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The Best Petting Zoos Near Houston
Petting zoos near Houston up the ante for little animal lovers like nothing else. From typical barnyard animals like sheep and goats to more exotic ones like wallabies and lemurs, we've rounded up 10 petting zoos and safaris that deliver a unique animal experience.
As a bonus, many of these are at our favorite area farms, so you can get ready to spend the day interacting with animals and getting in some serious playtime! For even more outdoor fun, be sure to check our Farms & Pick Your Own Guide and our Zoos and Gardens Guide.
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Petting Zoos in Houston
1. Bayou Wildlife Zoo - Alvin
This unique zoo experience includes a tram ride across 80 acres that animals from around the world call home, a stop at the Big Red Barnyard, which has a general store, giraffes, and the zoo's pet water buffalo Annie, and a visit to Addie Lou's Barnyard, the petting zoo. At Addie Lou's you'll find a wallaby, pygmy goats, lemurs, and more exotic wildlife and rare animals.
2. John P. McGovern's Children's Zoo - Museum District
Nestled amidst the traditional animal exhibits at the Houston Zoo is the John P. McGovern's Children's Zoo. This interactive exhibit features a Nubian goat petting zoo, where children can pet and brush the goats, a realistic bat cave for exploring, and a playground. Entrance is included in a general zoo admission ticket.
3. Old MacDonald's Farm - Humble
Old MacDonald's Farm boasts 12 different farm animal petting stalls that are home to goats, bunnies, donkeys, and more. Visitors can purchase bags of feed for the animals and bring their own bread to feed the ducks. General admission grants access to everything on the farm, including pony and train rides.
Related: Tips and Secrets to the Houston Zoo with Kids
TGR Exotic Wildlife Park photo by Rachael Cherry
4. TGR Exotic Wildlife Park - Spring
With more than 100 animals that span over 25 different species, the animal encounters at TGR Wildlife Park are some of the best around. The venue offers several different tour options, with favorites being the Open to the Public Tour, which is the basic and most popular tour, the Sloth Encounter Deluxe, where you can pet and feed the sloths, the Toddler Tour, and the Ultimate Reptile Encounter.
5. Houston Interactive Aquarium and Animal Preserve - Humble
If you're looking to get up close and personal with something different than classic farm animals, head over to the Houston Interactive Aquarium and Animal Preserve for wildlife experiences that include petting stingrays, pythons, toucans, and more. You can participate in feedings, too, with the purchase of the animal food. Encounters with sloths, kangaroos, lemurs, and giraffes, can be booked for an additional fee. This cool place boasts an arcade, snack shack, and more.
6. 7 Acre Wood - Conroe
The petting zoo at 7 Acre Wood is home to donkeys, llamas, chickens, goats, deer, ponies, a cow, ducks, and baby goats, making it one of the favorite attractions at the farm. The fun doesn't stop there — the farm also has a playground, mini-golf, a Western Play Town, a rope slide, horseshoes, and more. The farm is open 7 days a week, and general admission grants access to most activities.
7. Oil Ranch - Hockley
The petting zoo at Oil Ranch is full of friendly farmyard animals — visitors can hand milk Daisy the dairy cow and take a hayride out to hand feed the cattle. Kids can also take train and pony rides, wind their way through the Stockyard Maze, and more. Oil Ranch is has open weekends most months; however, the farm is closed in September and October.
8. P-6 Farms - Montgomery
Come pet the goats, then stay for the day to enjoy a roller coaster, pig races, apple blaster, slides, and more. Seasonally, visitors can also find flower fields, Easter egg hunts, and a pumpkin patch and corn maze. P-6 Farms is open seasonally during the spring and fall. Be sure to check the website for the most up-to-date hours of operation.
9. Dewberry Farm - Brookshire
Acres of playgrounds and attractions are what Dewberry Farm is known for, and one of those attractions is the petting zoo. Be sure to visit the alpacas, tortoise, peacocks, bunnies, and all the traditional farm animals! In March and April, Dewberry Farm is open for Springfest, which features acres of sunflowers, then again in the fall for the annual Fall Festival and pumpkin patch, and in the winter for Christmas trees and lights.
Photo courtesy of Blessington Farms
10. Blessington Farms - Simonton
Blessington Farms is known for seasonal berry picking and the plethora of kid-friendly activities at Farm Funland, and one of the favored attractions is definitely the petting zoo. At the Aviary Adventure kids can interact with and feed Quaker Parrots. Over at Animal Encounter there are two areas: a hands-on petting zoo with goats, lambs, chickens, and barnyard dogs and an observation area where kids can get up close with the camels, miniature donkeys, and livestock. Farm Funland is open on Saturdays and Sundays in the spring, summer, and fall.
Places featured in this article:
Bayou Wildlife Zoo
Houston Interactive Aquarium and Preserve
