little ponderosa zoo

Lots of pettable animals such as goats, etc as you go in. The pens and cages aren't the most admirable but I also realize this place is on a donation budget. Some nice long walks and a very few exotic or uncommon for the area animals such as one tiger and the camels in the fields. Lots of beautiful birds and the staff is quite friendly. Worth paying to see and go through in order to support them and for a nice local visit. Isn't anything like a big zoo, but then it isn't supposed to be. Worth the trip!

We took our son and he loved it! There were more animals than I had expected and the staff was very nice!

This local zoo has more than you could imagine a small zoo as having. The animals are pretty much all rescues so please go and visit them and show that we are not all bad humans and help support them. I have seen a review complaining about the small confines of some of the animals but please know that the zoo helpers interact with each and every critter there according to the owner on a normal basis. Charles the baby camel is by far my favorite!!! So please go see what Anderson County has to offer in the zoo department and be sure and pack a lunch!

We went on a school field trip with my son's class. We had a great Time. The kids got to enjoy pony rides and we all had a picnic. We also got a case of food that we could see the animals as we walked around the short loop. Inside there are all kinds of birds there are some snakes in enclosed habitats. There was even a presentation that Miss Mary Lou done that was very informative teaching about reptiles My husband and I even held some of the snakes to bring around and show the children. it was a great day. The day we went they were even like a fresh cotton candy! Which is another plus for a 6 year old.We usually visit at least once a month it is a great family place and the owners are very Friendly and love their animals.

Terrible experience! Animals are in small cages and pens. Way too expensive for the experience. On top of it all, the teenagers who run the place stood in the exit and confronted us about riding the ponies without paying beforehand. There was no sign and no handler to tell us to wait for assistance or to pay beforehand. Very unprofessional.

We enjoy visiting the zoo multiple times a year. It is big enough for quite a few animals but small enough that my 3 year old can just walk around. (If taking a stroller I suggest one with good wheels as it is not paved). My son and husband enjoy feeding the animals and you can feed many of them. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the visit. The staff is very friendly as well.

A nice little surprise we took the grand kids to last year and they loved it. More of a homey feeling then the large zoos and of course not as big but plenty of different animals. This zoo is out of the way but not to far from Clinton. Very friendly family run zoo so you know they take pride in the animals they have. Well worth a visit.

A very noble endeavor that this organization provides for these animals. When you take the time to inquire about the animals backgrounds it will touch your heart. A sanctuary for rescued animals of all breeds is well worth the price of admission. Not only can you pet some of them but you can feed them as well. If you're expecting a city zoo with all the elaborate features you will be disappointed. However, if 5 acres of up close and personal interaction with rescued animals is your thing then this is the place for both young and old.If you go once you'll be hooked!

I've taken Grandmothers, with nieces and nephews (4-6 years old) and they've enjoyed the "managable" petting zoo that Little Ponderosa Zoo offers! Even have attended a birthday party celebration hosted by the zoo.

We really enjoyed our visit and learned so much about the rescue of these animals. We also enjoyed seeing various types of animals for the first time. My two nieces enjoyed it very much.

I wanted to like Little Ponderosa. I had seen their tiger at my church and planned a stop over at the zoo as I was on my way to the beach because it is really far off the beaten path. Do not try go use your GPS to find the zoo because it will take you around a switchback road to a washed out bridge and you may see a man with a hook hand walking down the road looking pretty scary. You can buy a bucket of food for $5 which I thought was bit expensive. The zoo is not very well kept. You go down this long hot building with monkeys that have been rescued. Well, I guess they have been rescued, though only one (George) had a sign detailing his former life in a cage in a method lab. He was very aggressive and a bit scary though interesting to watch as he jumped one leg, bit his legs repeatedly and then did something inappropriate on the cage bars. There were some coyote hybrid rescues but they were up on a hill and couldn't really be seen. I dont know what they were rescued frim as there was no info. They also had a wolf hybrid that seemed viscious and snarled and barked constantly at us when we stopped at its cage. A lot of the animals were hard to see. The tiger was gorgeous but his cage smelled really bad. The camels field was a bunch of over grown grass and the other hooved animals were in dirt pens. I tried to feed a big antelope that was in with an ostrich but had to stop because it kept trying to gore the ostrich every time it came near! They also had a giant lizard in with a bunch of parrots. Are those species meant to be together?? Overall, Little Ponderosa could use a lot of landscaping, more modern enclosures and mist of all, to share their animal rescue stories. They say they are a rescue but if that is the case, why not share the rescue stories on signs so visitors have a better appreciation for what their seeing rather than it seeming like a rather pitiful wanna-be zoo? I'm also not a fan of pony rides - they had 2 ponies hooked up and just standing there for hours. The lady who took our $30 was nice but none of the other workers we encountered so much as cracked a smile. I guess I can understand because working there everyday is probably a bummer. I am so glad I didn't drive the whole way from Nashville just to go.

This zoo is not too expensive and you are able to purchase extras- pony rides and food. A lot of the animals you can touch and feed as you walk around. This is also a rescue which makes it even better to me. Will go back.