Ten miles north of downtown Arcadia off U.S. 17 is a sanctuary and rehabilitation facility for exotic animals and endangered species. Started in 2000, in Punta Gorda, and relocated to rural Florida near Arcadia in 2006, Lions, Tigers and Bears, owned by Lynn and Dennis Wittmeier, provides sanctuary for wild animals that are truly a sight to behold.

As the sanctuary’s name implies, there are lions to look at, tigers to view and a 1,000-pound bear to watch, but there are also emus, lynx, goats and others, approximately 150 different creatures at this shelter. Much of the wildlife at Lions, Tigers and Bears came from private citizens. Animals came from people who wanted an exotic pet but, because of home foreclosure or the pet becoming too big to manage, wound up at the sanctuary.