Frequently Asked Tour Questions
- Scheduling a Tour
- Do you have handicapped access?
- What Is Your Tour Path Like?
- What Should I Wear?
- Can I Take Pictures or Video?
- Will I Get To Touch An Animal?
- Can I Walk Around On My Own?
- What Do You Do For Bad Weather?
- Are tickets refundable if I missed my tour?
- Do You Have Public Restrooms?
- Discounts and Raffle Tickets
Animal Park at the Conservators Center is open Wednesday - Sunday from 9am-5pm for select offerings each day.
Our Public Tours are available Saturday and Sunday all year, with seasonal offerings and new events throughout the calendar year. Private Experiences, Group Tours, Field Trips, and Specialty Tours are available Wednesday through Sunday all year.
Reservations are required for all of our tours, events, field trips, and private experiences. You can schedule your reservation here, or from any offering-specific page on our website.
We at Animal Park welcome all guests, and while our guest relations building is ADA compliant, unfortunately our tour paths are not wheelchair-friendly. The following is provided to assist you in planning your tour and visit.
- The guest relations area including patio, gift shop, and restrooms are ADA accessible.
- A cement parking area is provided for the first two guest vehicles with handicap plates or placards.
- Our outdoor tour paths are gravel and dirt, and are not safe for wheelchair use. Instead, we offer use of golf carts as an accommodation for mobility impaired guests.
- Guests with mobility impairments may call in advance of their arrival to ensure a complimentary seat on our standard electric golf carts.
- We ask that reservations be made at least 5 days in advance so we may ensure both cart and driver are available.
- Please note the weight limit of our carts is 350 pounds for all guests and driver.
- Guests joining the tour via our golf cart will have the option of using the rear-facing bariatric-sized bench seat, or single-person forward-facing seat.
- Golf cart seating reservations may be made by contacting our gift shop staff at 336-421-0883.
- We are not able to guarantee golf cart availability unless reserved in advance.
- Guests may not operate Animal Park golf carts.
- Only Animal Park golf carts are permitted to operate on the premises. (No other personal motorized vehicles are permitted.)
- Service animals are not permitted on tours, but may wait with an adult at the picnic shelter during your tour.
- Companion and emotional support animals are not permitted on tour, nor on the property.
- We do not permit any animal to be left in a vehicle on Animal Park's property while the guest is on a tour.
Our tour path is about 3/4 of a mile and surfaced with crushed rock and gravel. For safety reasons, we do not allow strollers in the park.
The Animal Park is an outdoor facility that was built, first and foremost, with the care and well-being of our animal residents in mind. We have an unpaved, gravel tour path that is about 3/4 of a mile, and you may be walking in muddy areas. Open-toed shoes or heels are not recommended. Please check the weather before your visit, and dress appropriately for the temperature.
Yes. We encourage you to bring your camera! If you want to get shots at a close range without fencing, consider scheduling a Photo Safari with an experienced escort who will take you to places you cannot go on other types of tours.
Guests are not permitted to touch or handle our animals at any point on their tour. We are serious about safety; any visitor who touches or makes an attempt to touch any of our animals will be asked to leave without a refund.
The Animal Park at the Conservators Center was created, first and foremost, to meet the needs of the residents. You will see wild animals up close (as little as 5 feet). That means we always require guides or docents to ensure the safety of our residents and our guests. Also, our tours are fun! You will learn a lot from your guide, who has been specially trained to lead this tour so they can tell you great stories and answer all kinds of questions.
We periodically offer what we call “walkabout events” that allow you to wander our facility and talk to docents stationed throughout the park to ensure safety and answer questions. The best way to learn about these events is to subscribe to our e-newsletter or “like” us on Facebook . We offer a variety of ways to learn about and enjoy the unique personalities of our residents.
Our tours are rain or shine; we do not generally cancel for light rain. However, in the event of dangerous weather, we will do our best to determine whether tours will be cancelled 24 hours prior to the start time. If you have a reservation, you will receive an email and a phone call/voicemail via the contact information you provide during reservation. In the event of cancellation, you may transfer your reservation to an alternate day. Tickets are non-refundable.
We appreciate your understanding that you will need to keep an eye on the forecast and dress for unpredictable weather when you visit us.
We do NOT refund ticket purchases.
Restrooms are available at our Visitors Center. We do not have any scheduled bathroom stops along the tour, but if you need to step out in the middle of your tour, we can accommodate you.
The Animal Park at the Conservators Center is a nonprofit organization. In order to provide high-quality care for our residents, we depend on every dollar we earn through our award-winning tours and programs. We appreciate your understanding that we are therefore unable to provide free tour tickets.
Need to Know Before You Go
Accessibility, Safety, and Pets
The Animal Park is not wheelchair accessible; however, accessibility accommodations are available for visitors with mobility issues. Please note that we do not allow unauthorized vehicles, including scooters or motorized wheelchairs, in the park. You can find more information about disability accommodations and handicapped access in the Tour FAQ on our Plan Your Visit page. Please note that strollers are also not permitted in the park.
If you are planning to visit the Animal Park, please take a moment to review and complete our online tour waiver. If you would like, you can also download and print the waiver and photography release forms to fill out and complete prior to your arrival. Waivers will also be available in the gift shop for visitors to complete during the check-in process.
For safety reasons, the Animal Park does not allow visitors to bring pets on site. Any visitor who brings an animal to the Park will be asked to leave immediately. We do not allow visitors to leave animals unattended in a vehicle at any time of year.