Wolf Sanctuary Of PA

Smack dab in the middle of Pennsylvania Dutch country is a mystical haven known as Speedwell Forge where wolves and wolf dogs have lived under the care of the Darlington Family and a dedicated team of volunteers for more than 40 years.

Bill and Barbara Darlington welcomed their first wolf to the property in 1976, and by 1980, they brought the Wolf Sanctuary to life. After obtaining a permit from the State Game Commission, they began taking in wolves and wolf dogs rescued from illegal ownership situations.

After Bill’s untimely death from lymphoma in 1998, daughter Dawn Darlington moved back home to live with her mother and to restore the 1760 ironmaster’s house they called home.

She found herself increasingly drawn to the wolves and wolf dogs, and thought it would be beneficial to offer organized tours to educate the public on the lives of these majestic animals.

The wolves are paired up with mates, living together in very large spaces with plenty of room to roam, with the goal to provide as natural a home as possible to the wolves.

The volunteers lead group and private tours, which are both interesting and informative. They are all highly trained and well acquainted with the wolves, speaking at length about the individual personalities and tendencies of each wolf and wolf dog encountered during the tour.

It’s not uncommon to only see some of the wolves during the tour, but it’s well worth the time and cost to see even a few, especially if they unleash a group howl!

No contact is permitted with the wolves and wolf dogs, aside from the guides, who mostly interact with them between a double fence, occasionally petting some of them, but mostly just speaking about them with the public separated from the wolves by two very tall fences.

There is a gift shop onsite that features a very touching memorial to all of the wolves that have passed on since the Darlingtons first opened the sanctuary. Over five dozen wolves and wolf dogs have crossed the rainbow bridge, and their stories are told both onsite in the gift shop and online at the website.