Contrary to Pahrump's colorful reputation and the possible connotations of the name, Big Cat Encounters is not a brothel and the "big cats" there are just that -- Bengal tigers (plus, one liger, the offspring of a male lion and female tiger).
Despite having lived in Las Vegas on-and-off for almost a decade, the current writer must confess to never having heard of this facility prior to receiving your email. However, having spoken with owner Karl Mitchell, it's clear that there's a good reason for that. Mitchell is a very private person who explained that he also respects the privacy of his tigers, and Big Cat Encounters is not a tourist attraction. It's not open to the public, other than by private appointment and these are granted at Mitchell's discretion or whim and on an occasional basis. (That said, there is a gallery of celebrity visitors on the Big Cat Encounters website, and the facility is periodically opened up to cameras for documentaries, music videos, and other media.)
As far as the background goes, Karl Mitchell is an ex-Marine and Vietnam veteran who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. After his return from the war, an affinity with animals that he discovered almost by accident, by training his pet cat to ride on his motorcycle, led to a career in Hollywood and on the Las Vegas Strip, and to his qualifying as a State of Nevada Humane Officer; but more importantly, he explained to us, it gave him the antidote to the anxiety and stress associated with PTSD.
Hence, twenty years ago, Mitchell moved to the virtual wilderness of Pahrump, and has been living there and raising tigers ever since. In addition to celebrities, those he's most likely to permit to experience one of his "VIP Big Cat Encounters" are people with medical conditions whom he feels could benefit, as he does, from the therapeutic value of being around the tigers. As you can see from the video links on his site, Mitchell gets very up close and personal with the big cats, which he socializes to a degree, but does not train to perform as they would on a stage or in a show; if you're a visitor, you might be lucky and get to hang out with a tiger, but if they're not in the mood that day and opt to go swim in the lagoon, he's not going to inconvenience the tiger on your behalf.
A $500 donation is required for one person to interact for an hour; the rate escalates at $250 for every extra adult. Visit the website for more information and photographs; if you'd like the opportunity to visit, there's a phone number and email address that you can try...
