Animal encounters: where to visit alpacas, bison, camels, tigers, miniature horses and more

If there are animal lovers in your family, you’re in luck, because there are many places in the Charlotte area where you can visit animals of all kinds. Alpacas? Check. Extremely friendly pigs? Check. Snakes? Of course. Hawks? We’ve got ’em.

Some of these attractions are working farms and ranches. Some are private zoos or aquariums. Some are rescue and rehabilitation facilities. You should read up a little bit on the venue before planning to visit so that you understand the mission of the organization. Please follow the links to the attractions’ pages.

We’ve noted any changes in opening status or procedures that we know about. But, of course, all procedures are subject to change in these ever-changing times. In general, you should expect to be required to wear a mask indoors, and when you can’t maintain a safe distance from other people outdoors. Please check with each venue for their policies.

Also, some of these activities are seasonal, so if they’re not open for visitors now, just file them away for future times.

We love featuring the small, family-owned farms, but we’ve also included the North Carolina Zoo and Riverbanks Zoo, even though they’re each approximately an hour and a half drive from Charlotte, since they are the major zoos in our region.

When discounts are available we’ve noted them. You might also want to check Groupon for new deals. Visit each website (links below) for opening hours.

Dallas Lavender Lane

Dallas Lavender Lane
937 Old Willis School Road, Dallas
Price to visit: Free
Updates on Facebook
Our write-up on Dallas Lavender Lane

Dallas Lavender Lane is a family-owned lavender farm in Gaston County. It’s free to visit. Even when lavender isn’t in season, there is plenty to do. Meet miniature horses, baby goats, pigs (tell Grunt we said hi!) and more animals. 

The farm also hosts art classes for a small fee, and plans special events for holidays. They have a “train,” Lavender Express, that will soon be a fun attraction for kids. In addition, there’s a miniature golf course that’s free to play. They are always adding something new, so keep checking back.

Cotton Bean Farms

Cotton Bean Farms
29631 Herrin Grove Road, Mt. Pleasant, NC
Price to visit: $10/person
Updates on Facebook
Our write-up on Cotton Bean Farms

Set up a private playtime with baby goats here. They often have 20+ on the farm at a time. If the timing is right you might get to bottle feed a baby goat or even watch one being born. Call 704-941-7944 to set up a time to visit.

Sweetwater Farms

Sweetwater Farms
14412 Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville
Price to visit: $4
Updates on Facebook
Our write-up on Sweetwater Farms

Sweetwater Farms is just outside of Charlotte, but can feel like it’s miles away, with plenty of open space, gardens and a menagerie of rescued farm animals, including chickens, horses (including miniature horses), donkeys, goats and pigs.

It’s a natural oasis with a mission to empower and educate children. They’ve taken special care to make the experience safe right now. Currently they host open farm days three days a week, and reservations are required.

Good Karma Ranch

Good Karma Ranch
1041 Brevard Place Road, Iron Station
Price of tours: $10 (kids 5 and under are free)
Updates on Facebook
Our write-up on Good Karma Ranch

Good Karma Ranch is offering farm tours on many days of the week. The ranch is 28 miles to the northwest of Charlotte. It’s just 20 minutes from Birkdale Village in Huntersville. You need to register in advance. Each tour is 45 minutes long and you’ll have the opportunity to see and touch the alpacas, as well as take a selfie and as many pictures as you want.

Tours are currently limited to 20 people, to allow for social distancing. If you forget your mask, they’ll provide one for you. While you’re there you can shop for alpaca fleece items at the store.

Good Karma Ranch also offers yoga with the alpacas, and macrame and quilting classes.

Tatanka Bison Ranch

Tatanka Bison Ranch
8088 Kays Drive, York, SC
Price of buggy tour: Effective October 1st, the cost is $15 per adult, $7 per child age 5-15, and free for children under age 5, with a minimum charge of $100.
Updates on Facebook
Our write-up on Tatanka Bison Ranch

Tatanka Bison Ranch is about 48 miles from the center of Charlotte. It’s a working bison ranch, meaning that you can purchase bison products at the ranch store. 

But you can also go on a socially distanced Bison Buggy Wagon Tour. You bring your own group, so you’re not mingling with other groups. It’s perfect for a family group, a group of people who have formed a “safe bubble,” or a learning pod.

You’ll travel in a covered wagon with cushioned seating and learn all about the ranch. At the end of the 45-minute tour you’ll get a close view of the main herd.

The tours are offered Sundays through Fridays and you need to contact the ranch to reserve your time. You can call 704-860-2130. Please also call if you’re just interested in making a purchase from the ranch store, as this is a working, gated ranch.

Carolina Raptor Center

Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road, Huntersville
Tickets: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, teachers, and military members. $8 for students 4 and older. Free for children 3 and under. 
Updates on Facebook

Carolina Raptor Center, on 57 acres within Latta Nature Preserve, is devoted to rescuing and rehabilitating birds of prey. The best success story is when they can release a rehabilitated bird into the wild. But some of them will never be healthy or strong enough to survive on their own, and live here permanently.

The Raptor Trail is a 3/4 miles walking trail that features more than 30 birds of prey, including falcons, eagles, owls, hawks, vultures and more.

To limit crowds, Carolina Raptor Center is offering only 100 tickets for each morning or afternoon session, so they recommend you purchase the ticket in advance. 

While you’re in Latta Nature Preserve you might want to also check out the hiking trails and Historic Latta Plantation.

SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord

SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord
8111 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord
Tickets: $16.95 for adults and $14.95 for children 3-12 when booked online. Discount available here.

SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord is conveniently located right at Concord Mills. Enjoy the Coral Reef Exhibit, Jellies Exhibit, Tropical Ocean Exhibit, Shipwreck Exhibit, Stingray Bay Exhibit, Seahorse Mangrove Exhibit, Shoaling Exhibit and more.

The Touchpool, soft play area, photo station, dive logs, stamp stations, educational talks and feeds, and behind the scenes tours are temporarily closed, for safety reasons.

North Carolina Zoo

North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro
Tickets: $15 for adults, $13 for seniors 62+, and $11 for children age 2-12. Children younger than 2 are admitted for free.
Updates on Facebook

The zoo is on 2,600 wooded acres, about an hour and a half from Charlotte, and provides plenty of space to wander around.

The zoo has two sections that each focus on one continent: North America (bears, bison, wolves…) and Africa (lions, chimpanzees, lemurs, elephants, gorillas…)

Lazy 5 Ranch

Lazy 5 Ranch
15100 Mooresville Road, Mooresville
Drive through pricing: $11 for adults, $8 for children age 2-11 and seniors 60+. 64-oz. bucket of feed is $3.

This a one of a kind privately owned safari. The wagon rides aren’t happening right now, but you can buy a bucket of feed, drive through Lazy 5 Ranch, and get VERY close to elk, deer, giraffes, camels, kangaroos and more, as they approach your car for the feed. 

This attraction has been very popular this summer, with long lines of cars on weekends. 

Riverbanks Zoo

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC
Tickets: $19.95 for adults, $16.95 for kids age 2-12, and free for kids under 2. Military members and seniors’ admission is $17.95

Like the North Carolina Zoo, Riverbanks Zoo, in Columbia, is requiring timed tickets. The zoo features animals from Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America. It also includes the Riverbanks Farm, with domestic animals.

The Barnyard

The Barnyard
6350 Smith Road, Midland
Admission free. 
Small charges for hay maze, animal rides, etc.

Meet and feed the animals. Children can go on pony rides and camel rides for $5. Admission is free. 

Two by Two Petting Zoo at Why Not An American Ark

Two by Two Petting Zoo
3224 Medlin Road, Monroe
Ticket to Petting Barn and Walking Tour: $10. Free for kids under 2. Groupon available with discount.
Updates on Facebook

Visit with rescued exotic and domestic animals like camels, zebras, foxes, horses, cows, goats, and more. Add a pony ride for $15 more.

The Schiele Museum of Natural History

The Schiele Museum of Natural History
1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia
Updates on Facebook

Part of the Schiele Museum’s outside exhibits is a farmyard that includes goats, chickens and pigs. 

Mecklenburg County Nature Centers 

Mecklenburg County Nature Centers
McDowell Nature Center, 15222 South York Road
Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2900 Rocky River Road
Latta Nature Center, 6211 Sample Road, Huntersville
Stevens Creek Nature Center, 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill (new nature center opening soon)
Free to visit
Updates and events on Facebook
Our write-up on the nature centers

Make sure to call the nature centers to make sure that they’re open. Visit the small native animals that call the nature centers home. The nature centers also have very frequent events where kids, especially, can meet the animals. 

The nature centers are all within nature preserves, where you have a very good chance of spotting some wildlife when you walk the trails.

Discovery Place Nature

Discovery Place Nature
1658 Sterling Road
Tickets: $8. Kids under 2 are admitted for free.

Discovery Place Nature reopens September 26th. It’s a great place for young children to get up close to animals native to the Carolinas, like opossums, owls, snakes and insects. The highlight might be the Butterfly Pavilion!

There are frequent live animal shows, as well as puppet shows and more. Other features of the museum include a naturalist lab and outside fun at Fort Wild and the Paw Paw Nature Trail.

Darby Acres Farm & Safari

Darby Acres Farm & Safari
Farm: Hutchinson Lane, Charlotte
Safari: Kelly Road, Charlotte

Darby Acres is different from the previous attractions, because it’s not open to the public. You have to set up a private tour in advance. The safari walking tour is normally $30 a person, but right now is $15 a person. The tour is an hour long and you might see a zebra, lemur, kangaroo, camel, emu and more.

The farm tour is also an hour. It costs $11 for ages 10 and up, including one farm feed bucket, and is $5 for ages 12 months to 9 years. (Does not include feed bucket.) A pony ride is $5. You’ll meet horses, alpaca, emu, mini donkey, mini horse, llama, goat, pigs, sheep and more.

A Zoo 2 You

A Zoo 2 You
5727 South Rocky River Road, Monroe
Tours: $10 for everyone over one year old. Cup of feed: $5. Horseback rides: $5.

Like Darby Acres, A Zoo 2 You offers private tours, which you have to schedule in advance. This is a petting zoo. You can meet a horse, mini horse, camel, alpaca, miniature llama, teacup pig, mini goat, rabbits, mini donkey and mini cows.

 

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