Cynthia Nielsen feeds deer at Lagoon Deer Park, where visitors can also enjoy seeing the park’s 200-plus animals. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

SANDUSKY – Cynthia Nielsen grew up surrounded by animals at Lagoon Deer Park, a petting zoo that was founded by her family in 1956. By the time she was five – old enough to listen, she said – she happily spent her free time helping to feed and care for the deer, goats, emus, and other animals that lived at the park. To her, it was fun, but nothing particularly special. Doesn’t everyone grow up spending every day with your parents, grandparents, and an eclectic menagerie of pets?

Then Cynthia went to college and walked away with two degrees and one big life lesson she never expected: The greatest success life could offer her was found right at home, even if it didn’t come with a big paycheck.

Cynthia Nielsen holds a baby goat that was born at Lagoon Deer Park. About 60 babies are born at the park each year. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Cynthia graduated high school and enrolled in Heidelberg University with plans to seek a lucrative career outside the family business. But inside the college dorm, she heard stories of students who were raised by nannies and students whose parents spent little time with them when they were growing up, and she realized that her family business was a rare treasure.

“I realized how fortunate I was that my family was so close and that we look out for each other,” she said. “I took for granted how much time I spent with my family. That’s when everything shifted. It was no longer about the money. It was about seeing the value of being with your people, with your family.”

Lagoon Deer Park’s Scottish Highlander opens wide for a handful of feed. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Shortly after her mindset shifted, she took a biology course offered by Professor Ken Baker, and her new path was set. The class opened the door to eventually return home. She earned an undergraduate degree in biology and a Masters of Business Administration. Today, she and her sister, Amanda Nielsen, are fourth generation operators of the park, along with their third-generation father, Jeff Nielsen.

Cynthia hopes to use her business skills to make Lagoon Deer Park sustainable for the next generation.

“I want to bring my vision to the business and see the potential of what this place can be. I want to secure it generationally,” she said.

Visitors can feed some of the six different breeds of deer at Lagoon Deer Park. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Lagoon Deer Park is home to over 200 animals, including six different breed of deer, elk, peacocks, emus, audads, goats, llamas, and one big, friendly Scottish Highlander. About 60 babies are born at the park each year.

Cynthia’s long-term goal is to add more exotic animals, but for now, she is focusing on making physical improvements to the park that will eventually enable expansion. Thanks to a matching grant from Shores & Islands Ohio, new fencing was installed around many of the animal enclosures.

“We’re doing small improvements to make things better,” she said.

Every improvement she adds will help the business thrive into the future for her family and for their customers.

Six different breeds of deer live at Lagoon Deer Park, along with an assortment of other animals. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“For me, it’s about the people who come here,” Cynthia said. “People in their 70s come back and sit and revisit the good summers they had here as kids.”

Lagoon Deer Park has been creating summer joy for generations.

“We’re creating lasting memories for our family, and we’re creating lasting memories for other families,” Cynthia said.

Lagoon Deer Park is located at 1502 Martins Point Rd. in Sandusky near the village of Bay View. In addition to the petting zoo, the park also offers fishing and a gift shop. It is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.lagoondeerparkohio.com.