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Reptile Lagoon

3.9 (24 reviews)
Open 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

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Brittany K.

South of the Border screams tourist trap! They practically lasso you in with their 50+ signs lining I-95. Am I complaining? No. I fell for it and loved the kitschy-ness of it all. I hadn't expected to find anything like reptile lagoon in this area. It was an unexpected but more than pleasant surprise. As soon as I learned about their conservation efforts, I was sold. Paid a very modest fee of $8 and bolted straight into the exhibit area. They have a variety of crocs, gators, and reptiles. All of which are housed comfortably in clean and natural habitats. The design of the space was well thought out and made very easy to navigate. I understand that SOB isn't exactly the kind of place you make special plans to see or travel to. However, if you happen to be driving I-95, definitely make this a rest stop! You can stretch and spend roughly 20-30 minutes learning more about our gator neighbors here in the south. Pssst! Did I mention your money supports conservation causes? Because, well it does. That's a major positive.

Katelyn N.

Look, I'm no "Karen", and I usually never leave negative reviews because it's not worth my time and effort to type out and post something negative, but this place screams neglect of their animals...It's smelly, dark, dank, and depressing...Of course I thought, well reptiles like it dark, right? But then I saw all the alligators(10-15 of them) piled on top of each other just to get a portion of themselves under the heat lamp, which was the only light in the place! The price was fair at $8.00 person and I heard it went towards conservation, so I thought ok, let's stop there! I'm only glad I did so I could write this review and also contact someone that helps neglected animals, such as these critters. The enclosures definitely need to be more spacious and overall, upgraded. The size of the animal should depend on the size of the enclosure, it's not brain surgery to know that! The worst of the worst though, was a large snapping turtle that looked dead. He wasn't though because he opened his mouth, but he didn't move anything else, and he had tons of algae and other stuff growing on his shell and his body. He wasn't even completely submerged, the water was dirty, and it seemed he know his enclosure was too small for him to move around, so he just stayed put.It's like he accepted his tragic fate of being stuck there until he dies. Almost all enclosures seemed way too small except for the main enclosure that held btween 12-15 alligators! The experience was sad, upsetting, and I had tears in my eyes when I left! Thanks so much South of the Border!

I would rate the reptile lagoon zero stars but that wasn't an option. Overall the environment was very depressing none of the animals were moving and if they were they were banging against the glass. One turtle was pressing against the glass and the water was very foggy and I couldn't even tell there was something in there. Another turtle was covered in algae. The alligators and crocodiles weren't moving at all or even blinking I couldn't even tell if they were alive or not. The signs say "endangered and threatened" but SOB isn't helping the situation. My children and I were very disappointed they were crying because the reptiles looked sad. I just wanted to give an honest opinion of the South of the Border Reptile Lagoon in South Carolina. So please reconsider going to this place in particular, I know I won't be returning.

Species of Mamba
Chris C.

This place is enormous, They have a lot of nice exhibits, large amount of snakes to view. Extremely clean, large exhibits for most of the reptiles. They have a lot of exotic species. Great day trip.

Horned viper I think.

Went to south of the border just to see what the billboards were about despite what a couple people had told me. I loved the nostalgia of the place, looks like it was a place that would've been hoppin back in the 70's before people and kids had so many electronics to keep themselves occupied. I only went to the gator farm out of pity because I thought it was a place whose glory days were gone 40 years ago and I wanted to help keep the place from shutting down. When I walked in it didn't look like a whole lot, one alligator in a sand pit and some birds but when you walk past that it's pretty amazing. The guy that said "the gators weren't real ", they hold their mouth open and don't move. I seen a worker throw a piece of meat to one that was dead still and you'll know they're real then. I never was a reptile freak or anything and I was amazed. Ugly gators and crocs and snakes that I never even knew existed. I told a friend that had passed it up many times and never stopped, don't know if he ever did but he sounded interested. I never knew how big a king cobra really is until that day. I stayed there for hours in awe looking at snakes and the staff let me stay past closing while they were tending to them, not telling everyone to do the same. If I'm ever down that way again, they're open, and I have the time I will go back.

Huge Crocodile
Julie S.

Really cool exhibits, family and kid friendly. My autistic brother loved it! It's very inexpensive, $8 for adults, $6 for kids and you can stay inside as long as you want! Gift shop has some pretty cool toys and souvenirs, a little pricey though. Exhibit is really safe too and snakes are kept in these darker tunnels and are avoidable, so those who can't stand them can easily avoid going through their exhibits. Lots of cool turtles and gators from all over the world! Really educational and they help fund protection for gators and other wildlife!

Steven M.

I love reptiles! This place has the best collection of snakes and crocodiles I've ever seen. Watch out for the black and white cobra, he bites! Idk about the rest of this creepy tourist trap, but the reptile lagoon is a great diversion if you are passing by. Only $8.

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11 months ago

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5 years ago

i feel like the price could be cheaper. They did have more species of alligator then i expected. The snake exhibit was super nice too!

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7 years ago

Good value for the entire family. We all had fun seeing so many alligators and crocodiles and snakes. We saw a feeding which was fantastic.

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4 years ago

Friendly staff a d beat bag for your buck. There's so many exotic creatures to see, highly recommended

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Review Highlights - Reptile Lagoon

Went to south of the border just to see what the billboards were about despite what a couple people had told me.

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Aloha Safari Park

Aloha Safari Park

4.4(182 reviews)
57.6 mi

A Hidden NC Gem for Families…read more We had the most amazing time at Aloha Zoo in Cameron this week -- it felt like we had the entire place to ourselves! From the moment we arrived, our toddlers were wide-eyed with excitement, and the fun didn't stop. We explored exhibits featuring monkeys, hyenas, tigers, crocodiles, giraffes, and so many other animals -- each one more fascinating than the last. A highlight for our little ones (and us!) was getting to feed the animals -- it's such an interactive, up-close experience that they'll be talking about for a long time. But hands down, the most unforgettable part was the drive-through safari. Where else can a camel stick its head through your car window and nearly steal your taco bowl? This zoo is a perfect, family-friendly adventure with a personal, welcoming feel. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for a fun, memorable day trip. We'll definitely be back!

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Parkton Animal Oasis
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The North Carolina Zoo is one of our favorite places to visit as a family. We have been coming here…read morefor years, from when our children were young to now bringing our four year old granddaughter, and it never gets old. The experience is always enjoyable. The zoo is clean, well organized, and offers a very interactive environment that keeps everyone engaged. There is a lot of walking, but that is part of the charm and allows for a more natural setting for the animals. Food is about what you would expect from a large attraction and can be on the expensive side, but the overall experience more than makes up for it. We have never had a bad visit here. It is a place we will keep coming back to, and we are excited to see the new Asia section they are adding this year.

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The North Carolina Zoo - Asia Is Closer Than You Think Promotional Sign

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T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station - Petting Bubbles' trunk

T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station

4.1(57 reviews)
58.1 mi

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This experience was absolutely worth the price…read more You get exactly what you're looking for-photos with some amazing beautiful animals that you would never truly get to experience anywhere else! This price is extremely fair as I've been to several different animal experiences in the past, the only difference is you can see the love the staff has for these animals and it's just so magical! Thank you to this amazing staff for everything and making sure all the experiences here are extra special!

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Holding lemurs

T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station - Holding lemurs

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Tiger World - Sleeping in the sun.

Tiger World

4.2(121 reviews)
98.8 mi

We are Seniors and loved Tiger World, but it's great for any age. Parents with young children were…read morealso visiting when we were there. We were amazed at how many tigers we saw, plus many other animals. The best part is we didn't have to walk great distances between the enclosures, like at the Asheboro Zoo. This zoo is definitely Kid AND Senior friendly. There are ample benches and places to sit to just enjoy nature and watch the animals. We also loved the fact that this is a non profit sanctuary for animals needing rescue, rehabilitation, or medical treatment. The staff is very friendly and willing to talk about the animals. You can purchase feed cups and throw the peanuts to the monkeys, which was a lot of fun. We enjoyed being so close to the animals, yet it was still a safe distance. I was able to get great pictures and we marveled at the size of the tigers' paws. Go in the morning when the tigers are more active - but make sure you go... this is a place you don't want to miss!

I have to admit that the first thing that came to mind was the Netflix show a few years back but…read morethis place is mad legit. It's not like the NC Zoo experience but the amount of big cats here and how close you are to them is extraordinary. You can tell that they really care for all of their animals and if you get the chance to talk to one of the keepers, they will talk to you with relevant information to the point you could have a BS in zoology. It's cheaper to get in here that our local Science center and way cooler. I'm not a cat person but these cats are awesome. They even had a timber wolf which was really cool. Well worth the trip from Greensboro area and again, you can tell that they really care for these animals.

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Tiger World - KOTJ

KOTJ

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Reptile Lagoon - zoos - Updated July 2026

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