The Snake Farm on I-35 just North of San Antonio has been there as long as I can remember, and over the years I’ve watched it grow large enough to add the name, Animal World, and now it’s a filled on weekends with children’s birthday parties, out of town visitors and it’s even a fully accredited zoo with AZA, which is a long way from the Snake Farm that Ray Wylie Hubbard wrote about in his 2006 song by the same name. That’s mainly because in 2007 the Snake Farm’s ownership changed, and with the change came an all new vision, an additional purchase of 26 more connecting acres, new exhibit habitats for the animals and interactive animal shows to teach visitors about animal conservation.
Snake Farm is located right off I-35, and there is plenty of FREE parking right off the access road.
Take a picture of the Keeper Talks when you arrive, so you won’t miss meeting any of their animals!
They do only have porta-potties at this time, so try to stop before you arrive.
A food truck sells concession foods and drinks.
There are still a ton of snakes! But for the public, it’s hard to understand and appreciate something unless you get to learn more them, which is what Snake Farm seeks to do!
My Leo meets their Leo, a large albino reticulated python.
There is also a great exhibit on the snakes, some venomous and some not, of Texas!
This green tree python was my favorite, and reminded us of one of our favorite books, Verdi.
Animal World also has a nice collection of alligators, crocodiles and caiman. There are several keeper talks daily, giving you a chance to meet a young alligator. As it was winter, the Nile Crocodile was inside keeping warm, but the alligators were all in their outdoor enclosure, which sits eerily close to the chickens, who seem to ignore fences and almost free run of the property.
The zoo has several species of tortoises as well, from little babies to large, African Spur-Thigh Tortoises.
When you arrive and purchase your tickets you are asked if you want to purchase food for the petting zoo and a cup of meal worms for the bearded dragons. The exhibit has several bearded dragons, and was a little anti-climatic as the kids just poured out the worms into a cup. However, we were rewarded by seeing one of the dragons come over to eat!
Once we stepped outside to the mammals, we were met by all types of sights and sounds of friendly animals! The curious coatis, Jewel and Diego, were some of my favorites!
I find I enjoy zoos so much more when I know the names of the animals. While AWSF doesn’t have the names posted, you can ask any of the staff or find them on their website.
The jaguars, aptly named Mick Jaguar and Black Betty, were just hanging out most of our visit, but when two wild grackles, the dark black/almost purple birds, started fighting on the top of their enclosure, they became very interested and alert!
I love prairie dogs and they have such a great population of the cuties! If you’re ever in Lubbock, be sure to visit McKenzie Park and their huge prairie dog town!
White Lions We loved seeing the unique white lions, Motswari and Ngala. The white lions, which are not albinos, are found naturally in a region of South Africa.
Spotted Hyenas One of the biggest thrills for me was seeing the Spotted Hyenas at the zoo! Sniffs and Songa, male and female, were located right next to the Grey Wolf enclosure, and it was surprising how much larger they are than the wolves!
As long as you have some food, the animals of the Petting Zoo will love you!
It’s not hard to love them back!
This little goat was intent on giving my daughter a hair cut!
I’m a sucker for the big eyes of a camel. Meet Klaus, a real sweetheart!
Things To Do in New Braunfels
Play
Texas Ski Ranch is a wakeboarding park during the summer, but offers snowboarding and tubing during the winter! Click HERE for more information.
Stars and Stripes Drive In is open year-round with 3 screens of new release movies under the stars! Click HERE for more information.
Eat
When in New Braunfels, German food is a must! We love Alpine Haus, and you can’t miss their incredible Schnitzel! Click HERE to visit their website.
Stay
We stayed at Schlitterbahn Resort, even through the waterpark is closed for the winter. The resort is still open, with heated pools and great off-season pricing. Click HERE for more information.
Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo
5640 N. Interstate 35 Frontage Rd., New Braunfels
Click HERE to visit their website.
Keep Having Fun in the Texas Sun!
Michelle
Having Fun in the TEXAS Sun is on PINTEREST! Use it as a quick resource to find activities in different Texas towns! Click HERE!
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