Description: One of the most popular stops for families and visitors in town is the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. One of the oldest sites of it's kind in the nation, this park has been continuously maintained since 1893. After hearing about it for years (even from my grandparents who remember visiting during their St. Augustine honeymoon) and living only a couple miles away, we finally visited in the spring.
Located across from another popular site, the Lighthouse, this park is on the National Registry for Historical Places. Surprisingly, it houses quite a collection of species within the grounds and even though it's not too large, it's a great half-day site to see. The main building houses a small museum and gift shop. Here you buy your ticket and pick up the daily show schedules as well as informational brochures and a map.
Check out the website for updated show schedules as it's best to plan your visit around at least one live show of your choosing (as your visit may only last a couple of hours, you won't want to sit around waiting for a later show). Choose from the "Realm of the Alligator" an educational show about the general and interesting alligator facts, "Scales and Tails" a reptile show, "Rainforest Review" which highlights exotic species of the endangered rainforests, and one of the most popular shows the "Alligator Feeding" where crowds gather to see the powerful animals splashing and wrestling for their food given by a brave keeper.
When you enter the park, you might be surprised to see the variety of animals here, as it's definitely not just alligators...exhibits range from Komodo Dragons and "Birds of Africa" to exotic mammals like marmosets and monkeys to giant tortoises and ostriches. Of course, the star of the park is the huge collection of many types of alligators and crocs. Check out the rare albino alligators, and the the largest animal in the park named "Maximo" a 15+ ft croc from Australia weighing over 1250 pounds. In the "Land of the Crocodiles" exhibit see over 23 different species of this animal (this is currently the only place in the world where every recognized croc species exists in one place).
Besides just being a great day trip for visitors, this park also works with many educational programs and offers an annual Zoo Camp for children. Zoo Nights are a special program offered at various times through the year, as well as partnering with other educational events and festivals. Visitors can buy annual passes, as many locals do, which goes to support the ongoing preservation, education, and studies of this specialized zoo and it's animals.
• http://www.alligatorfarm.us/
• Open everyday from 9am to 5pm | Extended summer hours: 9 am to 6 pm
• $21.95 (discounts available for children, seniors, locals)
• 999 Anastasia Blvd.
• 904-824-3337
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