A week ago we went with our homeschool group on a field trip to a new zoo that opened 2 months ago about 2 hours from our cabin in Snowflake, VA. The zoo is called Creation Kingdom Zoo. I will let my pictures speak for the most part, but I have to say that this was the cleanest, friendliest, and most hands on zoo I have ever been to. The girls enjoyed it greatly. I wish I could have gotten pictures of more of the animals, but my camera has been on the fritz, and Ivy was having a terribly difficult day that day. The animals are kept in very clean and spacious enclosures. They don’t stink of wallowing in their waste. They don’t display the neurotic behaviors you can see, especially large cats, display in zoo exhibits.
The two things I wish I could have gotten a picture of and didn’t was the little spider monkey that we fed fruit loops. She grabbed Ivy’s juice cup and wanted a drink! Her hands were so soft and felt human like. She would wrap herself in a little towel and swing in a baby swing. 🙂 We also got to pet and hold an albino python (very large) and a Coatamundi. For $8 a piece (group rate) we got a guided tour. We were allowed to feed most of the animals from feed bags we purchased for $1. We were allowed to bring in our own food and drink. It was a very pleasant experience. A great time! I am so happy we have this opportunity so close to us now. You would never think a zoo would be out where this zoo is. 🙂
The zoo also has a Noah’s Ark building for reptiles, fish, a kangaroo, and some rabbits. They also have a room for showing films. The owners are available for questions and if I am not mistaken at least one has a PhD in zoology. I’m really excited about going back there as a family. It makes me proud that in Appalachia we don’t let our location or stereotypes squelch our possibilities in all situations. Really proud. A zoo in the valley.
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May 16, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Deb
Ack, that ostrich eating out of my baby’s hand would terrify me! We went on one of those “safari”s once, the kind where you drive around in your car and you can see wild animals up close. First thing that freaked me out was that an ostrich ATE THE WEATHERSTRIPPING around my window!! Like, took a bite and then slurped it all in. Then one of the girls (they were about five at the time) was feeding a zebra and he stuck his tongue out and tried to put it up HER NOSE. Never again.
May 17, 2010 at 2:27 am
Alisha
Oh my gosh, that looks awesome! I’m glad you guys had such a great time.
May 21, 2010 at 12:05 pm
e4unity
great pics-thanks for sharing the zoo w/ the rest of us. you say its 2 hours from your cabin, you must really be in the mountains, authentic ‘mountain mama’.
you are on our blogroll at paintlickfriends, hope you will consider putting us on yours.
John paul Todd
paintlickfriends.wordpress.com
May 22, 2010 at 1:09 pm
eastkentuckygal
And you are now on mine. 🙂 Yes, we are pretty rural. No recognized road leads to our cabin, but we are close in many ways to a typical Appalachian holler two lane road.
August 15, 2013 at 11:16 pm
Ken Rowark
I rode past this zoo only lasts week whilst on holiday and on our way to visit a friend of my nephew, we came all the way from methley england and had a wonderful time in your country, the people that we met had never ever met anyone from england before and we found them amazing too
.Ken Rowark