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    Riverside Wildlife Center

    4.1 (33 reviews)

    Riverside Wildlife Center Photos

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    Alan D.

    If I'm being honest, first impressions of this place was that it was going to be sketch but I should have known better than to judge a book by it's cover. What an amazing little find just a few miles up the road from Meramec Caverns. We stopped in coming back from the caves and while we had a wonderful time visiting the caves, it was Riverside Wildlife Center that kept us talking the rest of the afternoon. First off, the staff at Riverside are fantastic! They are super knowledgeable, very friendly, and rather personable. We engaged with a number of staff and found they had all worked there for quite a while which contributes to a sense of being"family owned." Here's the skinny - I have never been so close to a tiger in my life - absolute best part of my day. Two fences separate you from these enormous cats but it's still much closer than the zoo. Our tour group was small, about 8 people, and we never felt rushed while visiting either the inside or outside animals. We saw them feed the big cats, pet the emu, and enjoy the tigers playing in the water. Inside contains an amazing collection of reptiles and you'll have an opportunity to hold some of them (if you dare!) I'm a big fan of critters so this too was a highlight. This was my first time to hold an alligator or such a huge snake! Holding is optional and I felt perfectly safe, so no worries if this isn't your thing. We loved how personalized our experience was and how great the interactions were with the staff and the animals. I've already recommended Riverside to a number of friends who are making their plans to visit soon!

    Look at this cute little guy!
    Teresa R.

    Never knew about this place! Only found out by purchasing a Groupon. It's located at the same exit as the Meramec Caverns. This is a very interesting place! It's not for everybody but how often do you get a chance to hold a baby alligator and other snakes?? This is not a public zoo. But, the animals do seem to be taken care of and the volunteer staff seem to be attached and care about the animals. They have a couple Tigers, a Lion, Bobcats, ducks, chickens, Lemurs, and a ton of reptiles! Any Snake that you want to see and probably hold along with alligators, snapping turtles, dragons, kents and monitors. Now the store front is creepy, too creepy and cluttered for me. Bones, fossils, just all sorts of things but just too much stuff. But, I was the only one in my group that felt that way. I would go again!

    Stephanie W.

    Do not waste your money supporting this business. Came here more out of curiosity on how they ran this place. I couldn't believe what I walked in to. 30 alligators kept in a room with a shallow water hole is not my idea of care. No sunlight either. 2 Lemurs in a cage no sunlight. Raw meat just chillin on top of a turtle cage. That was gross. A huge 175 year old turtle in a murky water Tupperware container. Not even kidding No room to even turn around. The largest alligator was kept in an bigger area but dirty water as well. Very uneasy feeling waking in, and the tour guide could only tell us how hard the different animals bites were. no other info other than that the animals are all "rescues". Bunch of baby alligators in a tank that will spend the rest of their lives there. I guess graduate to the room of 30 after they get big enough. Seen the tiger, very overweight no room to exercise. There is no way this is ok, because that is no way to live.

    Susan L.

    We made an unprecedented stop (per my husband's insistence) at this "wildlife zoo" that was basically a swamp neighboring what looked like a meth lab. We walked into what one may consider an "office" and the first two sights were: a dog imprisoned in what appeared to be a jail cell, and a woman casually changing her child's diaper on a service counter. For $10 apiece, we were told we would get a "tour"; after giving her a $20, she said she'd have to get us change. What? To his utter opposition, a boy no older than 15 years of age was asked to guide us. My husband knew more about the animals than the poor young lad. Animals were contained within cages that looked no securer than a cardboard cereal box. Showcased was a vast array of random, exotic animals such as a Bengal tiger and had an alligator pond. Steve, the Tiger Trainer was rather hilarious in his demonstration of feeding raw chicken to the tigers. The entire scene was unexplainable, inconceivable but I commend them for rescuing and genuinely caring for the animals.

    65 year old alligator
    Jeff T.

    Rating this place anything less than 5 stars is simply a mistake. I "stumbled" upon this park as I was driving toward Meramec Caverns. And candidly? I would put Riverside Reptile Ranch on ANYONE's most important "bucket list" items as a place they MUST VISIT in the United States. (IF...you are interested in being close to exotic wild animals. "Reptile Ranch" name does not begin to present their true identity. Unless, of course you call tigers (2), a lion, an Emu, Silver foxes, 2 wolves, a common fox, a bobcat, wild turkeys, exotic goats, A rare chicken that lays "COLORED EGGS", and a variety of monkeys and many others that I forgot . No, its not just "reptiles". Also? Any comment about "poorly cared for animals" is "insulting to both myself, and the owners / employees of this business! I've witnessed the love and care given to every single species in this place, so "Mr. California" must have simply judged the book by its cover. And, by the way? JG, You owe these guys 10 bucks. Anyway, when you arrive, and enter the front door, it may seem like a "weird" place. And yes, there may be some dust on the collection of unique skeletons and other bizarre items, but after you "EXPERIENCE" the tour, and come within inches of animals and species that you've only seen on TV, you will understand WHY you MUST check this place out. They have a snapping turtle that is speculated to be at least 125 years old....maybe much older! (Wish I took a photo. It was like 3 feet wide by 4 feet long!!! And have you ever petted a hedgehog? I think not. And you certainly would get to do that at any zoo! Or hold an alligator? I mean really??? A bad review?? Are you kidding me?? Maybe, "Mr. California", the entry fee should be more like $100.00 per person (instead of $10.00 per person) Then, Bill and Lynn just might have the extra money to clean up the junk or mess. (Yet, I hope they change NOTHING!) An UNBELIEVABLE experience for sure. Thanks so much. (And a special thanks to Gary for the great tour he conducted) :) Lastly. I have about 50 more photos to view, but they would not load. So, if you click on my profile, and click on photos, they are all there to view. Please spend a couple minutes checking them out. :) Jeff.

    Lorin M.

    You go for the towns rumors of holding exotic animals, you stay for the amazing staff. We had the best time- Daisy was a doll.

    Hear you could hold alligators here... and you CAN! Also serval other amazing animals. We watched our guide hand feed the tiger like house cat. The staff was welcoming and so sweet.

    Crystal R.

    Well, we happened to get a Monday off and have been meaning to check this place out so I headed out to Stanton, MO with my daughter and a friend. This place is located at the Meramac Cavern exit....you pass over the highway and just a little ways down the road you'll see the sign for this little roadside wildlife center. The place does look rough....this is to be noted for sure....but hell....who doesn't like a little adventure?? You will first enter the "gift shop" or maybe a shop of curiosities is more apt. All sorts of gator heads, skull of every kind (even a hippo skull!), dried turtle shells, carved wooden animals, teeth in jars, beaded jewelry etc.... This place is a bit dark, and needs a bit of airing out....but that was part of it's charm for us. The people who work here were VERY, VERY friendly. After looking around a bit, we were appointed a tour guide (Khelsey) and we headed out to the back of the building. There were a few fancy breeds of chickens first and we saw sheep and an emu and then the REAL DEAL....2 GATORS! One was lounging on the deck and we got to touch her tail. She didn't mind a bit and was glad to just sun bathe there. There was also another one lounging on the mud in their pond. We turned the corner and saw 2 beautiful TIGERS! They were so content looking and soaking in the sun. Both looked healthy and happy. Khelsey offered them chicken parts to bring them closer and even got the male to stretch up on the fence to show how tall he was. (see photo) We then got to see bob cats, foxes, and even a wolf dog! We went to the other end where a beautiful male lion lived. His name is Leo and he was just sunbathing as well. He was a bit on the lack-a- daisy side and didn't really want to come over until his favorite person came out and he ran right up to him and was rubbing all over the fence. You could really tell he loved him. We headed back inside and were taken to the interior reptile room where we saw snakes, tarantulas, monitors, frogs, HUGE turtles, and more alligators. There were also parrots and lemurs. We got to hold a python and baby alligators and frogs. It was really cool. These people truly love their job and helping these animals (most of which are rescues) and love sharing their knowledge with others. This place is a must see if you love adventures and seeing cool animals up close. I'd say go early so it's not too hot out and BRING A CAMERA!!! I took a TON of photos if you'd like to see what you're missing. BTW - it's $10.00 for the guided tour but all of these people work as VOLUNTEERS!! The money goes to help the animals and keep this place going. There are also tip jars as you leave for your guide.

    We also found this this dead thing in a mouse trap. This place is terrible.

    If I could rate this zero I would. The animals are poorly taken care of, the place stinks, they do not clean, found spider webs everywhere. Everyone was so pushy onto giving a tip for a girls new truck

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    Very clean and organized. Loved being able to see all the animals. Will definitely be bringing the kids back with us next time we come!

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    Ask the Community - Riverside Wildlife Center

    Review Highlights - Riverside Wildlife Center

    “The kids got to hold a Python, pet a hedgehog and watch them feed the lion and interact with the Tigers.”

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Endangered Wolf Center - One of the yards at wolf sanctuary.

    Endangered Wolf Center

    4.3(50 reviews)
    34.2 mi

    The Endangered Wolf Center has been on my bucket list for years. I was thrilled to be able to…read moreattend a "Howl at the Moon" Friday evening event. We lucked out with the weather being warm and clear. The staff were very engaging and knowledgeable. We enjoyed sitting around the campfire and learning about all of the animals. They have laminated pictures of the animals and tell you about their behavior and how they collaborate with other groups (government, ranchers, etc) to promote a thriving ecosystem. After the education, we quietly walked a short way down a trail to literally howl and hear the wolves (and foxes?) howl back. We were not disappointed. It sounded like a large, wild kennel. Afterwards, there were s'mores by the fire pit. We even saw a bonus animal slither past us. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone open to learning more about animals. Wear clothes and shoes that can get a bit dirty so you can be fully relaxed. We also applied lots of bug spray when we arrived.

    This has been a hidden secret for decades. I was born and raised in the area and my mother lived…read morehere her whole life and did not know about it until I saw it in the AZA reciprocity list. They had a golf cart and private driver to accommodate me and my my moms mobility needs and we saw so many great foxes and wolves. They have plenty of room for them to roam making it like a natural habitat. Also nearby is Lone Elk Park (free) and the Wild Bird Sanctuary (small fee) worth checking out.

    Photos
    Endangered Wolf Center - Campfire education session

    Campfire education session

    Endangered Wolf Center - Wildlife

    Wildlife

    Endangered Wolf Center

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    Grant's Farm - Original fire truck

    Grant's Farm

    4.6(454 reviews)
    45.0 mi

    My Grant's Farm experience has been limited to the Christmas light show and Christmas village…read moreexperience but recently I've added the Clydesdale tour which was fantastic and a one of a kind experience getting to meet these magnificent creatures. My brain wasn't working correctly and we missed our tour time but the guide was kind enough to take us along during their tour. Mind you, we got there an hour and a half early but the brain cells died or something. Anyway, we got to pet the Clydesdales and had a close encounter with one. These horses are huge and very beautiful. We got to see a couple of them getting bathed and they were so gentle and well-behaved, I was quite impressed! The tour includes a free adult beverage or water for those under 21 or those who prefers a water instead. Our tour guide was amazing. I think she said her name was Linda. She was very kind and didn't even want any gratuity explaining that her role is a volunteer one. She's a retired educator and you can tell with the patience she had with her rather large tour group. The ticket price for the tour was pretty reasonable for the experience you're getting. You do pay for parking but you can take the tram for free to the village area for more activities. Unfortunately, we ran out of time the day of our tour so we didn't make it up to the village. You can take the trails (bike or on foot) and visit the farm though! When it's nicer outside, I fully intend to do so.

    1st time visitor(was there as a kid) Did the Tour of the…read moreBudweiser Clydesdales Tram ride after the tour Very pretty walk through the area around the farm On hot days, not a lot of shade in food court May want to invest in more umbrellas/shade areas Good for families and anybody with kids Can feed the goats,etc It looks like hours are limited to weekends, but not sure if only a summer thing though Definitely worth visiting, but expect a lot of kids though

    Photos
    Grant's Farm - In the courtyard

    In the courtyard

    Grant's Farm
    Grant's Farm - Water shot

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    Water shot

    Saint Louis Zoo - Zoo Lights 2026

    Saint Louis Zoo

    4.6(1.2k reviews)
    50.6 mi•Forest Park

    The best zoo I've ever been to!…read more There are SO many animals here, and they have large, well-maintained enclosures with great conditions for the animals. The infrastructure is also excellent, with convenient walking paths and tons of things for kids to do. And the best part? It's completely FREE! There is paid parking for $20 at both the south and north entrances. We came in from the north and were able to find free parking, but we had to walk about 3 minutes to get to the entrance, which was totally worth it. The zoo is very well designed. There are comfortable walking paths throughout the whole place, and they even have a train for anyone who gets tired of walking. There are restrooms everywhere and plenty of picnic areas where you can take a break. Honestly, this is a perfect example of how a public attraction should be done. You get an incredible experience, amazing animal exhibits, great infrastructure, and entertainment for the whole family - all without paying an admission fee. We absolutely loved it and will definately be coming back!

    The best way to spend a Wednesday morning? Go explore somewhere new. That was my plan, and that's…read morehow I ended up at the Saint Louis Zoo. First tip: if you don't mind walking, you can park a little farther away for free. I arrived around noon and parked about a 5-7 minute walk from the North Entrance. If you have kids, bags, strollers and all the usual family stuff, paying to park closer probably makes more sense. What surprised me most was that admission to the zoo itself is free. And I actually love how they do this. You can come in, walk around and enjoy the animals without paying for admission. Then you decide what extras are worth paying for: food, toys, the train, tours and other conveniences. To me, this is exactly how a place like this should work. And the zoo itself? I loved it. Penguins were amazing, plus polar bears, grizzlies, elephants and tigers. The lions apparently had other plans and decided to hide from me that day. There's a lot to see, everything felt easy to explore, and I could absolutely come here again. Especially with kids, this is a pretty great way to spend a day in St. Louis.

    Photos
    Saint Louis Zoo - Penguins taking a nap

    Penguins taking a nap

    Saint Louis Zoo - Penguins

    Penguins

    Saint Louis Zoo - Grizzly bear

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    Grizzly bear

    Riverside Wildlife Center - zoos - Updated September 2026

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