Africa and tigers from India.

As far as the background goes, Karl Mitchell is an ex-Marine and Vietnam veteran who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. After his return from the war, an affinity with animals that he discovered almost by accident, by training his pet cat to ride on his motorcycle, led to a career in Hollywood and on the Las Vegas Strip, and to his qualifying as a State of Nevada Humane Officer; but more importantly, he explained to us, it gave him the antidote to the anxiety and stress associated with PTSD.

Hence, twenty years ago, Mitchell moved to the virtual wilderness of Pahrump, and has been living there and raising tigers ever since. In addition to celebrities, those he's most likely to permit to experience one of his "VIP Big Cat Encounters" are people with medical conditions whom he feels could benefit, as he does, from the therapeutic value of being around the tigers. As you can see from the video links on his site, Mitchell gets very up close and personal with the big cats, which he socializes to a degree, but does not train to perform as they would on a stage or in a show; if you're a visitor, you might be lucky and get to hang out with a tiger, but if they're not in the mood that day and opt to go swim in the lagoon, he's not going to inconvenience the tiger on your behalf.

A $500 donation is given for one person to interact for an hour; any additional persons are $250 each. Visit the website for more information and photographs; if you'd like the opportunity to visit, there's a phone number and email address.

Donation Receipt

Trainer teaches animals how to act naturally
- Las Vegas Review Journal

Began with his cat

Karl began animal communication with his cat, "Mitten". She would ride on the handlebars of his motorcycle which caught the attention of Hollywood's top animal trainer, Ray Berwick. An apprenticeship followed, with Karl Working at Universal Studios, training and presenting animal stars for major feature films and TV shows. Shows include "Omen II", "High Anxiety", "Baretta", and "Circus of the Stars".

Ranch Itinerary

Big Cat Encounters