John E. “Spikehorn” Meyer (1870–1959) was one of the most eccentric folk heroes and legendary showmen in Michigan history. He became a household name for founding a famous roadside animal park where tourists could interact directly with live black bears.

The “Wild Man” of Clare County: Born in Ohio and raised in Michigan, Meyer worked as a lumberjack, coal miner, and inventor before moving to Harrison, Michigan, in the late 1920s. Signature Look: He leaned heavily into a frontier persona, growing a long, flowing white beard and dressing strictly in custom buckskin clothing. Folk Storyteller: Alongside his friend Chief Red Eagle, Spikehorn hosted nightly campfires at his park, spinning highly exaggerated tall tales and yarns about the frontier for mesmerized tourists.

The Cage-Free Concept: Around 1930, he opened his Bear Den and Wildlife Park along old highway US-27 just south of Harrison. He raised more than 20 bears from the time they were cubs. Hands-on Tourism: The park was heavily advertised with a bold gate sign reading: “Only bear den in the world where visitors can shake hands with a bear.” Visitors regularly lined up to feed the roaming bears popcorn and candy, and watched the animals drink soda pop straight out of glass bottles. A Full Menagerie: While bears were the main attraction, the park also housed buffalo, deer, elk, raccoons, and a humorously advertised fictional creature called the “Flying Red Irish Bat.”

War with Wardens: Because tourists were occasionally nipped, scratched, or minorly mauled by the free-roaming bears, state conservation officers repeatedly tried to shut the park down for safety violations. Spikehorn openly defied them, retaliating by posting a famous sign at his entrance: “Feed Conservation Officers to the Bears.” Political Stunts: A master of publicity, Spikehorn frequently used his animals for political leverage. He once lobbied the State Senate by bringing live bears directly into Michigan's capital building, and famously brought five full-grown bears into a Detroit news studio. The End of an Era: The park operated successfully for nearly 27 years. In the late 1950s, a devastating fire destroyed his souvenir shop. Stricken by illness and advanced age, Spikehorn passed away in 1959 at age 89, after which the park closed permanently and the remaining bears were sent away.