Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo: An Honest Photographic Review

The Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo is a quirky, family-friendly detour in Hot Springs, AR. Operating since the early 1900s, this historic, privately-owned stop is a true slice of classic roadside Americana. It promises what the name implies: a blend of traditional petting zoo with up-close crocodilian encounters.

As a photographer and animal lover, I recently stopped by to check it out. Here’s my honest, firsthand look at what to expect, from the sweet farm animals to the jaws of the gators.

The Logistics: Location, Hours, and Ticketing

The facility is located right near the heart of town at 847 Whittington Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901. They are open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM during most of the year.

You enter through the main gift shop to purchase your admission before heading into the facility. Admission is very reasonable:

• Adults: $14
• Children (12 and younger): $12
• Toddlers (2 and under): Free

Pro Tip: When buying your tickets, you’ll be asked if you want to purchase add-ons to feed the baby alligators or the budgies. These are roughly $6 per individual add-on. If you want the full experience (especially the birds), I recommend buying them upfront!

The Farm Animals

Stepping out the back door of the gift shop, you immediately begin the loop with the outdoor farm animal enclosures to your left. With your general admission, you’re provided some grain cereal to feed the residents.

Most of the farm animals—which include donkeys, emus, goats, bunnies, and ducks—will come right up to the fencing, eager for a treat. The bunnies were incredibly sweet and docile, allowing for some easy petting. The baby goats were the stars of this section; they were bouncy, playful, and incredibly cute, though their energetic jumping made petting them a bit of a challenge!

The Gator Building & Budgie Aviary

Moving out of the farm yard, you’ll enter a building that houses the main attractions: baby alligators at the front and a vibrant budgie aviary in the back.

Here, you get the opportunity to actually hold a baby alligator. As a reptile enthusiast, this was a fantastic moment. You really get to feel the powerful, scaled muscles of their bodies and admire their piercing eyes up close. A word of caution: make sure you grasp them firmly and hand them off carefully. Even though their snouts are safely taped shut, they are pure bundles of energy and can randomly thrash!

If you purchased the feeding add-on, you also get to feed the baby gators from a stick. The moment they see the meat hovering, they swim right up, holding their heads high in eager anticipation to snatch it away.

Tucked behind a door and a curtain at the back of this building is the budgie aviary. It is alive with the chaotic, beautiful energy of yellow, green, and blue birds. If you purchased the seed sticks, they will fly right to you, perching on your hands to devour the seeds while preening and tweeting. Note: If you don’t buy the seed sticks, the birds will stay in their inaccessible perch area and have no interest in approaching you, so the add-on is a must here!

The Final Loop

Exiting the building, you enter the final outdoor section which loops you back around to the gift shop. First, you’ll pass the adult alligator enclosures. We watched them soak and bask, occasionally hearing their interesting deep grunts.

Following the adult gators, you’ll pass enclosures housing lemurs and a variety of ducks. I actually had one of my favorite photographic moments here, managing to capture some stunning shots of a Mandarin drake (a male Chinese duck) displaying his beautiful plumage.

A Note on the Husbandry

As an animal lover, part of my goal is to honestly observe how facilities care for their animals. The staff at the Arkansas Alligator Farm were very friendly and welcoming, but I identified some husbandry areas for improvement.

I noticed that nearly all the water bowls had algae build-up, and the pool for the baby alligators appeared quite dirty. Additionally, a few enclosures felt a bit too small for their inhabitants. Diet-wise, feeding the farm animals cereal rather than fresh vegetables or high-quality hay is a bit outdated. Similarly, the baby alligators were being fed hot dogs rather than the high-quality raw meat. I also noticed the staff occasionally picking the baby gators up by their tails, which isn’t ideal for their spines. The lemurs seemed a bit lonely and under-stimulated; they would benefit from a larger community, more space, and enriching habitat items. Finally, some areas were a fairly smelly. While none of this ruined the trip, it’s always my hope that historic facilities like this continue to evolve their care standards to match modern zoological practices.

Where to Go Next (Nearby Stops)

After visiting the alligator farm, your already in a great spot to continue your nature adventure:

• The Hot Springs National Park: Already surrounding this part of the city lies this national park. It’s a natural wonder with great views, challenging trails, and drinkable hot water springs.
• Garvan Woodland Gardens: Just a 20-minute drive south, this botanical masterpiece offers sweeping landscapes of dazzling flowers and waterfalls.

The Final Verdict

The entire facility only takes about an hour, making it an easy addition to your Hot Springs itinerary. Our favorite moments were petting the sweet bunnies, holding the baby alligators, the chaotic fun of the budgie aviary, and capturing some beautiful duck photography.

While I enjoyed my visit, I had honest reservations about the husbandry and the occasional smell, plus it felt just a little overpriced for the overall value. That said, I still enjoyed my time, and the interactive nature of the exhibits may make it worth a visit for most families. It’s particularly a good stop for families with children or anyone with fascinated with crocodilians.