Recently, Westmoreland State Park with his family
Brown who hails from Lebanon, Kentucky gained fame as an animal nuisance removal expert who uses an unorthodox means of catching the critters, usually his bare hands and is known for his signature call after success! Yi!, Yi!, Yi!, Live Action!
After hiking to Fossil Beach, Turtleman stopped in the Visitor Center and met with Assistant Park Manager, Steve Davis. Davis showed him around, gave him the history of the park, and let him see his personal fossil collection, even presenting Turtleman with one. Turtleman expressed a great interest in Native American artifacts.
The Turtleman wanted a picture with the ranger and presented Steve with a CD, DVD, autographed pictures and signed a plush turtle from the gift shop. Turtleman's wife inquired about the cabins, facilities and activities, expressing an interest in returning to the park in the summer while her husband is busy filming for the next season.
In an ironic twist, the previous day me and my son, Travis, Park Ranger at Shenandoah River State Park waited in line for two and a half hours to meet the Turtleman and get an autograph at the grand opening of a new Goodwill Store in King George, Virginia – the reason that brought Turtleman to the area.
While in the area, the family not only visitedGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument.
Assistant Park Manager Davis joked, "He came to Westmoreland looking for fossils and found me".
Davis is not so popular at the moment with some staff members, whom he did not notify of the surprise celebrity appearance, wishing instead to respect the family's privacy while enjoying the park. Several visitors did recognize Brown who graciously took time to pose and sign. He admitted to Davis that he was wore out after signing over 3,000 autographs the day before, which I and my son can attest to as the lines on Saturday at the Goodwill Store were three hours deep all day long.
Click Westmoreland State Park, and come out for some "Yi!, Yi!, Yi!, Live Action!"