Panther Ridge Conservation Center is an absolute must-visit if you love animals, conservation, and meaningful experiences. This nonprofit 501(c)(3) sanctuary is doing incredible work rescuing and caring for exotic big cats, and you can feel the dedication the moment you arrive. The animals are clearly deeply cared for, and every enclosure reflects respect, enrichment, and attention to their wellbeing. The tour is both fascinating and eye-opening. It's not just about seeing beautiful cats up close (which is amazing in itself)--it's about learning their stories, and seeing firsthand what ethical sanctuary care looks like. Thank you Judy for an amazing tour! The staff are knowledgeable, passionate, and genuinely committed to the mission. What really stands out is how transparent and mission-driven everything is. Donations go directly toward animal care, and there's even a wish list if you want to contribute in a more hands-on way. Bottom line: this is one of those rare places that stays with you long after you leave. Educational, inspiring, and absolutely worth supporting. - read more

We had the best time here for our 11am standard guided tour. We drove 1.5hr south from Jensen Beach for this tour and it was so worth it. We had no issue finding the location, just know that you are to park along the road next to the fence. They will come open the gate to greet you are your appointment time. The restrooms are halfway through the tour, so go before if you can. It was just four of us on the tour, my husband and I and another couple. You get walked through their grounds, escorted by staff as they feed the cats. Some are hand fed, some with tongs. You are kept behind the perimeter fence(mostly 3-4ft behind the cage), understandable with children to prevent fingers from entering chomp territory. By attending on a hot day mid May I'd say we saw 60-70% of the cats up close by the fence, some of them were not interested in coming out of their cool spots with their fans blowing on them - completely understandable. In fact, if going on a hot sunny day, wear sunscreen and prepare to be in a lot of direct sunlight. I was not prepared and got burnt. For $50/person this tour is so worth it. We had so much fun and our guide did a terrific job sharing her knowledge of the cats and all the fun facts. She said she was fairly new, but you could tell the cats already trusted her. As adults my husband and I had an amazing time, I can't even imagine how much kids would love this place. The gift shop was great too, we made sure to get our souvenirs including tshirts and hats. Come support this wonderful NPO - not only do that have great tours but you can tell these cats are incredibly healthy and very loved. Their cages were so unbelievably clean I was so impressed. read more

See all

This was a wonderful experience that I would highly recommend. We had a private tour with a very knowledgeable staff member who gave us the backgrounds on all of the different cats they have on site. We went in the hottest part of the day. It would be better to go when it's cooler. The cats would be more active. read more

See all

I love this facility and the work that is done to care for these big cats. The Twilight Hours, during the winter months, are the best. You can stroll the grounds, at your own pace, learn about the various species of cats and their species survival programs. They offer sandwiches, snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine. I highly recommend visiting here. read more

See all

We had such a wonderful experience at Panther Ridge in Loxahatchee during the Twilight Night tour. Seeing the big cats up close at dusk was absolutely fascinating -- they are truly beautiful animals. The staff was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about educating visitors about these magnificent cats. It was a memorable experience for our whole family, and we really appreciated how informative and engaging the tour was. We will definitely be coming back! read more

I took my 7 year old Grand niece, my nephew, his wife and my brother for an adventure. There was only 1 other group of about 5, as well. 10 people for a walking tour seemed like a very good amount. The young man giving the tour was polite, friendly and very knowledgeable. His information was clear and understandable (even for a 7 year old). The cats were so beautiful but my favorite one was this large black female cat. She was stunning and a little spicy (a lot of character). The facility was very clean. The cats had clean enclosures, workers tending to their needs, and had enrichment toys to keep them busy. I like that many of the cats had a back story that was shared. As an educator I will be sure to share my experience to encourage others to come learn about big cats. Side note: bring a bottle of water, it's Florida and it gets hot. read more

I had an amazing time at Panther Ridge Conservation Center! The tour was so much fun, and it was awesome seeing the animals up close and watching how they interact with their keepers. Scarlet the leopard was my favorite, the way she interacted during the tour was so fun and exciting to see. read more

This facility is amazing. The cats are all stunning and clearly taken care of and the Keepers amazing, knowing all of the individual personalities of each cat and having a good relationship with each of them! would definitely recommend visiting if you're in the area! read more

We did the Twilight Hours tour and had the best time!! First, we loved that it wasn't a structured tour where you had to stick to a set schedule. We wandered around from cheetahs to cougars to clouded leopards and spent as much or as little time as we wanted and were free to wander back. Some of the residents had chairs in front of their enclosure so you could even sit and watch for a bit. There was a staff member with most every cat who was very knowledgeable about the facility and the animals. They gave facts, answered questions and had some stories about each animal's personality. So engaging! They also served snacks and sandwiches as well as beer and wine. The facility, including the restroom, was extremely clean and well kept. All the staff were super friendly and we just loved our visit. So much so we're doing it again in March! I highly recommend this tour, which they only do once a month for a few months in the year. They have other tours throughout the year and we can't wait to check those out! read more

See all

Unlike a zoo, you won't find crowds, long lines, concessions or noise here. You'll get an up close and personal experience with some amazing cats that have been abused or endangers. Groups are small and private as well! Plenty of chances to grab a photo of your favorite cat without a million people in the way. The guides are very knowledgeable and have a personal relationship with each cat. I learned so much in just an hour! I highly recommend a day trip or here to see and learn about these beautiful animals. All fees and donations go towards their care and preservation in the wild. read more

See all

What a great experience! Hannah our guide was so passionate and knowledgeable about the cats. Her love for the animals shine throughout the visit. We learned so much, and the one hour tour was perfect for our impatient 7 yea old, who LOVED learning about the animals. Be sure to bring a bottle of water as it gets pretty hot, but it's well worth the price of admission! read more

Drove about 3 hours to get to this location and was totally worth it. The conservation grounds and enclosures are well kept. You can really tell they care about the well-being of all their cats - they don't let you wonder off on your own as to not stress the cats out. It happened to rain while we were at the tail end of the tour, someone came running out with umbrellas for those that wanted to stay and escorted those that wanted to leave to leave. It is pretty secluded, if you think you're driving up to a nursery you're probably in the right place. We would definitely go again if we were in the area. read more

A great stop for kids that are into cats. It's nice to know that they have rescued many of the cats there and I enjoyed hearing the back story on most of them. About half didn't want to make an appearance because it was just so hot. Didn't blame them! It was soooo hot. There were a couple of chairs scattered throughout the tour - just wish there was more shade since an hour is a long time to be directly in the sun. Kensie was a great tour guide. Very informative and had great rapport with the animals. The cheetahs were affectionately licking her hand. It was a bit pricey for the tour and you had to purchase in advance (we made the mistake before rolling up to a closed gate - they don't take drop ins) but it's good to know that the money goes toward a great cause. My complaint or more of a suggestion is for the "gift shop" to be improved. We left with a small stuffed animal for $15 but would have rather had a t-shirt (they didn't have kid sizes available). Overall, recommend this place to anyone in the area wanting to support a good cause. read more

See all

This exceptional animal preserve hosts ocelots, panthers, cheetahs, clouded leopards, carnation lynx, Asian fishing cats , puma, caracal and the ultra rare Amur leopard. There are only 5 left in the world with that coloration! The preserve is staffed by loving and ultra dedicated, knowledgeable employees that will answer any and all questions asked. This is not a zoo, but the pre booked walking tour helps this non profit to not only provide community outreach but to keep the operation in good standing. Each enclosure is also thoughtfully constructed to adapt to the best environment for each cat. The fishing cat especially has its own water feature that mimics a running stream. The grounds are well manicured and the cats are so happy with their handlers that they all came out to say hi for their afternoon feeds. Hannah was a knowledgeable and engaging guide. Price at $35 each for the walking tour was very reasonable for the one hour up close (with a see through fence) tour with these magnificent creatures. A must stop for scouts, animal lovers and anyone fascinated by big cats. Worth the drive from Jensen to WPB to experience. read more

See all

A Wonderful non profit organization that rescues and rehabs the big cats of the world . They also offer tours at various times of the day to see these wild cats at their most active time. Great place doing a wonderful job with the amazing big cats. read more

So happy to finally go to PR in the rain but got an excellent tour! Unforgettable experience! Keep up the great work read more

I came here with my family when visiting Florida, and we all loved it! A little hard to find at first (but I think that may have been our GPS), but once you get there, you know you are where you need to be. You really get the stories of the animals at the Conservation Center plus a history and lots of information about Big Cats. The staff is super knowledgeable and friendly. Our tour guide encouraged questions and was able to answer any and all questions we had, from children and adults alike. Plus, she was able to tell us the background of each cat, differences between the needs of each animal, and information about the breeds and their habitats. It is very clear that the animals are truly cared for and loved. Great for all ages, especially if anyone wants to learn about or is interested in big cats. A fantastic experience that I would love to do again! Highly recommend! read more

See all

This is a by-appointment-only big (& little) cat sanctuary. The guides are extremely knowledgeable & obviously enjoy their work. Good for little kids up to 100+ read more

Panther Ridge Conservation Center - Asian Fishing cat - Zoos Near Me - Loxahatchee, Florida

See all

We had a great experience doing the head keeper tour! We learned a lot, fed some of the cats, and got to see every single cat there. Great tour guide. Definitely recommend! read more

Panther Ridge Conservation Center - Zoos Near Me - Loxahatchee, Florida

This place is incredible. If your passionate about different species of big cats /cats in general, you will fall in love with this place. Over 8 different species reside in this place and have different stories. In total about 18, which consists of cheetah, clouded leopard, ocelots, servals, jaguars, cougars, caracals, and leopards. They come from pervious owners who abandoned them or did not want to keep them anymore , zoos, circuses and etc. Its pretty sad how they are endangered and the population keeps on decreasing because of various reasons, but one being that humans want their furs and kill such beautiful animals to get them... Im not sure which part of the tour was my favorite because each animal had their own awesome personality and behavior. We chose the director tour which is usually a smaller tour and the director (Judy) interacted with all the animals one by one. It was totally visible how loved these animals are. Judy gave them their meals, brushed them, told us so many facts about each specie and more. I took a ton of videos as well but I don't want to spoil the tour for people planning on going. So, posting a ton of photos instead. Panther Ridge Conservation Center is located in Wellington. It is totally worth a visit if you are in the Palm Beach area. There are different tours: Director tour - 2 hours ( $100 per person minimum 2 people) - In my view totally worth it. Standard tour - 1 hour ($50 per person if there are two people) ($25 per person if it's 4 or more people) Side Note: Wish I wore a hat, the sun was extreme. Wear comfortable closed toed walking shoes. ~ read more

See all

Great overall experience with a lot of information on the cats big and small. Also a lot of conservation information was given and I'd have to say it was our honor to support a place like this where it seemed like more of a passion for the employees doing their jobs. The tour we chose was The Head Keeper tour was not the basic one it was a little more in-depth and we were with a small group. You get to feed the cats big and small and really appreciate their beauty. read more

Panther Ridge Conservation Center - Cheetah - Zoos Near Me - Loxahatchee, Florida

I found out about this wonderful organization from Groupon. I was browsing through looking for things my daughter and I could do together and found this place. I love animals and had never heard of them before. I bought the Groupon for a one hour tour for two and last weekend we were finally able to meet in Loxahatchee to visit the center. Regular admission is $30 for a one hour tour. I called a few days before I came to give them my name and make the tour appointment. You can also purchase a ticket to self tour. Panther Ridge is located off a dirt road in Loxahatchee behind a covered fence. It's easy to get to but if you didn't know it was there you probably wouldn't notice it. Panther Ridge was founded in 1999 by Judy Berens. Judy owned and showed horses for many years. She had a large enough space for an exotic cat so she obtained the permit necessary to obtain Sabrina, an ocelot. From there she realized there was a need for a big cat rescue as she received many phone calls from human societies looking for homes for abused and abandoned pets. From there panther Ridge was born and for the last twenty years they had a place in Wellington. Higher rents forced them out to this, their new Loxahatchee location where they have resided for the past year. It worked out for the best because now they have a larger space for the cats. When the cats come to panther Ridge they come for life without ever having to worry about being moved somewhere else. Our tour guide was Lisa one of the two head keepers. She was a wonderful guide as she gave a very educational tour of the facility. Lisa brought enrichment treats to coax the cats to the front of the cage where we could see them but if they didn't want the treat no cat was forced to do anything. Panther Ridge currently has cats 19 cats. Different species from all over the world include cheetahs, cloud leopards, cougars, jaguars, fishing cat, caracal, and servals. Some of the cats that come to them have a sad past, pets of people who didn't take the best care of them, victims of roadside zoos who abused them, or retired from larger zoos. Some of the cats will breed to help boost the population of critically endangered species. During the tour you learn why you don't want to buy palm oil. The cat I absolutely fell in love with is Charlie the cheetah. He is a geriatric but oh so handsome. I left my heart with him. Panther Ridge dubs themselves Pamper Ridge where they care for big cats who weren't always treated the best. Here they are cared for and get what they need to be happy. I am someone who believes animals belong in the wild whenever and wherever possible and I am highly critical of places when I visit. Unfortunately stupid people think exotic animals make good pets. They don't know how to properly care the animal and when the animals does something to them because it wasn't meant to live in a house they dump it. Places like Panther Ridge Conservation are needed to save these poor animals. One exotic cat that they now have was dumped in a carrier behind a Petsmart. Although cruel that was the best thing those people did because the cat now has the life it deserves. Just out of curiosity I looked online to see what kind of exotic animals you could buy. All of the big cats, monkeys, and even pandas are for sale. For shame! The exotic pet trade needs to be shut down. Until it is places like Panther Ridge are needed to take care of these abused and mistreated animals when people no longer want them. With the move Panther Ridge was able to start offering Twilight Tours. Most big cats are nocturnal and more active at night and for $50 you can tour for 2 hours and see some of the cats that aren't available during the day. The tour also includes refreshments and the next one is October 19th. Panther Ridge is non profit so their sole income is through tours and donations so I encourage everyone to come out and support them. They are currently trying to build a pool and a way to connect the cages so the cats can roam between them. They would also like to build a gift shop and a gazebo for school children to sit in the shade when they visit. With everyone's support they can continue to help as many cats as possible. read more

See all

We very much enjoyed the Twilight Hours event for October at the Panther Ridge Conservation. This organization cares for Big Cats in a loving environment. The knowledge and care given for all of these big cats is remarkable. We walked around for several hours at this refuge watching the big cats and learning from the staff the specifics of each breed. Some of the Cats include Colored Leopards, Ocelots, Jaguars, Cheetahs, Florida Panther (my favorite), and more. Beer, wine, soda, water, sandwiches, cookies and more served. We highly recommend! read more

See all

I have been nothing but impressed by the level of dedication the staff have to these animals. The facility is exceptionally clean and well-kept, the cats are more than well taken care of, and all of the staff love educating the public on conservation. It is truly a special place. read more

Our tour guide, Kelly, was knowledgeable and passionate about our sharing her knowledge of these amazing cats! You can tell these cats are loved and well taken care of! Great for all ages! Highly recommend! read more

Cats! Big cats! These people are into big cats! They rescue and breed endangered species. The place is well set-up and managed. When I was there, I watched large exotic cats play with big pumpkins. The was a big Jaguar laying at the fence, just feet away from us, and we could hear it loudly purring. This place will astound the kids and make the adults feel like children again. It is not rated #1 thing to do in Palm Beach County for nothing. (on Travelocity I think) read more

Hannah was awesome also very informative! The cats all seem happy and well taken care of. It was an awesome experience, I definitely recommend. read more

Panther Ridge Conservation Center is a gem to visit we had our first visit last night for three hours. this is a wonderful rescue sanctuary for a big cats and you can get safely very close to the cats and they tell you everything you could possibly want to know about them we took the three hour tour for $30 and it included delicious sandwiches, cookies, drinks! it really was a wonderful experience , when we first turned onto D Road to get to a destination we thought we had been given wrong instructions by Google maps but it wasn't so you think you're turning into a plant nursery but just keep going to the end of the road and you will be there. it really is a must we will be back often! read more

See all

We came to get a tour of the panthers and we learned some great things about them. Our tour guide Cat was amazing. We do recommend the panthers ridge conservation. The panthers are so cute! read more

Panther Ridge Conservation Center - There so cute. We learned a lot about them! - Zoos Near Me - Loxahatchee, Florida

Truly a place dedicated to conservation of large cats. Come willing to learn and leave smiling after a great time with all the residents. Great gift store. Tip: come prepared with sun protection in case the sun is strong. read more

One of a kind experience up close and personal with endangered species. The zoo keepers take you on guided tour educating you on each cat, engaging them and in some cases hand feeding them. You can only visit via reservations and tours are in small groups. An incredible organization and highly recommend a visit. read more

See all

Only For COOL CATS! This lovely guided tour takes you up close and personal with some of the most beautiful and sadly endangered big cats on the planet. Our tour guide was friendly, engaging and really knew her stuff - she was also fearless! She had those cats eating out of her hand! Tours in South Florida are usually hot & buggy but the tour winds beneath a canopy of thick, shady trees that provided complete shade and comfort! I've lived in the Wellington area for 15 years and have never heard of this place before - a true find, something the kids would adore. read more

See all

Such an amazing experience up close with beautiful cats. Our 6 year old had such a great time. Would recommend Panther Ridge to everyone. We look forward to going back for more tours. read more

See all

We loved going to the Panther Ridge Conservation Center! The young lady who was our guide was sweet, informative and helpful. She encouraged any and all questions. We got a flavor of each cat's personality, and there is quite a variety between all of them. Here's a tip- bring a hat, since the humans have little shade (the cats get the tree shade). My favorites are the beautiful clouded leopard and the funny fisher cat who belly flops into the water for food! The Panther Ridge is a hidden gem! read more

Very interesting tour and beautiful cats. It was really a thrill to be able to see a cheetah in person and up close. Highly recommend, great for well behaved children read more

See all

This was an excellent tour. We totally enjoyed meeting the big cats that are around the property. Our guide Kinsey was so knowledgeable and gave us so much info we didn't need to ask many questions. This was a most enjoyable hour. read more

By far one of the best experiences ever! We are so supportive of what they are doing here to help keep these panthers healthy and happy. The location is out in the middle of no where but definitely worth the drive. We drive from Coral Springs and it was worth it. Please note it's not open to the public. You have to make an appointment online or call. We paid $25 per person. Our tour guide Ryan was unbelievable and very informative. He knew everything about each one and answered all our questions. He was beyond friendly. Made the tour very enjoyable. What I loved most was how well each and every panther was taken care of. How clean and well organized everything was. Each one has plenty of space in the cage and lots of toys to keep them occupied. Very impressive to see this. Overall, I recommend everyone to take a tour. You won't be disappointed. Kids are welcome too. Great experience and you are up close. read more

See all

Very informative and an overall great experience. Professionally run and they have taken in a lot of mistreated big cats. Definitely worth checking out. read more

Panther Ridge Conservation Center is a non-profit big cat sanctuary. My wife and I were amazed at how clean the enclosures were and how well cared for the animal were. PR is home to jaguars, cougars, a black leopard, a cheetah, several clouded leopards, ocelots, and more. They provide private tours only, and they are given by the owner of the sanctuary, not a volunteer. She tells you about each animals history and how they came to be at Panther Ridge. If you are in the area, and like big cats, you must check out Panther Ridge. Call them for a private tour. read more

See all

I received a visit to the center for Mother's Day and toured with Lisa and it was amazing. The grounds are impeccable and all of the cats are little more than arms reach from you. The knowledge Lisa shared with us was interesting, informative and she seemed to love answering our many questions. You not only learned about the cats characteristics but you learned about its plight to stay populated. The cats are obviously very well taken care of and loved. I would recommend the center for anyone who loves big cats or loves them and just doesn't realize it yet. I was also lucky enough to do an encounter with two clouded leopards and it was just beyond surreal. Hopefully Lisa didn't think I was unimpressed because I didn't say much but I was SO impressed I was speechless and that's hard to do. By visiting you not only support local businesses and bringing revenue to our area, you're supporting wildlife and helping to ensure these animals are around for years for our children, grandkids etc, to enjoy. I will definitely be a frequent visitor to the center, thank you so much for a one of a lifetime experience. read more

See all