Founded in 1995, The Sanctuary has provided a home to 32 elephants retired from zoos and circuses.

[3] In 1995, Carol Buckley purchased a 113 acre parcel of land in Lewis County, Tennessee, and built a barn to retire her elephant, Tarra.

Buckley was the guarantor for the loan for a second barn added in 1999 at which time four elephants had been rescued and living with Tarra.

It was originally built in phases and then expanded whenever funding was available or the elephants needed more space or accommodation.

Heated barns located in the Asia, Africa, and Quarantine Habitats offer additional warmth during the cooler winter months.