On our drive back to Austin from Houston, we saw this drive through Safari and my husband stopped…read moreon a whim so we could check it out. 1. Camels and emus are very intense upclose when you have food. 2. This drive thru was HUGE and a lot more animals than we anticipated. Ticketed entry allows for an indoor petting animal area, but we wanted to get home faster after driving for 45 mins in their grounds. If you're looking for having a fun family time, this is it. Our loved all the friends and they know the drill of free noms. Ps. We got 2 giant 64oz buckets of feed and we still ran out

Covid fun times FROM YOUR CAR!…read more My wife has been going stir crazy over the past six months of quarantine. With a new baby it was easy to become homebodies but six months will get to anyone. As part of a post birthday celebration we decided to do something special. Drive through safari was a quick search away and before we knew it, we were on the road! The only interaction was with the gate staff and off we went. It took about 30 minutes to go through the park and you can go through as many times as you want. We were first met by some pot bellied pigs and then immediately after a couple of donkeys slowly sauntered over knowing the score. "Walk up, get fed!" This was the story throughout the whole park. We met plenty of fun animals including a camel who stuck its head right into the car! Ostriches, emus, alpaca, donkey, deer, goats, cows. A number of Giselle looking animals. Long story short. It's great family funtime and our baby loved it. One bucket of food lasted us two trips around. Definitely would recommend. Worth the drive!

Such a fun place and the person doing the tour was nice and passionate about reptiles. My kid…read moreloves snakes and this was a nice close place to check out all sorts of snakes and reptiles and it was a super Fun tour and was great to check out the town of Bastrop afterwards. Close to Austin and very interesting tour. Enjoyable and a must see and will be back! Highly recommended!

This place was so much fun! My bf took me here because he knows I love animals of all sorts. And I…read moregotta say it was such a pleasant surprise I'm drawing a blank on the owners name, I believe it was Tim, but he was so helpful! And clearly very knowledgeable about all the animals in his zoo. You could just tell how much he loves those animals and you can see all the work he puts into caring for them. Very awesome dude! There were lizards of all kinds, snakes, tortoises, and even some crocodiles which I did not expect! There are so many animals comfortably hidden away in this cute little zoo. You wouldn't think it bc the outside looks so small, but once you get inside you see that the place is filled with exotic looking creatures of all walks of life! We were the only ones there at the time, probably because we got there as soon as they opened lol But the owner made sure to show us all the animals and point out the ones we couldn't find ourselves. He took us on a sort of guided tour of the place while he fed the animals and cleaned the exhibits We later learned that most of the animals were either pets of his or were rescues which I thought was pretty amazing I recommend this place if you love animals like I do, have kids or are looking for a fun little place to spend an hour or two! And they even have a gift shop :)

What a great petting zoo! Great variety of animals.... and gave us our money's worth! Douglas and…read morehis helper were patient with the kids, had a joyful demeanor and helpful in teaching about all of the animals. They arrived early and had everything set up very quickly. When it came time to pack-up they cleaned up after the animals and were a genuine pleasure to work with. Highly recommend!!

I have used frys fun farm twice- the petting zoo and the barrel train. We are having them out for…read moreanother party in November. They are easily the most fun and friendly staff I have ever met. They clearly enjoy their jobs and the kids have a blast! I can't recommend them enough!

The only zoo here in Austin. has a cappaberra and easy for me (78) to get around. Family friendlyread more

TLDR: Small private zoo that's in obvious need of some repairs/upgrades (and has received safety…read morecitations in the past) but nonetheless has a rustic charm. I'd still remain vigilant and aware of surroundings as a result. No handwashing station at the petting zoo so make sure you either walk your kids to the nearby restroom or bring soap sheets (more below). Open daily including holidays (365 days a year) 9-5. They offer a variety of animal encounters for a fee. CONDITIONS: This small private zoo is definitely a bit run down and unkempt. The ramp from the office/reception area to the zoo had broken wooden boards that seemed like they were heading toward collapse. Felt a bit nervous pushing our stroller wagon over it. The owner should definitely address that. I got the vibe that the owner does really care about the animals but some of the cages did seem too small. The owner also told us he wanted to construct a train (which is always nice) but I think fixing up the zoo/improving the habitats should be a priority. Some of the exhibits seemed confusing -- there was a sign for a bear but the area seemed overgrown and inaccessible. I don't know if the exhibit was just removed or what. As far as the provenance for the animals -- I think some are rescues but not all. They are also a breeding facility for endangered animals. CITATION HISTORY: I did a little bit of digging and it turns out the zoo has received citations in the past. In 2022, the USDA issued an official warning to the zoo regarding inadequate enclosure fencing. I was able to track down the official document in APHIS. I also found a reference to an official warning in 2013 that noted inadequate veterinary care for underweight animals, inappropriate feed/diet, repeated problems maintaining facilities in good repair, sanitation/cleanliness problems, and inadequate pest control (resulting in a financial penalty). I was not able to track down the official document for this, only a senate filing (regarding an accreditation association) that referenced the warning. In theory, they could have pulled it from PETA, who has published a 10-page "fact sheet" online that details countless other USDA citations and claims that in 2022, a dog broke into an enclosure and killed 4 cavies and 1 muntjac (to simplify, rodents and deer). I have not been able to verify the dog attack claims and don't have the time to look into the other alleged citations. Ultimately, PETA is a special interest group with a dubious record. PETTING ZOO/SAFETY: It's not the sort where you can go inside but you can feed the animals through the fence. There is no handwashing station but the restroom isn't that far. Make sure you take your kids to wash their hands right after. Watch smaller kids carefully to ensure they're not putting their hands in their mouth while/after interacting with the animals. You can use hand sanitizer immediately after but you really should wash their hands ASAP. I believe hand sanitizer can kill e.coli but will not kill cryptosporidium (parasite that can be carried by farm animals). You can buy soap sheets that are good on the go (Fomin is the brand I have, available on Amazon). You just pour water and the sheet becomes soapy and then you rinse. There was some charm here -- for instance, the farm animal area was chaotic in an amusing way -- pigs and chickens and peacocks and little prairie dogs trying to steal food -- it was cute pandemonium. The talking macaws were fun and the hippo put on a show for us -- opening his huge maw. Zoo experiences are a bit subjective in that sense, depending on how the animals are feeling when you arrive. Mornings seem to be best as it's cooler. Keep your expectations low -- it's a place to see animals and entertain your kids for an hour or so. Just remain vigilant and keep an eye on surroundings for safety reasons. They also offer a variety of animal encounters which we did not partake in. Ultimately, I do hope that they take any USDA citations seriously and allocate sufficient capital to improve/fix their facility.

We arrived at the advertised opening time of 9 only to be told they now open at 10 for winter hours…read moredespite being summer...ok. The zoo is very small. There is a small indoor section with a few rats, rabbits, a snake, a turtle and not much else. Outside there were more exhibits but either the exhibits were closed or the animals were already hiding from the heat. I did like the hawk and the whistling duck. The small walkways near the emu were closed and all in all there wasn't much there to see. You won't spend more that 35 minutes here. The parking was a small lot and was near the Pumphouse which was nice

A decent small town zoo. Not a fan of the quarters for the animals at my last visit. Small children…read moreare fascinated, but, not really a great zoo for older children, teens or adults. Zoo floods whenever the river rises and I'm sure it takes a lot to keep it in any kind of shape.

Happy 713 Day!…read more Getting out of the house was easy when a ticket to the zoo is $7.13. 10 o'clock was not early enough to arrive because all of the lots were already full, and latecomers were circling like vultures. Parking at the Centennial Gardens is a lifesaver, just a brisk walk, 15 or so minutes. The zoo itself is so engaging and currently expanding: there's going to be a rhino viewing area that's set to be finished by 2027. The only real villain of the day was the weather. When it wasn't intensely humid, it was raining like God was trying to power wash away our sins.

This zoo I quite enjoy with its shady trees when the weather can change from humid to rain storm…read more The exhibits look well taken care of with happy animals. The new sealion exhibit is very nice as you can get a great view of them glide over you. The giant river otters with their crazy antics sliding on the small creek inside their river display. The food is ok, but I rather eat before or after since there many fantastic options around this part of Houston. I recommend at least checking it out for a quick journey into the wild in the middle of Houston.

This is the second year we've come here in May to pick blueberries and blackberries. One of the…read moreworkers said that blueberry season is really a short 4-6 weeks time frame while blackberries are most of the summer. This year 2025, the blueberries are sweet but on the smaller side. The blackberries were not as good as some of them are tart or even sour as some seem to start fermenting? However in 2023 the blackberries were soooo sweet and juicy that even my husband liked them and he usually doesn't like blackberries. Maybe this year just wasn't good for blackberries. :/ The busket (basket bucket) is $1.50 and berries are usually $8-10 per lb but they ran a Memorial Day weekend promo for $4 a lb. We filled up our busket about 2/3 of the way for 2.7 lbs or $11 in blackberries and blueberries! Cheaper than Costco! Although it is a 45 min drive for us. Giant sunflowers were available too but all the wildflowers were picked already. Things to bring: Busket - if you already have one! Sunscreen - protect your skin! Hat - it's sunny! Water and a refill of water - it's HOT and you easily drink through 2 water bottles, plus if you use any to clean your pickings. neck towel / fan - nice to have I would also consider looking for a parking spot in the shade, usually to the left by the Farm Funland. I also put up our cars sunshade which helps too. This time, my 4 yo said her car seat wasn't that hot (whereas she will usually complain if it is), so i think jt worked! We only spent about 1.5 hours though from 1030-12noon, as it was getting really hot and the kiddo was over it. Overall, fun experience and some good berries but do come prepared for the heat!

This was fun! I came here for a field trip with my friend and her daughter. The farm is HUGE! There…read morewas so much to do, we had each child pick what they wanted to do. There were some super cute photo opportunities! There were pumpkins everywhere. The staff was super friendly and there was plenty of parking. The kids had a blast, I would definitely come back. I forgot to purchase some of their honey on my way out. Plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy.

Small and neat spot…read more We try to hit a local zoo wherever we travel and this one was such a good find. The staff here were all so kind and welcoming which made the whole experience even better. Of course the train was a must for me lol and it did not disappoint. We caught a glimpse of almost every animal which is rare for a smaller zoo. The birds had us laughing and there are some really gorgeous wild cats here. It even started raining on us and nobody cared. Somehow made it more fun. Fun fact: this is actually a rescue zoo, not a traditional one. Most of the animals here were saved from other facilities or private owners and given a second home.

We enjoyed this animal sanctuary, it wasn't a traditional zoo. It's a non profit that takes rescues…read moreand we were surprised by the large animals they had - several large cats. There were several awesome peacocks roaming around. We enjoyed the reptile area as well. It was very hot when we visited so we didn't stay long. I didn't notice any concessions here so bring water if it's hot! The drive to this zoo is through the hill country and was really beautiful. It is a little ways from Austin though so keep that in mind; I think it took us about 30 mins from downtown. We realized we were pretty close to Salt Lick bbq in Driftwood from here, so we went there for lunch.

This was a magical experience that we will remember forever. My children couldnt wait to wake up…read morein the morning to feed the animals and we had such a lovely encounter with the giraffes, Sloths, Kangaroos, otters and Cappabaryas. We cant even name our favorite as they were all incredible, once in a lifetime experiences. The staff is kind, informative and attentive. Not a dull moment!

Absolutely incredible weekend at Blue Hills Ranch. We were fortunate to stay in the stunning…read moreGiraffe Villa... a hefty price, but worth it if you can afford it. The Giraffe barn is attached to one side of the house, and their pasture is on the other side. It is the most fabulous "Barndominium" with incredible finishes and clearly thoughtfully designed. That experience alone was mind-blowing.... however we also had the Gold Packages and were able to experience everything the ranch had to offer! Zebras, Capybaras, Kangaroos, Otters, Deer, Homer the Dromedary!!! Everywhere you turned there were more animals and more experiences offered. My children and I were in absolute animal heaven and will be thrilled to return. I will say, our vacation was expensive and it did not disappoint. However, I do believe you can absolutely visit this ranch on a budget.... Probably one of the best experiences was their ranch safari and that is a nominal price and totally worth it! You can see the entire property and all of the animals on the safari trip. Additionally they have fantastic cabins that are themed, and if you have children under the age of 10, the pirate themed cabins are beyond your wildest imagination.... as far as I am aware all of the sleeping accommodations include kitchens so you can absolutely cook for your family instead of paying for the delicious ranch food. That said... Chef Alan is phenomenal and out of this world excellent chef. Each meal was made with love and artistry. The staff at Blue Hills Ranch all go above and beyond to create lasting memories for you. I absolutely recommend this experience as a NOT TO BE MISSED event! We are already planning a return in October/November depending on availability . Cannot wait. Looking forward to being among these amazing staff members (shout-out to Jen, Anne, Shelby, Emily, Chesney, Alan...) the guard dogs, and all of the incredible exotic animals. Thank you, Matt!

Absolutely amazing experience! Very knowledgeable staff variety of animals! Holly recommendedread more

The animal encounters we're good if you can find someone to do it but the enclosures we're nice…read moreand the animals seemed happy