St. Augustine is packed with history at every corner. It is a place where not only buildings are historic but also zoos. That’s the case of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. It is over 100 years old and has a story that needs to be told.
A thing I learned about planning trips to a new place is that working to the tourism boards always allows you to get the best recommendations. In this case I worked with Florida’s Historic Coast. The people that work there usually are locals, love to explore their areas and know all the coolest things to do and see.
My family has visited so many zoos and animal parks that I would have never thought of visiting an Alligator farm. But after a long conversation with Barbara from the tourism office I was convinced. She said that it was a must do with kids. And she was so dead on.
Why St. Augustine Alligator Farm is Definitely Worth a Visit
1. There are fake alligators for kids to play with and pretend an alligator attack.
2. Sparking interest for little people about animals of all sorts.
3. There is more than just alligators. They have one of the largest reptile exhibits we’ve ever seen.
4. Mating gators – This is actually a good sign, it means that the animals are happy and feel safe so why not!
5. Birds of Africa – I loved this exhibit. It was amazingly done with vultures and many large birds of prey.
6. Lemurs – Yup, these adorable, extremely endangered animals can be seen here.
7. Galapagos Turtles – The oldest creatures on earth. Definitely worth checking out.
9. The museum – This is a great place to learn all about the evolution of the crocodilian family. There is a replica of what they looked like during dinosaur time. Pretty darn scary!
10. You can get up close and a bit too personal with a gator through a glass.
11. Snakes – They have many snakes including a king cobra. This is a very rare animal to be seen in a zoo. You must have the antidote for that God Forbid moment. There is also the largest living-in-captivity Anaconda in the world (over 21 feet long).
12. Shows – You can choose from many options. Make sure to find the schedule of shows to work into your visit.
13. Animal Interaction – You get to touch a baby snake and a baby gator.
History of St. Augustine Alligator Farm
- The park was Established 1893 in St. Augustine, Florida.
- It was all started by George Reddington and Felix Fire when they began collecting alligators on Anastasia Island.
- In 1910 it became a popular tourist attraction.
- By 1916 it was already called the ‘Largest Alligator farm in the world’.
- There was trouble in 1920. First, a horrible storm destroyed the rail track that brought people to St. Augustine. Then two fires completely demolished the park.
- In 1921 the farm was to its current location.
- Today the farm has over 1000 species to show and is growing each day
- There is a lot more history, for you history buffs, on their site
Information for Visiting the Alligator Farm
Daily hours (7 days a week) 9 am – 5 pm
Prices
Adults (ages 12+) $22.95
Children (ages 3-11) $11.95
Guests in Wheelchairs(Adults) $11.47
Guests in Wheelchairs(Children) $5.97
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoo Members Free Admission
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