cool spot! wildlife sanctuary and education center! fun exploring! lots of animals that have been rescued. saw tigers and jaguars for the first time, pretty awesome! the bear was huge come check this wildlife sanctuary! read more

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Even though I already wrote a review around four years ago about this fantastic sanctuary in the high desert of Nevada, I felt compelled to write another after my second visit about a week ago. To begin with, the mere setting of this amazing place is awe-inspiring. If you love the desert like I do, you will feel closer to the sky out here and the texture and color of this sandstone old west location will have you clicking picture after picture. Once you begin roaming around, you will enjoy the beauty of the rescue animals which range from cheetahs and tigers to bears and wolves. One of the highlights this time were the iguanas. Mischa was actually out with her handler soaking up the sun and I got to see her close-up! The people who work at Animal Ark are dedicated to these animals and the guests who come to see them. They have many interesting facts to share. For instance, I did not know iguanas could use their tails like a whip. This "weapon" can break bones! The gift shop also has many great items to bring home from t-shirts to books, magnets, and ornaments. I know we will return. This place is a real Nevada treasure!! read more

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it is wonderful. have a developmentally disabled son and he loves to go and see everything! turtles bears or whatever is there! and they have the golf carts to ride in for special peeps! appreciate that' a lot! looking forward to seeing you again soon. joanne read more

Great that we have a local sanctuary to visit where I can take my kid. I recommend going right after they open, early in the morning before it gets too hot. They also have an option to rent golf carts for $35 so you don't have to walk in the heat. The place is kept very clean and offers the animals plenty of shade. My toddler son especially liked the bear feeding, trantula showing, and the great horned owl. Be careful in the gift shop though. The young man working there kept increasing the prices on us. When I first asked about a small turtle magnet, it was $3, but when I went to pay he changed his mind to $5. I also got a popsicle that was labeled $3 in the cooler, but he tried to charge me $4. He also didn't mention the golf cart was only for 90 minutes instead of all day (they were only open for 3 hrs that day because of the heat) until AFTER I paid and signed the rental contract. The price gouging was very annoying. read more

I don't post a lot of reviews, cause I'm just not that guy. But something happened today that just isn't right so I had to say something about it. Scheduled a day at the Ark with the Cheetah encounter for the wife and I as we are travelling back home in our RV from AZ to WA. Made the reservation basically the first day that reservations were open. Got a call today that there is a conflict with the reservation and that I need to either schedule a different day (not possible as we are on the road and have already made reservations to stop for the night along the way) or a different animal (the cheetahs were the only animals we were interested in seeing). They tell me that the other reservation is set in stone and that there is no way I can keep mine. But how can that be? I made the reservation on the first day the reservation website was active. IMO they should keep mine and move the otherI one. Not willing to do that, so now we just aren't going. Why would I spend a cent at a place that doesn't really want my business to begin with. 0 stars if I could. read more

We're just purchased online tickets to attend Animal Ark with the grandchildren today. I might also mention that we've had this trip planned for over a month. Then I happen to check the news and there was an article that Animal Ark was closed yesterday due to a Mormon cricket infestation, so I go back to the website and nothing is mentioned about being closed today and all questions are referred to their guest services. So you call guest services and they don't answer because it's not 10 am when they open, so I guess we have to drive all the way out there or wait until after 10 when they officially open and might answer the phone. Then too, it you drive out after receiving confirmation after 10 that they are indeed open, we miss the best part of the day for the grandkids, the feeding of the bears. You would think someone would post on the website or on their answering machine that they are for sure open today based on the fact, they were closed yesterday. Makes one wonder if the animals in the park aren't smarter than the people running this place. Disappointing to say the least. read more

Animal Ark - Zoos Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Love bringing my daughter. We have been many times. Love the picnic area and staff is always friendly and helpful.

It's a great place to take kids! It's been a while since I took mine there but we went a few times.

We were looking for something to do that wasn't related to Tahoe events or the casinos, and we're so glad we found Animal Ark! This little wildlife sanctuary is a hidden gem just outside of Reno. The entire park is beautifully maintained--from the walking paths and common areas to the animal enclosures, everything was spotless and thoughtfully laid out. The animals seem genuinely well cared for, and the staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about their work. It was a peaceful, educational experience and a great way to spend a few hours. Highly recommend if you're in the area and want something unique and meaningful to do! read more

Being able to see such special animals up-close is a beautiful experience. Each animal has their history written by its enclosure. The animals do move about and seem to like being "gawked at"! Wear good shoes, a hat, sunscreen if sunny and bring a camera/phone to take more pics than one thinks. Even the drive to the sanctuary passed a lot of farms, animals and scenery. Workers there were all friendly, passionate and knowledgeable for their animals and set up. read more

Animal Ark - Hi there! - Zoos Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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Awesome little sanctuary, the animals looked really healthy and well taken care of. Kids and I both really enjoyed it. Renting one of the golf carts was worth the extra few bucks (especially when it's hot). read more

Animal Ark - Cheetahs - Zoos Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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We enjoyed walking around and seeing the animals but we waited until the sun was out so some of them were hiding. The staff was great and we enjoyed our time there. read more

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Why did it take me years to find this place??? Such an amazing hidden gem! This is a great place to bring the whole family especially kids lol. So we purchased our tickets online for a Saturday and wanted to show our 18 month old the animals because she's going through a phase where she adores all animals and loves to make their sounds lol. So we left Sparks and headed out to Red Rock which is a nice drive and pretty easy to find. There's tons of signs to get here and a welcome center with tons of parking. Once inside the welcome center we were greeted by a young lady who provided us with a map and showed us where to start. They have bears, cheetahs, owl and even a turkey. We started on the trail and saw a volunteer and told us they were going to be feeding the bear at 1300 and we wanted to stay for that but it was pretty hot and our daughter wasn't having it lol. She really loved this place and I highly recommend brining your kids if you have any or if you're an animal lover then come check it out. You wont be disappointed! We have a great experience and will come again. read more

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Always love taking grandkids here. They love learning about the animals and seeing them up close. We bring a lunch and spend the day

We knew about this place for a while but had never visited. We had guests from out of town who were interested so, we decided to check it out on a Saturday. We purchased our tickets online the day before which was convenient. The drive out Red Rock road is pretty and the directional signs are easy to follow. The parking lot is convenient and located close to the welcome center. We were greeted by a young lady who provided us with a map and told us what time the bears were being fed. We began to walk through the Ark and enjoyed seeing animals. We were also able to see the cheetahs get some exercise and there were contractors constructing a new enclosure for Gibbs the bear which will be a great improvement and I'm sure he will be very happy there. Some of the enclosures were empty but the majority did have rescued animals who seem to be well cared for. Overall it was a great experience and we are glad we finally took the time to check it out! read more

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Foxes, cheetahs, bears - oh my! This hidden gem in the hills of Red Rock was a delightful surprise for me and my 18 month old. And we finally had the perfect opportunity to use our wagon on their DG/dirt paths. Where to begin? EVERY SINGLE staff member and volunteer was so incredibly nice and knowledgeable, it made the whole experience that much better. They told us stories about each rescued animal and how some volunteers had been with an animal through their whole life at the sanctuary! They also carried treats to help lure some of the animals closer to the viewing window as many of them were napping during the afternoon hours. There were plenty of benches and picnic tables to rest along the way or to enjoy lunch. The fact that they had trashcans and recycle bins accessible around every corner really stood out to me. They also had a very well maintained playground that my LO was thrilled over. The snacks offered in the visitor center were very reasonably priced and all proceeds go back to the animals and maintenence of the sanctuary! This is a place where the staff/volunteers genuinely care about the animals and their home. I cannot get over what an amazing experience we had and cannot wait to go back when the bears are fully out of hibernation and following a set feeding schedule for viewing! Don't take my word for it - check it out! read more

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We planned to go on a Saturday afternoon, there wasn't a holiday that day either. We checked the website before we left and it said they were open till 4:30. When we arrived there was a "closed at one" sign on the door, however the sign at the end of the driveway said open. Very disappointed read more

It used to be a nice place to go, but it got sold to a different nonprofit entity, and they do things very differently. We made a mistake to volunteer to help them, but they treated us like dirt. Spend your money somewhere else. If you still want to go, it may not be a bad place to go, but remember that the original owners are not there anymore read more

My family and I loved this experience! Friendly staff, beautiful animals, and a great place to donate to so animal ark can continue to do what they do best. We loved seeing the bear feedings and reading about the various animals here it was an amazing experience and had such beautiful views. TIPS: -we recommend using a bigger stroller like a jogging stroller rather than an umbrella stroller. It is much more easier to push our little one around. - wear comfortable shoes. There are some hilly parts which felt like a mini hike. We will definitely visit this place again! read more

Animal Ark - This is what the terrain is throughout animal ark - Zoos Near Me - Reno, Nevada

This sanctuary was not only a great place to visit but the staff were also wonderful, knowledgeable, and cared about the animals. Great place for kids, not depressing like a zoo, but a compassionate place for animals. read more

Animal Ark - Lily the tiger playing with her ball. - Zoos Near Me - Reno, Nevada

I almost didn't visit this wildlife sanctuary because I thought it would similar to all the zoos I've visited in the past. Boy, was I was wrong. Although it's located in Reno, its nowhere near the casinos. It's about a 30 minute drive from downtown Reno, located high up in the mountains. Admission for adults is $13.00. With Groupon it's $9.00. From the outside, I thought this place was pretty small. It wasn't until a couple of hours into wandering around that my bf and I noticed that many animals were tucked away on a hill. By the time we figured this out, we ran out of time to visit all of the rescue animals. The biggest problem was that I didn't think we would spend much time here, so my bf and I arrived three hours before closing. Big mistake! Some rescue animals include wolves, cheetahs, porcupines, bears, a bobcat, etc. My favorite part was watching one of the porcupines "dance"-- he stood up, leaned against the fence, and shifted his feet back and forth. I will be back in the near future to visit my furry friends. Pros: 1. Not crowded during weekdays 2. Affordable admission 3. Has a small gift shop 4. Volunteers scattered throughout to help answer questions 5. Friendly workers Cons: 1. Animal Ark is not accessible by public transportation read more

Animal Ark - Cheetah - Zoos Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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I was so so so impressed with this place. The animals have great enclosures and obviously are safer here than in the wild. I think it's great they provide each animals story for the guests to read so we can understand the animals need to be where they are at. I will admit I was disappointed with the bear Gibbs enclosure and with him pacing it made me feel so sad for him. As we made our way towards the end we saw that they are building a whole new area for Gibbs!!!!! I can't wait until he gets his new home! My husband and I will definitely be back and loved to see they have various events throughout the year. I was sad I didn't take pictures of their names to remember for my picture but more of a reason to go back! read more

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What a fun way to spend an afternoon! The Animal Ark is perfect for multiple ages (kids and adults alike). There are many animals to see in spacious sanctuaries and each animal has a story of how they were rescued. It's 30 minutes outside of Reno and you feel transported to another place completely! 10/10 recommend this place to anyone. Pro tip if you don't want to walk around ask to rent a golf cart! read more

Most amazing animal sanctuary providing educational interactive exhibits. A new and exciting adventure every time we come. Love all the good work going on here to educate people about these amazing animals! read more

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Such a fantastic place to see some amazing animals and get outdoors for a nice walk. Closing for the winter now but will open for a few special weekends before next spring so check their website! read more

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Wildlife Sanctuary located in Reno (or Stead), very close drive up the 395. It's an animal refuge for abandoned, injured or unwanted wildlife that cannot make it on their own. These guys rock it at taking care of these animals as the facility is huge, clean, and the animals are well taken care of. Great educational opportunity for adults and children alike. It is funded by visitors, donations and grants. I'm on board as a member! Very nice walking tour. You can also rent golf carts if unable to walk the mile tour. Looks like the area is powered by wind and solar power which also is a big win for this area. I highly recommend you checking this place out during the warmer months as I think it is closed in the winter. Good on ya, volunteers and employees of Animal Ark. Doing good things! read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the sanctuary. The staff was very friendly and helpful, the grounds and animal enclosures neat and well maintained. They have a nice variety of animals that looked healthy and well maintained. Best of all they are providing homes for wild animals in need. read more

Animal ark is a 38-acre-wildlife sanctuary that shelter animals that may be disadvantaged, disabled, orphaned, or unwanted.  The sanctuary can be found about 30 minutes north from downtown Reno in the beautiful foothills of Red Rock, NV. The animals are given plenty of space and, with great care from workers/volunteers, can live their lives in a nice and safe environment surrounded by love. During every visit, I came across knowledgeable workers/volunteers that were eager to educate and witnessed their great relationships with the animals. The ark is active in providing resources and an environment for the community to learn about wildlife, including educational videos and field trip opportunities. The Ark hosts special events throughout the year that are enjoyed by many, including: the Stampede Mile-Marathon, Cheetah Run, pumpkin treat giving during fall, summer camp for kids, holiday events, and breakfast buffets. Animal Ark is on my list of top ten places that help make Reno the "Biggest Little City."  I am thankful for their efforts in helping animals, educating the community, & providing beautiful grounds and events for a good time. Notes: -They are taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their visitors: one-way flow of traffic, social distancing in lobby, mask-wearing, and enforcement -The Ark has limited hours during winter and usually opens fully April-October. Call to double-check before making a trip out -I always sign up as a member as I am able to visit the Ark with my family year-round, see & support the animals, and get some exercise and fresh air. -They have a nice and open place with more of a natural setting as opposed to a traditional zoo -about one mile of walkways -animals include but not limited to: bears, wolves, owls, turtles, raccoons, cheetahs, birds of prey.  Check out the Ark website for their stories. -before the pandemic, they offered golf carts for those who need more help getting around.  Please call to check for availability -They have a nice gift shop that has jewelry, clothes, toys, books, various souvenirs, and snacks and drinks. -You can become a member, adopt an animal, and/or make donations to help with costs to care for and feed the animals. -During summer it can get hot. Visit early morning to beat the heat and see the animals at the most active time of the day.  Animals like to take shelter and sleep during hot parts of the day. -you can witness feedings in the morning. Call for schedule. -sometimes you can see baby animals. call to check for details. I saw baby cheetahs that were beyond cute -they have a nice playground next to their parking lot with picnic tables nearby -on occasion, they have a food truck parked out front -a jogging stroller does great on their paths -there's one section with a little hill -don't forget to check the weather ahead of time so you can dress accordingly. It can get windy and cold -If visiting in the summer, a water bottle, hat and sunscreen is a must -Interpretive signs -Beautiful grounds with lots of plants to look at -pathways can get muddy when wet so don't forget to wear proper footwear read more

Such a cool experience and fun animals to see. This place has a great variety of animals and fun for the whole family. They even tell you the feeding time for some of the animals so you can see them in action. read more

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Such a wonderful day at Animal Ark with my daughter and grandson! It warmed my heart to see these beautiful animals being taken care of with such love and care. The grounds and the animals living areas are clean and well cared for. Everyone was so nice and welcoming and answered all our questions. We will definitely visit again! Thank you for everything you do for the lovely animals. read more

We went first thing on a Saturday morning and enjoyed a nice, comfortable stroll through the park. You pay for your ticket in the gift shop and then head thru the back door to enter the animal park. It's all hard packed dirt road/path throughout, so bring your comfortable walking shoes. Although it was chilly, the sun was out and it warmed up quickly. During warmer months I would bring some sun protection. There was a nice selection of big cats and other wild animals; cheetahs, tigers, servals, black bears, foxes, and more. All these animals came from places or homes where they could not be taken care of or care for themselves anymore. The volunteers around the park were very friendly and happy to share info on the animals or the sanctuary. If you go early when it opens, you may get to see them feed the black bear like we did! So cool, they place the food items throughout the cage like a scavenger hunt, which makes it extra fun to watch and encourages the bear to "hunt" for its food. I think we took about an hour and a half to stroll through the park and it was a very enjoyable time. I'd definitely go back and I do recommend this family friendly attraction. read more

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We had a wonderful time here visiting in early November of 2022. We arrived early and the air temps were in the 50's, cool but not cold. At 11am we walked in and we're greeted with a well stocked gift shop. After purchasing our tickets online we checked in at the front desk. The attendant told us the feeding times for the tiger and bears. Grabbed a map and started our self guided tour. First stop was the tiger enclosure as she had just received enrichment. Animal code for large kitty cat nip. Very active and cool to see a tiger so happy in an enclosure. Beautiful markings, hard to believe this animal was the result of an illegal pet investigation. On to the wolves, coyotes, a couple of active bears, and some raccoons. Make sure you check out the magnificent jaguar as well. This was about a 30 minute drive from Reno proper where we stayed, but we'll worth the trip. My wife works at a local wildlife rescue in arizona, and this facility was on par with its cleanliness, well sized enclosures, and enrichment for the animals. Very well maintained and a pleasure to visit. The facility closes in late November and re opens in the springtime, so we were glad we caught it during its late season operation. Very friendly and informative staff here too. Well worth the visit. We will be back. read more

Animal Ark - Happy little dudes. - Zoos Near Me - Reno, Nevada

We really enjoy visiting the Animal Ark just 20-30 minutes outside of Reno. Admission is not very expensive and it goes to supporting this animal sanctuary. You'll see a lot of well-taken rescued animals such as bears, owls, mountain lions, badgers, etc. It can be quite hot in the dry summer weather and dusty from the dirt paths. Feel free to borrow their red wagons to wheel your kids around. Several times a year, they sell tickets to watch a Cheetah run at full speed around a track. For safety, I believe they only allow adult guests 18 years and older to participate read more

Animal Ark - A bear's hibernation diet compared to a human's - Zoos Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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Great little zoo in our area! excited to visit every time, looks they were making a lot of new additions last we went there in February. Look forward to next visit read more

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Took my kid there yesterday. My kid had fun walking around checking out the animals. The place was bigger than I thought. It had nice walkways and plenty of places to sit down and take a break if you got tired of walking. The gift shop was decent sized. The lady working there was very nice and helpful. All of the staff working were nice and knowledgeable about the animals. My kid liked the raccoons and porcupine the best. I would definitely recommend driving out there and checking it. I would go back for another visit. read more

Animal Ark - Raccoons - Zoos Near Me - Reno, Nevada

Long ride was much worth it when comparing to other animal sanctuary opportunities in the area. Well kept, clean, educational; it was large and the animals looked happy. We got to see the bears at feeding time. The tigers were frolicking happily as we first came in. There were lots of places to rest and have a snack along the trail. read more

Animal Ark - Stretching! - Zoos Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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Going to The Animal Ark was a spontaneous last minute trip that my S/O found. I love animals of all sorts and got super excited when my S/O mentioned this place. It's a 30-minute drive from Reno but it is totally worth it. The Ark is a sanctuary for the lost and wounded animals. It's definitely on a smaller scale but its quiet and intimate. There are bears, turtles, owls, cheetahs, and so much more. Love that we made it just in time for the bear feeding! The facility is well maintained, staff is super friendly, and the animals look well off. It's a perfect place for a day date kinda gig. I loved every bit of it. Highly recommend! read more

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We visited for a Girl Scout event last weekend. What an amazing experience. We had a wonderful guide who was very knowledgeable and I could tell that they care about their animals. It's hard to see animals in captivity, but these animals were not able to be released back into their habitats and are well cared for. I would highly recommend a visit if you haven't been recently! read more

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Animal Ark is closed for the winter, but my husband and I took our two teens here during one of its special February Wild Winter Weekends and it was a wonderful experience! Animal Ark provides sanctuary to orphaned, injured and non-releasable wildlife and during these winter weekends, you can see the animals sporting their winter finery. Many of the animals were very active during our visit while the bears were naturally unavailable due to being deep into hibernation. The volunteers were knowledgable and clearly love their work and all of the animals. Signs outside of each exhibit give visitors a history of each animal under their care. It was sad to learn about so many cases of animal neglect - but you walk away feeling grateful for the work that Animal Ark does! There are picnic tables available both inside and outside of Animal Ark so we brought our own picnic lunch to enjoy on site. The walk around the grounds is pleasant - and it was fun to see little kids in awe of these wild creatures. It was equally fun to see how the wild creatures responded to the site of the little kids! My teens both give Animal Ark a thumbs up and we all hope to go back to see the cheetahs run sometime after it opens again this spring! read more

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We love Animal Ark! This is a great place to bring kids and any out of town visitors. They rescue/rehab wildlife and they do a really fantastic job caring for the animals. All of the volunteers and staff are super knowledgeable and have great information to share about the residents. The animals are pretty awesome - brown bears, mountain lions, a jaguar, two tigers, coyotes, wolves, cheetahs, foxes, raccoons, tortoises, and lots of birds. My list is not exhaustive - my memory is just faulty! This is a great organization and one that you can feel good about supporting. The drive out there isn't too bad either. I highly recommend you go check it out! read more

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