Blue Hills Ranch operated without a license for more than a year

Stock image of a giraffe.

Editor's Note: Since the initial publication of this article Blue Hills Ranch was cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for operating without a USDA license. The article has been updated to reflect that as of January 2023, the facility has obtained a USDA license.

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Blue Hills Ranch, McGregor, TX, was operating without a license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in violation of federal law for more than a year.

Blue Hills Ranch is owned by Matt Leiberman. It is listed as a performance and event venue, often hosting weddings. The facility has also added guest rental cabins on the property.

The roadside zoo collects various exotic animals including giraffes, zebras, lemurs, otters, kangaroos, camels and others.

The facility offers paid safari tours, swimming in a hot tub with otters, and interactions with various other species of animals at the park, according to the Blue Hills Ranch website. Guests can also bottle feed a baby giraffe.

Federal regulations indicate that any facility that exhibits exotic animals to the public in commerce must obtain a license from the USDA.

USDA records indicate Blue Hills Ranch failed to obtain the federally required license to exhibit animals.