Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo
4.3(2.7K)google
3.7(94)yelp
Wildlife WatchingFamilyKidsInteractiveEducational
Overview
The Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo is a privately owned zoo located on Whittington Avenue in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The farm houses but does not raise alligators and has done so since it was founded in 1902. The farm includes a small museum with a collection of mounted alligators, a souvenir shop but there’s no snack bar.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeMay through September is peak activity for warm-weather reptiles. Aim to pass the gates before 11:00 AM; the historic zoo hosts its famous live jumping alligator feeding shows at 11:30 AM, allowing you to catch the action and comfortably tour the shaded petting zoo barns before the intense midday heat builds.
Getting TherePerched near the base of West Mountain at 121 Lookout Point. Drive from downtown Central Ave west onto Whittington Ave for 1.2 miles, then turn right north onto Lookout Point at the colorful alligator sculpture signage. The historic property features a free paved surface parking lot spanning the entrance.
Travel Tips
- The signature apex alligator live feeding exhibitions run exclusively from May through October on specific weekend windows, ceasing entirely in winter due to reptilian brumation. The front ticket register terminates all client sales 45 minutes prior to overall closing.
- State agricultural hygiene codes mandate rigorous anti-bacterial hand washing immediately before and after entering the juvenile petting yards. Bringing external vegetation, bakery items, or domestic treats is illegal; violations trigger property damage lawsuits.
- While protective perimeter fencing is deployed, alpha alligators retain explosive vertical striking capability. Parents must exercise physical custody of toddlers; extending selfie-sticks or fingers through wire matrices prompts immediate security expulsion.
Reviews
Positive
- A rugged, historic century-old alligator farm! You can witness hundreds of massive alligators aggressively feeding in open ponds right before you.
- Highly interactive for kids; toddlers can safely hold a small baby alligator for photos and feed fluffy miniature goats in the petting zoo.
- Beyond gators, it houses rescued regional wildlife like raccoons, giant tortoises, and peacocks, with simple, highly educational signs.
- Admission fees are very cheap and affordable compared to downtown spas, paired with easy free parking and zero high-pressure hidden upsells.
Heads up
- As a traditional century-old outdoor farm, hot summer days bring out a strong, pungent reptile pond odor and animal muck smell.
- The overall physical pens and enclosures look dated, rustic, and weathered, lacking the high-tech polished glass displays of modern urban zoos.
- During cold winter months, alligators naturally become lethargic and enter semi-torpor, remaining totally motionless and lowering the excitement.
- The walking paths consist mostly of unpaved, uneven gravel and dirt, which forms messy puddles after heavy downpours, hindering strollers.