Forget sitting on Santa’s lap. People are posing with taxidermy reindeer in Montana mall
Forget mall Santas. People are flocking to a mall in Montana where they can ride bison and moose and “drive” reindeer on Santa’s sleigh.
Don’t worry, the animals came from a taxidermy shop.
Jen Mignard, an administrator for the popular Facebook group “Yellowstone National Park: Invasion of The Idiots,” posted photos taken at Big Sky Rides at the Rimrock Mall in Billings, Montana. In the photos, she appears to be riding a bison, a moose, and driving a sleigh with a fluffy white reindeer dashing through “snow.”
“I see Christmas cards,” one user commented on the post.
“This morning was spent petting fluffy cows, riding high capacity assault cows, mounting moose, and driving reindeer!” Mignard wrote on the post. “A glamor shot astride a bison…. The bucket list is getting shorter!”
Mignard joked that the best part is she doesn’t have to “report for a court date in Mammoth for any of it” the way someone would have to for harassing wildlife in Yellowstone National Park.
“Big Sky Rides, located at the Rimrock Mall in Billings, MT, is offering super unique opportunities to have holiday photos taken with some pretty docile bison, moose, and reindeer,” she wrote. “They stand perfectly still while you mount!”
“You look great sitting up there,” one user commented. “I’m glad there won’t be any court date.”
“Or hospital stays!” another chimed in.
She said the experience was great from start to finish. It’s $25 for a framed print, or $35 for multiple digital images, she said.
“Digital photos was my choice, just for you Invasion Nation!” she said.
Hundreds of users commented on the post, most of them joking about Mignard’s improper riding equipment or how “docile” the animals were. Many wrote that they wanted to plan a trip to the Rimrock Mall for their own Yellowstone inspired holiday photos.
Mignard also shared that the business owners are retiring, and the “amazing small business” is up for sale. She offered to connect interested buyers with the agent representing the sellers.
“We’ll be in Billings for Thanksgiving,” one user wrote. “Gotta head to Rimrock.”
This story was originally published November 25, 2022 at 2:38 PM with the headline "Forget sitting on Santa’s lap. People are posing with taxidermy reindeer in Montana mall."
