About Avanti The Bear Den
A USDA-licensed private wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana.
A USDA-licensed private wildlife sanctuary in Crown Point, Indiana.
Avanti The Bear Den is a USDA-licensed private wildlife sanctuary and cabin experience in Crown Point, Indiana, one hour southeast of Chicago. The property is home to three permanent resident animals: Avanti the black bear, Bonnie and Clyde the mute swans, and Ethel the elk. Avanti is approximately 20 years old, Clyde is 12, Bonnie is one year old, and Ethel is approximately 30, the oldest of the three species at the property.
This is not a zoo, a petting farm, or a roadside attraction. It is a licensed facility that has operated under the standards of the USDA Animal Welfare Act since [FOUNDING-YEAR]. One private cabin sits on the property, accommodating up to four guests at a time. No other visitors are on the grounds during a stay.
The animals here are not exhibits. They are residents. The property exists to give them a permanent home and, where appropriate, to let guests share in that space.
[OWNER-NAME] founded Avanti The Bear Den in [FOUNDING-YEAR] in Crown Point, Indiana. [PROPERTY-HISTORY, 2-3 sentences, owner-supplied]
The USDA Animal Welfare Act license was obtained in [USDA-LICENSE-DATE]. It governs the exhibition, care, housing, and feeding of every animal on the property. The license is not a formality. It requires annual compliance and is subject to federal inspection.
[OWNER-NAME] has operated the sanctuary continuously since [FOUNDING-YEAR]. The property has never been open to general public visitation. From the beginning, the model has been one group of guests at a time, staying in the single private cabin on the grounds.
Each of the three resident animals has a history. They are permanent residents, not seasonal attractions. Here is how each one came to live at Avanti The Bear Den.
Avanti is a male black bear, approximately 20 years old. He has lived at the sanctuary since [AVANTI-ARRIVAL-YEAR]. [AVANTI-ORIGIN, 2-3 sentences, owner-supplied. Do not speculate.]
Black bears in the wild typically live 20 to 25 years. In a sanctuary setting with consistent care, they can live longer. Avanti is in the later years of his natural lifespan. The sanctuary's commitment to him does not diminish with age.
Avanti hibernates from approximately December through February. During his active months, guests observe him at a scheduled feeding. He does not interact with guests directly.
Learn more about Avanti
Bonnie and Clyde are mute swans, a species native to Europe and Asia and now naturalized across much of North America. Clyde is 12 years old and has lived at the sanctuary since [CLYDE-ARRIVAL-YEAR]. Bonnie is one year old and arrived more recently.
Mute swans can live 20 to 30 years in a protected setting. Clyde is well into his life at the property and has become, by any measure, one of its defining presences. Bonnie is still in her first year, establishing her relationship with the water and the grounds.
Bonnie and Clyde are the only resident animals that guests interact with directly. Guests can hand feed them at the water. Both swans are present year-round.
Learn more about Bonnie and Clyde
Ethel is a cow elk, female, with no antlers. She is approximately 30 years old, one of the oldest elk living at a private sanctuary in the region. She has been part of the property since [ETHEL-ARRIVAL-YEAR].
Rocky Mountain elk in the wild rarely exceed 15 to 20 years. Ethel's longevity is a reflection of consistent, attentive care over decades. At 30, she moves at her own pace. She grazes on the property grounds throughout the day and is often visible from the cabin at dawn and dusk.
Ethel does not interact with guests directly. She is observed at a natural distance as she moves through the property.
Learn more about EthelAvanti The Bear Den holds a USDA Animal Welfare Act license. This license is issued and enforced by the United States Department of Agriculture and governs the care, housing, feeding, and exhibition of animals at regulated facilities across the country.
Obtaining and maintaining a USDA AWA license is not automatic. It requires a physical inspection of the facility, documentation of animal care practices, compliance with federal housing and space standards, and ongoing renewal. The license covers Avanti, Bonnie, Clyde, and Ethel by name.
The USDA Animal Welfare Act license operates alongside Indiana state regulations governing the possession and care of wildlife in private facilities. Federal and state standards both apply to the operation of Avanti The Bear Den.
The license number is [USDA-LICENSE-NUMBER]. It has been held continuously since [USDA-LICENSE-DATE]. Federal inspectors have access to the property for compliance review. The property has never operated without a valid license.
[OWNER-NAME] has lived and worked on this property since [FOUNDING-YEAR]. [OWNER-BIO, 3-5 sentences, owner-supplied]
The day-to-day care of the animals falls to [OWNER-NAME] and [OWNER-STAFF-NOTE].
Avanti The Bear Den is not a business that happened to acquire animals. The animals came first. The cabin experience was built around them.
A lot of places call themselves sanctuaries. Here is what distinguishes Avanti The Bear Den.
The property also sits within a stretch of working Indiana woodland. White-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and coyotes move through the grounds regularly. None of these animals are managed or fed. Their presence is incidental and, for most guests, a welcome addition to the experience of the property.
Read about the full property experience · See all questions about the property and its operation
Some details on this page are pending confirmation from the property owner and will be updated before launch. The USDA license, animal care practices, and property history described here are accurate to the best of current knowledge. Specific dates, names, and license numbers will be added as they are confirmed.
Ready to experience it yourself?
See Available DatesOne cabin. One group at a time.
Read about the stay experienceAvanti The Bear Den is a USDA-licensed private wildlife sanctuary and cabin experience in Crown Point, Indiana, one hour southeast of Chicago. The property is home to three permanent resident animals: Avanti the black bear, Bonnie and Clyde the mute swans, and Ethel the elk. One private cabin on the grounds accommodates up to four guests at a time. No other visitors are present during a stay.
[OWNER-NAME] owns and operates the property. [He/She/They] has lived and worked on the property since [FOUNDING-YEAR] and is responsible for the daily care of all three resident animals. Avanti The Bear Den is a privately held, owner-operated facility.
Avanti The Bear Den was founded in [FOUNDING-YEAR] in Crown Point, Indiana. [FOUNDING-STORY, 2-3 sentences, owner-supplied]
Avanti has lived at the sanctuary since [AVANTI-ARRIVAL-YEAR]. [AVANTI-ORIGIN, 2-3 sentences, owner-supplied] He is approximately 20 years old and is a permanent resident of the property.
Yes. Avanti The Bear Den holds a USDA Animal Welfare Act license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture. The license covers the exhibition and care of Avanti the black bear, Bonnie and Clyde the mute swans, and Ethel the elk. It has been held continuously since [USDA-LICENSE-DATE] and is subject to federal inspection and annual renewal.
The USDA Animal Welfare Act license governs the housing, feeding, veterinary care, and exhibition of the animals at the property. It requires compliance with federal space and care standards and is subject to inspection by USDA officials. The license does not permit general public visitation. The property operates under a private, limited-access model consistent with the license terms.
This is a question worth asking, and it deserves a direct answer. The animals at Avanti The Bear Den are permanent residents that cannot safely live in the wild. They are not captured from wild populations for the purpose of exhibition. They are cared for under federal oversight. The cabin experience is built around their welfare, not the other way around. Guests observe the animals in their living environment, not in a staged or performing context. Whether that feels ethical is a personal judgment. The facts of the operation are available on this page and verifiable through the USDA.
The daily care of Avanti, Bonnie, Clyde, and Ethel is managed by [OWNER-NAME] with [OWNER-STAFF-NOTE or "support from a small team of trusted caretakers"]. Each animal receives species-appropriate nutrition, regular veterinary oversight, and housing that meets or exceeds USDA standards. Avanti's care changes seasonally to accommodate hibernation. Ethel's care accounts for her age and mobility. Bonnie and Clyde have year-round access to the pond on the property.
Yes. As a USDA-licensed facility, the property is subject to inspection by federal officials under the Animal Welfare Act. Inspections evaluate housing, feeding, veterinary records, and compliance with care standards. The property has held its license continuously since [USDA-LICENSE-DATE].
A zoo is a public facility with general admission, high visitor volume, and typically multiple managed exhibits. A roadside attraction operates without the federal oversight that a USDA license requires. Avanti The Bear Den is a private, licensed facility with one cabin and one group of guests at a time. The animals are permanent residents, not acquired for exhibition. There are no public shows, no timed entry windows, and no crowd. The experience is the opposite of a zoo in almost every respect.
Avanti the black bear has lived at the property since [AVANTI-ARRIVAL-YEAR] and is approximately 20 years old. Clyde the mute swan is 12 years old. Bonnie the mute swan is one year old. Ethel the elk is approximately 30 years old and has been part of the property since [ETHEL-ARRIVAL-YEAR]. All four animals are permanent residents with no expectation of relocation.
The property is private and accessible only to guests who book the cabin. There is no general admission, no day visit option, and no public entrance. One group of up to four guests stays at a time. All visits are booked in advance through the direct booking system at avantithebearden.com/book/.
Avanti The Bear Den is direct booking only. Check availability and complete your reservation at avantithebearden.com/book/. One private cabin is available, accommodating up to four guests per stay. No third-party booking platforms are used. All reservations are made directly through the property.
Avanti The Bear Den is a USDA-licensed private wildlife sanctuary and cabin in Crown Point, Indiana, one hour southeast of Chicago. The property is home to Avanti the black bear, Bonnie and Clyde the mute swans, and Ethel the elk. One private cabin accommodates up to four guests at a time. The property has operated under a USDA Animal Welfare Act license since [USDA-LICENSE-DATE] and is not open to general public visitation.