Editor Pick
Smoky Mountain Deer Farm
- October 24, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
vampirefan from Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina
Located only a few minutes from either Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, you will find the delightful Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Exotic Petting Zoo. Situated on 140 acres you will find fun for the whole family.
When you first walk in you purchase your ticket and you can buy big cups of animal kibbles. Then you walk on out the back and into an animal lover’s playground. This place is absolutely wonderful for anyone who loves animals like I do. They have zebras, monkeys, camels, reindeer, kangaroos, and wallabies… just to name a few of their hundreds of God’s creatures who call this place home. The highlight is walking into a pen with over 100 hand-tamed deer. Who hasn’t seen deer on the side of the road or in the woods and just wanted to jump out and pet them? Well if you come here then you have your chance. These cute little guys will follow you around like a lost puppy all while trying to thief your kibbles. And they will nibble on your coat, shirt, hair, or what ever to get your attention.
You can hand feed most of the other animals in the zoo, but when we were here you were only allowed inside the deer's pin. The rest of the animals are kept in their own pin but since the fence is only about mid-waist high you can easily pet and feed them. Now I am a huge animal lover and have stated in many of my reviews that if a place doesn’t treat their animals with love and respect then I don’t visit. One way to find out abut that is to call the local humane society and ask. And that I did. I did check them out before I left and was told that the animals were cared for and met with their approval. Another thing to look for is how they are housed. Only creatures such as birds or reptiles should be kept in enclosed cages. In the case of these animals they all have large open pens to keep them safe and happy. Just walking around the cages were clean and the animals seemed to be healthy and well taken care of. They also had a number or peacocks running around.
In addition they do offer pony rides and fishing. They have picnic tables, a gift shop, and restrooms, and they are handicapped accessible. Comfortable clothing is suggested. You may want to carry tissue and hand sanitizer with you. The animals get plenty slobbery and you don’t want to have to run to the bathroom every time your hands get dirty.
hours/admissions
$7.50 adults; $4 children. They do offer AAA, group, and senior citizen’s discounts.
They are open from 10am to 5:30pm year round but are closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. They do offer several seasonal events.
For more information about this amazing place just simply go on over to www.deerfarmzoo.com and then when in town make sure to stop by.
From journal Love, Happiness, and a Wedding in Pigeon Forge