We had an absolutely AMAZING experience at Coastal Wilds! The otter experience was truly unforgettable and easily one of the highlights of our entire trip. Getting to interact with the otters up close was such a unique and special experience, and the staff made it even better. Everyone was friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the animals and making sure guests had a great experience. I would 100% recommend the otter experience to anyone visiting the area. It was worth the trip and something we'll be talking about for a long time! My only tiny disappointment was finding out afterward that they were offering a discount for Oceans Calling attendees. I definitely wish we had known about that before we went, but it is what it is--and it certainly didn't take away from how incredible the experience was. If you're considering visiting Coastal Wilds, DO IT--especially the otter experience! Absolutely unforgettable! read more

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I only gave 2 out of 5 stars because for the price of general admission it was seriously lacking. $70 for my husband and I, plus 2 kids, and it was a stretch to have enough to look at for an hour. Facilities were subpar, a lot of animals were housed together, and altogether a lacking experience. If we had paid $65 each for a guided tour, I would not have been happy. And an extra $15-$30 for an animal encounter on top of admission is pretty ridiculous. Even $300 to swim with the otters is a lot. I gave 2 stars instead of just 1 because they do, in fact, have animals. read more

What a treat to have this in our backyards! Whether you are local or looking for a break from the sand, this place is worth a stop! Camels, kangaroos and otters oh my! The best part of our visit was the knowledge shared by our guide. We learned so much like camels don't hold water in their humps! It's hot, it's dusty so bring some sunscreen and water. We did the tour without add-ons but there are things like swimming with otters, a sloth encounter available for an additional cost. Age restrictions do apply so check the website. read more

Coastal Wilds - Millipede - Petting Zoos Near Me - Frankford, Delaware

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We came down for the otter experience and what an experience it was. First some important things before you think of going. Porta-John's and a pair of sinks are up front by the check in. Changing rooms are by the pool. The one is small the other closer to the entrance appears larger. A group can be up to eight people. Depending on the otters you can bring your phones to the pool. They all sound like they have their little preferences. Our two Triton and Poseidon are crazy for hair ties. They really worked at the one lady's tie when they discovered it. They give recommendations regarding the otters and what they do and don't get into. They are curious and generally get into anything and everything. There is a railing they can't reach/climb but if your towels hang low they will try and grab them. 45 minutes of swim and 15 towel off with them. Being October and the end of day it was chilly even though the pool is heated the breeze wicked the body heat pretty quick. They say they don't have the experience below 50F and it is obvious why. To say how much fun it was to spend time with these two is beyond words. They spend time with everybody though they really seemed to like to perch on the one guy there. I had one desperate to get into my bathing suit pockets and tried to get up into my rash guard which was loose on me. Epic cuteness. $200/person. I highly recommend the photo package. The guide is used to taking pictures of them and can much better anticipate where and when to take them. I struggled as I didn't trust to keep my glasses on... no spare pair should they grab them. That was either an extra 10 or 15 and well worth it. This was a birthday present for my daughter and worth every penny and the 4 1/2 hour ride down. I'll call this one bucket list worthy. They have other animals there. A capybara and sloth feeding experiences too. I think it was $15 to walk the park. They do have guided tours for more where they tell all about their animals. The ravens may say 'hey' to you as you leave the otter pool area. Their fennec fox is adorable. I would definitively do this again. read more

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The entire experience was amazing! We did the ultimate otter swim with all the encounters. The staff was very knowledgable and so kind. The animals were so great. I cant wait to return! read more

Coastal Wilds - Capybara - Petting Zoos Near Me - Frankford, Delaware

We recently visited Coastal Wild expecting a zoo-like experience based on the variety of animals advertised. Unfortunately, the experience was very different from what we anticipated. Many of the habitats appeared small, sparse, and very basic compared to what visitors may expect from traditional zoos or accredited animal facilities. The overall atmosphere felt more like a private animal collection than an immersive wildlife experience. Several species were housed together, the bird enclosures seemed limited in size, and the otter habitat was particularly disappointing. During our visit, veterinary procedures involving a cow were taking place in view of guests, which was unsettling for both adults and children. In my opinion, the pricing was excessive for what was offered. The facility is very small and appears run down in several areas. I do not feel that a self-guided tour is worth $20 per person, and I certainly do not understand how a guided tour is priced at $65 per person. The cost simply did not match the experience provided. I recognize that smaller facilities operate differently than larger zoos, and I appreciate the effort that goes into caring for animals. However, I left feeling more sad than inspired. Instead of enjoying the experience, I found myself feeling sorry for many of the animals and disappointed by the condition and presentation of the facility. Families considering a visit should understand that this is not a traditional zoo experience. I hope the facility invests in improving both the visitor experience and the habitats because the animals deserve environments that showcase them in the best possible way. read more

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If you are expecting a typical zoo experience, this is not the place. It is much more rustic than a regular zoo, and much smaller, and I really liked that. Nothing is paved - expect to walk in grass and dirt paths. The front porta-potties are a bit rough, but the bathroom trailer in the back is much nicer. We did the Ultimate Otter Swim which got us the guided tour and all the other experiences - feed the sloth, the capybara, pet the kangaroos, small animal encounter. Our guide Molly was fantastic, and knew every animal's name and SO MUCH about them. The otter swim was a hoot and very well organized. I did not realize it, but Coastal Wilds takes some of the animals on educational tours for free to local schools. read more

We had a great time at Coastal Wilds for our Ultimate Otter Experience! Some highlights: - Super fun and cute 45 minute swim with resident otters Poseidon and Neptune - Kangaroo encounter where we got to learn about Scarlet's baby kangaroo and meet Thor, Loki, Angus, Walter and a few other very chill kangaroos - Guac the Armadillo, Doogle the Aardvark and Elliot the Sloth were all awesome unexpected residents that we had the opportunity to interact with - Saw many other small animals - turtles, an iguana, etc. We also got a nice walking tour of the property to see other animals in their enclosures, including many birds, Sasha the Lynx, Ben & Jerry (camels), Bones the Zebra and more. The Otter Swim is in a REALLY clean and heated pool, which was great; I also recommend the $10 photo package, as it comes with a lot of iPhone photos so you can enjoy the moment without needing your phone. Note - the property is pretty rustic. It's not run down, but some of the enclosures need to be enlarged (which our tour guide even mentioned they were in the process of updating) and the overall property was simple - portapotties (with handwashing station outside), the entire walk is on dirt/grass paths (would probably not be super handicap friendly, although it is a flat property). Would definitely recommend a visit here to support their efforts and enjoy some up-close encounters with incredible animals. read more

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Great experience with up close animal encounters! Our tour guide Katie was awesome! Was really fun seeing so many different species up close. Highly recommend making the trip to see them! read more

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We participated kangaroo yoga and loved every second of it. The yoga was great and the kangaroos were very friendly. We especially loved the time with the kangaroos after yoga. The staff was very friendly and educational. read more

Very cool place to see different animals. Staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend for kids of all ages. We did the Kangaroo walk about and the Capybara experience-worth it!! read more

Tour guide was very informative and nice. We went early around 10, I recommended going later in the day seems like there is a lot more activities later in the day. We did the sloth encounter and got lucky because the sloth was out and about however not always the case sometimes he is napping but definitely worth it when he's out! There were a lot of children on our tour, very kid friendly but be mindful of the animals most of them are rescues and are still warming up to their new environments. Overall animals seemed very well taken care of. read more

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Great experience visiting the animals and the otter swim was so much fun! The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. The process to get our otter swim photos was a little frustrating, but it eventually all got resolved. It would be nice to be able to talk to a person when you call, not just the AI bot. read more

What's a kangaroos favorite restaurant? iHop I had a life changing event today. This morning I woke up early to go do yoga with kangaroos, and it was worth every. single. penny. Let's be real...it is extremely hard to focus on completing the yoga positions while the kangaroos are busy checking you out and sniffing your yoga mat. We were in cuteness overload. The yoga itself is taught by a certified instructor and is definitely a beginners course. They expect the kangaroos to be distracting and fun and there is no pressure to complete any of the yoga positions. After we completed our yoga class we were able to play, interact, and take pictures with the kangaroos around the pen. They were very active but after sniffing around everyone and feeding their curiosity, it was apparent they did not find the humans entertaining, lol. Barn Hill Preserve also offer other animal encounters such as sloth, aardvark, and owl encounters. Swimming with sea otters sounds absolutely magical but that would run you a whopping $300 dollars. For $35, kangaroo yoga was one of the best attractions in the area. This was a phenomenal experience. Highly recommend. read more

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I fell in love with a wallabie! My husband and I love animals and particularly enjoy learning about animals indigenous to other countries. Interacting with them is even better! We became members of Coastal Wilds several months ago and were excited to have our first tour last Sunday. The co-owner, Josh, met with us to answer some check-in and encounter questions. He also discussed the origins of the zoo and his plans for the future. He was well-informed, personable and works hard to keep the zoo in excellent condition for the animals and humans. Michael (zoo keeper and educator) met a small group of us for our tour time of 3 pm. He was well-versed and answered our questions with ease. During the last portion of our tour, Michael and Josie (zoo keeper in training) brought out some of the "zoo ambassadors" for us to hold and to learn about. I held and touched anything the zoo keepers felt comfortable allowing in my hands. The last 30 minutes of the tour was Wallabie and kangaroo time! Being a warm day in the afternoon (kangaroo nappy time), the wallabies and kangaroos were quite docile and allowed us to pet their gorgeous fur while they lounged in the afternoon sun. I became particularly fond of Walter, a Wallabie that licked my arm like a long lost puppy. I am smitten! Thank you Josh, Michael and Josie for the wonderful experience. We'll be back with some other animal loving friends for happy hour with the sloths and a cool dip in the pool with the otters! read more

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I went to the sipping with sloths event on 8/1 and it was awful. It was super unorganized and not as advertised. The event promised a wine tasting along with feeding sloths. The sloth enclosure was small and barely fit 10 people so people were crammed in with I feel like stressed the sloth out . The wine was just employees pouring wine into little plastic cups . The employees were very nice and tried to be accommodating due to the circumstances . Overall the animals just didn't looked cared for and seemed to be used for amusement. The last thing I will say is the event was $40 a person (plus fees if you book online) with zero refunds and I do not believe it was worth the money and will not return . read more

It was amazing! I went to swim with the otters today at 4pm. I got incredibly lucky and I was the only person there. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I learned a lot and got to pet these amazing animals. Thank you again for an amazing time! read more

We had such an amazing time! It is so much more meaningful to have a tour guide teaching us about the animals and answering our questions than to just take our own journey like at the zoo. The animals were outstanding and the docent was equal parts entertaining and informative. It was a GREAT experience!! read more

I purchased tickets a few weeks in advance and took my mom here over the weekend for her birthday. We really had a great time! I bought us both the encounter tour and added on the sloth encounter as well as the aardvark encounter. Due to us having to travel a couple hours to get here, we arrived super early since we accounted for traffic but did not encounter any. The lady at the counter was super friendly and allowed us to bump our tour up an hour which was wonderful. There are plenty of picnic tables outside under shade to hang out at while you wait for your tour to begin. If you are hungry, the gift shop has a selection of grab and go lunch items and plenty of snacks. Our tour began with a short walk around the farm. I forgot the girls name that guided our tour but she was wonderful, friendly and knowledgeable. It was clear that she really cared about the animals on their property. We had the opportunity to see and pet a turtle, goats, camels and cows. We also saw several other animals throughout our walk but it was recommended that we do not pet some of them. The kangaroo walkabout was great and you saw a few of the kangaroos hopping around although most just laid there and slept in the shaded areas. Part of the encounter tour allows you to go in with the kangaroos and pet them. Before the end of the tour were all sat at the benches outside and had the opportunity to hold an armadillo, hedgehog and bearded dragon. I was so fascinated by the armadillo. They are definitely strange looking in my opinion but it was one of the most memorable and it key opening and closing its shell which was comical. An otter was walked around on a leash which we got to pet but it didn't seem as anxious to meet people as the other animals. The aardvark encounter was super quick but it was nice to be able to pet and feed an aardvark his "bug soup". For those who watched Arthur growing up, he looks nothing like a real aardvark! It was cool to meet an aardvark which I feel is an animal you don't come across too often. The sloth encounter was cool but you do not actually get to touch or hold the sloths. They were probably my favorite part of the visit. This was my first time seeing a sloth up close and I thought they were the coolest thing ever. We each got to feed them a vegetable, green bean in my case, which they take directly out of your hand with their mouth or hand. It was fun watching them hang right around you while in their room. Although I did not make any purchases from the gift shop I could not help but notice how affordable everything was. They kids can get souvenirs for as low as 3 dollars. Seriously, where else do you see that? You can't get anything for less than thirty bucks when you go to the aquarium. At Barnhill, I did not see anything over 20/30 dollars. It was busy this weekend when we visited but it was still a great experience. I recommended purchasing tickets online in advance. I imagine they have a maximum for each tour so I don't want you to miss out! read more

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This is a lovely interactive zoo. We did the tour and small animal encounters - my 5 year old loved it! I also did swimming with the otters which was an absolute joy! I highly recommend this if you enjoy otters and would like a chance to play with them. This is an experience that isn't offered at most places, so we were delighted we could do it here. The staff educators were very nice and knowledgeable. A great family outing. I would go again! read more

We came for my grand daughter's 18 th birthday . We all had a blast . She loved the otter swim along with everything else .We live 9 hours away and it was worth every mile we drove read more

This place is small but mighty!! They used to be mobile but Rona made them take a different approach. The place isn't totally finished so if you have a special needs ( wheelchair) it's a little hard right now. We got to hold the animals!!!! Touch them... The sloth extra... IT WAS SO COOL!! The kangaroos were nice. It's mostly indoors so weather isn't really a factor. Look. It's not a zoo. It won't be hours of fun but the close up experience is absolutely amazing and worth every penny They don't sell food. Bring hand sanitizer and a happy face. IT'S SO MUCH FUN read more

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Would you ever think you could do Yoga with Kangaroos...in Delaware!? I never did, until I visited Barn Hill Preserve!! The price for yoga with Kangaroos is, my opinion, the most fair deal at Barn Hill Preserve. $300 to swim with otters sounds like a dream, but too steep of a price for me. However, the preserve promotes respectable conservation efforts, so the message behind it feel-good, knowing that your contributions go to the safety and health of wild animals. Yoga was very laid back, with no one judging you for just sitting on the mat for a bit to take pictures with the kangaroos. It's a beginner level course, but realistically we are all there to stare at the 'roos. There was even time afterwards to just go around and pet them. You can see the sloth, aardvark, owl, and bearded dragon from their cages while you're waiting to start Yoga. Overall, I think Barn Hill preserve is a wonderful place that has something for everyone! read more

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This is a private education center with a few rescued animals of various types. What is different is a curated tour with a hands-on experience. Owls, sloths, capybaras, and otters are available for a close-up and intimate experience. I have wanted to do an otter swim for decades and this met my expectations. It takes place in a pool in about 4 feet of water. The pool is enclosed and we are given many instructions and warnings about the behavior of the otters. Two were brought into the pool enclosure and six of us were in the water with them. They will be otters, but they loved to add us to their play! I highly recommend this well-maintained education center to anyone looking for a wild animal adventure. read more

Had a great time with Josie our guide. Grandkids loved petting and looking at the animals.

We visited with grand kids and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Be prepared for sticker shock though! Staff was informative and friendly. I'm holding back on my review because i'm not thrilled with the captivity of wild creatures. When we were there there were several species lumped into one pasture. In the end i'm not sure we will return. read more

I did the encounter tour with my family. It was very nice and chill. The animals are used to people and friendly. Watch out for Thor the Kangaroo, he will test you. Michael was a good tour guide. read more

My daughter and I participated in Kangaroo yoga! This was one of the best experiences! We absolutely loved trying to do yoga while being inspected by the kangaroos! I recommend bringing a thick towel instead of a mat because the kangaroos like to nibble the yoga mats! Lol I can't recommend this enough for any animal lover! read more

The Preserve was so interesting! We brought our grandchildren who absolutely loved the Alpacas, Otters and of course the Eurasian Lynx who raced back and forth with the kids between windows. The guides were very informative and answered so many questions. Holding the hedgehog, snake and bearded dragon was a wonderful experience for us all and visiting the kangaroos was a treat! Well worth the money! read more

Wonderful tour and experience. Our guide, Jenny, was fantastic and very knowledgeable! She was very patient with our son, who had questions after each section. We particularly enjoyed the close encounter with the tenrec, hedgehog, tortoise, blue tongued skink, and the kangaroos! read more

Hands down the coolest zoo / petting zoo experiences I've ever seen. All the staff were super knowledgeable, super friendly, and were very kind to all the animals. My girlfriend and I did the full exhibit tour (might have the name wrong) and then the sloth exhibit, and it was incredible. Being able to pet and stand next to kangaroos who were very calm was an incredible experience, and the sloths were really adorable. Would totally recommend to anyone in the area or nearby. We didn't do the otter swimming, but plan on coming back and doing it later. read more

Coastal Wilds - Sloth! - Petting Zoos Near Me - Frankford, Delaware

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We had an amazing time. Highly recommend. It's may be a little expensive but it's for a good cause.

Awful place for these poor animals! The wallaby was SO hot and lying in its excrement! No water, the Linx could barely move! We paid $60 per person for the experience, and it was 65mins! Not 90 like they said! We did the basic tour and then got to pet a bunny, a hedgehog and a few tiny kangaroos who were SO hot they barely woke up!! DO NOT WASTE YOU TIME OR $$. This place should be shut down for animal negligence and false advertising! read more

Paid $318 to have my girlfriend swim with the otters as they are her favorite animal. I was disappointed because there were like 8-10 people in the pool and only 2 otters. The experience and exposure was limited due to the amount of people. Can't say it was worth $318.. I think it would have been a lot more fun for her with 4 or 5 of them in there so that the actual interaction time was more. read more

The first time I went to Barn Hill Preserve, I took the family to experience the Otter Swim. It was utterly delightful. Our tour guide in the pool was gentle and kind with the otters and the humans. She did not play favorites or on purposely be dismissive to others. She was patient. The images after the experience included Live Photos, video, and still photos of everyone. It was an incredible experience. I spread the word about the place and this year, I returned bringing new people who hadn't experienced it. The tour guide this year was a different person. Her name was Rachel. I am worried about the otters and the other people going to do this experience with Rachel as their otter swim tour guide. She seemed so stressed. She also seemed to be locked in on this one person for which she took over 50 photos of and other people barely any photos. She began the journey with fussing telling us not to hold the otters before we were all in the water (and no one had touched them) but was completely fine with this same person she took photos of holding them. It was clear she wanted to interact with a certain demographic of people and not a certain demographic of other people. When I came back home, I showed the set taken by her to others to make sure I wasn't the only one seeing it and without prompt they thought the same thing. Also, what with the photo quality compared to last year? This year, they are lower resolution with no Live Photos or videos. Anyway back to Rachel because her interaction is the biggest concern for me. Her interaction with some of us and with the otters felt wrong/off and made some of the participants uneasy. The whole experience was disappointing for not only myself but others. She seemed stressed by the otters and kept pushing them off of her and while it was clear they wanted to play with her, it felt stressed and rough. I really hate to do a u-turn on liking this place because I've already got another group waiting to go with me again and I love these cute little otters. They are adorable! Maybe a vacation for Rachel might help. I would like to know if I book a group for another outing, can I find out ahead of time who is scheduled to do the otter swim and can we reschedule if we are uncomfortable with that tour guide? It's just not worth the money to go there and be met with a bad attitude and dismissive guide who seems so stressed. read more

This is a great place for kids they get to feed and touch cute interesting animals. It is also a learning experience as the guide gives you a lot of information about the animals. We paid for the general encounter tour which is supposed to allow you to see the otters. However during our tour the otters would not come out. Luckily we arrived a little early and got to see and pet the otters as they were being walked back to their enclosure. For adults I don't think the tour is worth the admission. read more

Absolutely amazing place for kids and adults! The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and also taught us how to properly approach the animals. Our family was looking for something low key to do with the kids one day on vacation. We found this place on a search and just enjoyed every moment of it. Even with the rain, meeting the kangaroos created fabulous memories! read more

DO NOT HOST A SCHOOL VISIT! Barn Hill will show up very understaffed and expect the teachers to give up their day to help the one staff member. They do not care about the poor customer service they are providing. Not only did the printers not work during our school visit, but they also did not bring enough merchandise for the students. Josh and I spoke a few days after the visit, where we told him how unimpressed we were with Barn Hill's presentation at our school. Josh agreed to donate a percentage of the proceeds to the school due to our disorganized school visit. We have yet to receive that check. I have countless calls into Barn Hill, but no one seems to have any answers. Ashlynn is the only one I can get in touch with, and she keeps telling me to talk to Josh (again) or Rachel, both who haven't been available in the past few weeks. Other teachers have even started calling, but they are also not getting straight answers. We are all frustrated. Our visit was April 11th, and today on May 17th, we FINALLY received the merchandise. When I opened the box, I saw they had sent the wrong item. The students paid for kangaroo adoption kits and instead we were sent sloths. There are t-shirts and bracelets missing as well. We as teachers wanted to do something nice for our students, especially after the difficult past few years of COVID. I have worked with Barn Hill previously and never had any issues. Unfortunately, it seems like things have gone downhill At this point, I am at a loss and feel as though myself and my students have been taken advantage of. We deserve the items we paid for or a refund at this point. Don't use this company unless you want them to steal money from your students and not return your calls. read more

I called today no one picked up. We drove with 2 kids and we woke them up when we got here. Then we were told by someone who English is their second language and said they are booked for today. All we wanted is a petting zoo.... read more

I like this little zoo. The exotic armadillo, lizards, kangaroos, sloth they have makes the trip worth it. The staff were very nice, knowledgeable and let the kids touch the animals appropriately. This part of Delaware is so quiet. read more