CLEARLAKE, Calif. – After 20 years of sitting in a state of disrepair, the former Jules Miniature Golf reopens this Friday, Sept. 2, as Tatonka Land Miniature Golf and Zippies.

Tatonka Land will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday.

Owners Bunnie Carter and Robert Coker have spent months restoring the golf course to its original glory.

Over the past several years, the course had been vandalized and all the statues either stolen or destroyed. They were able to locate and restore a few of the original statues.

One of the statues they were able to track down was a polar bear that had been seen lying next to the course for years before it suddenly disappeared.

Thanks to the efforts of Russ Jonas of Jonas Oil the bear was rescued and found a new home with Craig Scovel of Highlands Alarm. When the word went out there were new owners Scovel returned the bear, which now wears a name tag that says “Craig.”

Carter and Coker opened Tatonka Trading in January 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It has always been my dream to restore the golf course,” said Carter. “I have invested my retirement money into the future of Clearlake and I feel this town is going to come back in full force for the community to have a place to be proud of.”

She added, “I remember while growing up here, the resorts were full with people and there were always people walking down the street laughing and having a good time. I felt the community needed a safe place for our kids to hang out and stay out of trouble, so we opened Tatonka Land.”

In addition to the 18-hole miniature golf course, guests will be able to have rides on Zippy Pets, which are battery operated, ride-on animals able to hold up to 300 pounds. Kids can ride them on their own or with their parent.

Tatonka Land is keeping it affordable for all families. Five dollars will get you an 18 hole round of golf or a ride on one of the Zippy Pets. Special prices are available for birthday parties, office parties, family reunions, etc.