Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary Reviews

Horrible zoo....mostly a petting zoo. Animals are in poor shape. This zoo should be investigated and shut down.

What a disappointment. We were easily expecting at least 3 hours. Got thru in 1 hour. Animals are in small cages. Very sad. No padded walkways. They are steep and Rocky. Not made for Assess-ability.if you have bad knees don t even try to go. I ve only experienced the Oklahoma zoo and Wichita zoo. So my expectations were set to much high standards for the animals.

Response to Manager: if you are a nonprofit zoo then maybe change the name of the Zoo. To wildlife reserve. Zoo implies it is ran by the city county or state. Wildlife reserve implies a non profit organization.

I love knowing that the animals were rescued! I thought this zoo was really cool even though it's smaller than what you would expect from a regular one. There were so many monkeys and you can tell they were well taken care of.

Love it great place to take little ones shaded and not to big of a zoo!!

Been here 2 times and both have been because of field trips with my daughters. So the whole experience is to see the animals and pet and feed that one's that you are allowed to. To this lady in the gift shop refused to sell me a bag of feed because I was with the field trip saying if you buy one every one is going to want one. Well aint that the point you are trying to sell to make money. Regardless it is a sorry excuse the kids want to feed the animals.

Love that it s a rescue zoo, keep that in mind if you want to complain about the lack of animals or the small amenities. Killer train ride for the kids, limited concessions better bring your own picnic basket.

I love this zoo. The animals are all rescue animals, it's a pleasant walk through the grounds, and it's small enough to not be overwhelming for an afternoon trip.

It was nice and they had some cool animals, but I did expect it to be bigger and have more. It was still a very fun and great experience.

Only worth it because of groupon. 2 adults 2 kids would have been about 40 bucks at regular price. With groupon and discount code I paid 19.50 that's the only reason it was worth it. Very small but still nice. Not worth regular admission because it's so small and not enough animals. Also not all animals come out but we had a great time clean bathrooms overpriced snacks but that's most places you go. Bring your own.

I m sorry but I m gonna give this place one star it s super small the zoo didn t see bears basically animals that you can see at a store . Plus the path way was very dangerous for my children they tripped many times from the rocks . Would not recommend you to go to this place ..very boring

The employees do a great job of taking care of the animals. Unfortunately there's a lot of disrespectful people who sometimes harass/tont the animals. Please report people like that to the employees.

Good variety of animals. Brings in and cared for ailing critters. Train ride. Theme days. Animal information clearly posted.

I enjoyed seeing all the
Animals there, but not the farm animals smell, though... A lovely place to visit.

The staff was very friendly and engaging, and the animals were all able to be viewed because they are in very small enclosures. Tons of peacocks and chickens roam the grounds. It is very small, we toured it in less than an hour, the kids enjoyed it.

Fantastic place and they are doing wonderful work with animals displaced by Harvey.

The tiger was amazing. I had expectations of a Portland Oregon or San Diego zoo ... not even close.

5/10 in my book. Okay zoo but more so for kids. Went there for photography; the type of cages made it difficult to get really good shots.

Great small zoo. Let's you get closer to the animals and see things and animals differently than a larger zoo

Great place to take the kids the adults or anyone for that matter. I love this place. Every time I come from out of town to visit my sister I take my niece and nephews here. Will be back many more times I'm sure

Much smaller than I was expecting. Gravel paths throughout and very cage-like enclosures. Not a huge variety of animals, but we did enjoy watching the bear wandering around looking for its food.

It's a small zoo, but all the animals are rescued. The workers are all very friendly. Even though the zoo is small they have a lot of interesting animals. The animal enclosures are clean as well. You can get close to the animals as well.

Its great rescue zoo. But only saw a few Parrotts wolves and monkeys I drove three hours. Very very crowded. trucks stop serving long line...stood in line thirty minutes to be asked to go the other truck. plenty of vending machines not great if you have have trouble walking or have arthritis maybe great for younger familes for petting zoo and memories.and to get lots of energy out of little ones bring cooler dress comfy

Nice little zoo. All the animals are rescued which is very nice. Don't except anything like the Dallas Zoo but they have alarge variety of animal. The tigers are the best! Super big and cute!

Wonderful place to visit with family or friends is just amazing

For what it is-- a wild animal rescue operation transformed into a wild animal rescue zoo, Austin zoo is enjoyable. You can get quite close (perhaps too close?) to the animals. However, due to its transformed nature in purpose, I feel Austin zoo could do with being a little more people friendly, particularly for the price. (we got a living social deal, otherwise I'm not sure we would gone)
criticisms:
1) If you don't arrive close to opening time, (we came on a Saturday) good luck parking.
2) The pathways around the exhibits are acceptable for able bodied persons, and passable if you have a jogging stroller with good tires, but I'm not sure that a person in a non motorized wheel chair could handle the terrain, and a baby in a click n go style stroller, or one with small tread less tires would be in for a very bumpy ride.
3) The displays about the animals could be more informative, and kid friendly. There's some vague organization to the whole place but the polished displays you might expect are missing.
4) The exit through the gift shop (which is the entry for persons paying by credit card) is a ridiculous hot mess.

So fun and a great home for these beautiful creatures!

Used to bigger zoos. But it was fun. There is not really a place to cool down except the gift shop. The strollers that are for rent are not much for pushing in the gravel. So bring your own bed l because they don't even have space to put anything in them.

Definitely not a full sized zoo, or even half the size for that matter. Pretty hot with no fans whatsoever. You get a closer look at the animals then regular zoo's though. It would be better to call this an Animal rescue center, rather than a zoo. You have to go down tiny back roads in order to get their. Overall mediocre experience. Nothing special, but the closest thing to a zoo in the Austin area.

Love the free-roaming peacocks and variety of rescued animals.

small but fun zoo! great for the little ones who want to walk. they have free strollers and you can rent jogging strollers for $5

Great time at Austin Zoo. Rescue Zoo. Make sure you donate.
Ride the train. Help in anyway! Fun for all ages. They do a great job!!

Not a large fancy zoo, but very enjoyable. All of the animals are rescues, which makes it even better. I particularly enjoyed seeing all the large cats and wolves.

I loved this place, animals all well taken care of, no huge crowds to fight, peaceful environment and feeding the alpacas was my fav!!

I took my 2 year old who could walk at own pace and see various animals up close in a clean environment. We will be going back soon.

Awesome little zoo. All rescued animals. Wonderful train ride
Great for kids. Not overwelming. Just right for great afternoon
Thank you for all you do for animals.

Very small zoo. Too hot for a lot of the animals to come out. Still enjoyed it nonetheless. Recieved a good price on Groupon.

We love this place. It s small but knowing that all the animals are rescues and that our ticket cost goes to them is really great. My favorite part is reading about where the animals were rescued from!

I really enjoyed not only seeing the animals, but learning about their history and how they came to be at this zoo. They are all rescues. The zoo was clean and the services were very friendly.

Everything is pretty close to each other so you can see everything in about an hour and a half or less. And with Covid, everything is one way traffic, but they let you exit and re-enter as many times in one day as you want. My kids (kinder, 4th, 5th, 6th) did the loop twice plus the train in under 2 hours. So if you want a zoo but don't want to be out in the heat all day to see everything, it's great. They don't have elephants or giraffes, but they have lions, tigers, and bears...oh my! Plus alligators, birds, wolves, ostrich, alpacas, a zebra, and more. The peacocks were roaming free everywhere which was super cool. Arrive at opening (9:30) and you're done before lunch! It's hard to see the zebra where it's located currently due to Covid barricades (as of Aug 7th 2020), so take the train ride to see him better ($5/person).

It was a long drive from the hotel I was staying at Downtown Austin to the Austin zoo . And I ve gotta say it is the smallest Zoo I have seen
There s very few animals , very short walk around and you are done . Not the best I ve seen

I ve been going to the Austin zoo for years, and I've always loved it. It's perfect if you have small kids- they have a petting zoo, peacocks walking around, an adorable train ride, you can spend a couple of hours or less and that's plenty off time to see everything.
However, they have really gone downhill. The prices are ridiculous. I had no idea you had to purchase tickets online. They made my kids and I stand under a tree while everyone got to go through. I was finally waved over and able to pay. I felt like a naughty kid being punished. The bathrooms are closed down- two nasty porta potties. There is no longer much to see. I seriously don t think you get what you pay for.

Great rescue zoo! Very natural feel- more like a camp than a theme park. Lots of exhibits with friendly animals that seem happy to see people and well cared for. Good size. The train ride was fun. We fed the goats which the kids enjoyed. The gift shop had a good variety of well thought out items, some of which were as little as fifty cents.

Had a great time with the family, and loved the fact that they are a non-profit zoo. Good exhibits and very helpful and knowledgeable staff.

Grate thay are doing very good specifically for young kids in grate manner .

Great family spot, we try to make it about once every other month. They are always making improvements and the place just keeps getting better. The volunteers at the exhibits are very friendly and knowledgeable. My husband is a photographer and this is one of his favorite places to shoot. If you have not been, I suggest you check it out... for the price, it is well worth it.

It's a small zoo but I found it to be charming. My little brother loved it.

It is natural, without modern improvements, rustic and the location is attractive being placed in a forest area, with bumps and greenery that give off a healthy and pleasing look to the eye.

To begin, I love animals and love zoos. I mean, I feel bad that the animals are in captivity and all, but, as a person that lived in Africa, I'm also quite happy they're not just roaming around in the open. So, with this said, I never visit a city without trying to squeeze in a trip to the zoo.

To begin, the Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary isn't your traditional zoo. If you're looking for exotic fancy animals in concrete enclosures with electric fences, go to a big city. You ain't gonna find that here. This zoo is mostly a sanctuary for local animals that have had a rough life. With that being said, you can find exotic animals here too, just not a lot of them.

All of the animals found here whether domestic or exotic were owned by someone in the states and they were either abused, mistreated, or simply a bad idea for a pet. Oh, and there are a few 4H animals that were donated once the owner went off to college. I personally loved the enclosures as I am sooooo tired of seeing animals hanging out on a concrete slab. Plus, the enclosures don't have a giant moat between the fence and the animal habitat. You can get real close and personal with the animals (provided that they feel like spending time with you).

This was one of the most enjoyable experiences at a zoo that I have ever had.

A few of the animals are cut off the path in the covid setup but there's a still a good bit to see and I like supporting them with a trip every few months.

When I got there all the animals except the ones you can feed where hiding cause it was too hot and they should add like a petting zoo with reptials and more animals

Not that big but a decent one. It's more of a rescue place than a zoo. Look out for groupon deals on the tickets.

Not really a zoo like what most people think of. Petting zoo might describe it better. Very disappointed.

Lovely zoo, unlike the Houston or San Antonio zoos. It s a rescue, non profit. I saw animals up close literally feet away! It s outdoors and a good size! A petting zoo is also inside so buy kibble at the gift shop. Overall it gave a family owned feel. Very nice employees and a great experience i 10/10 recommended (don t wear your nice shoes , it s dusty )

Nov 21 2017

I went with my sister and two kids. When we arrived the parking lot was pretty full...I was thinking it would be crowded but it wasn t that bad. This is def a smaller zoo compared to others but doesn t seem so small!

I love that this is pretty much a rescue zoo and on the info cards for each animal they give you information on how each animal ended up at their zoo. Some of them range from being rescued during the hurricane or being surrendered. The enclosures for each animal is amazing and the animals seem pretty happy and active. You really get up close to most of them!!

I really can t wait to come again next time I m in Austin!!

And I know people complain a bit about the food truck but from reading other responses it s not owned by the people who operate the zoo!

Horrible experience for me and my family of 5, the animals first of were all quiet no sounds. The cages for majority of the animals are so small they couldn't stretch out or exercise. When we asked staff questions about the well being of the animals, a worker refused to respond. My kids were saying FREE THE ANIMALS, and so were other visitors. Animals were not put here to be mistreated for people's entertainment. Felt like visiting a prison, the whole vibe just felt wierd out there!

I love photography and from now i love this place too. Everything that i actually need i found here. Different kinds of animals ans birds species are present here. I am totally satisfied after visiting this zoo. Surely i will be back.

Great place for families, dirt paths make wheelchairs/strollers use a bit difficult

Kind of far and out of the way, not a real "zoo" animals were kind of not happy. Peacocks were nice though

Neat rescue zoo. Kiddos enjoy train ride and feeding the animals. Small zoo, easy to see everything in a short time.

Always have a great time at this zoo!! The keepers are very nice and tell you real interesting facts about the animals!! Kids have a great time Everytime!!

This sanctuary was awesome! And the little stories about the animals they have rescued was a nice touch. We donated to the owl haha recommend it if you have kiddos because its not too long but will definitely get the lil buggers tired haha

It's a charming rescue zoo including a nice selection of small primates, a petting zoo, and a few larger animals (e.g.: lions and tigers). Be sure to check online for coupons (if your conscience will let you shortchange a worthy cause).

While the zoo is doing the "right" thing by taking in unwanted/orphaned animals, it does seem that the zoo could be organized more efficiently. There's a lot of empty space for animals that don't need much room (i.e turtles, hogs ) and not much room for those who need to spread their wings (birds) and primates.

Our family loved the zoo. We enjoyed all the beautiful animals, the kids enjoyed feeding them as well. Definitely recommend.

Our daughter had a rely good time. Kind spirited environment up in the hills.

A lot smaller than most zoo's I have been to. Animals looked happier than most zoo's I have been to though. I feel like you only need an hour or two to see everything and that includes going around not once or twice. The peacocks roaming the grounds were pretty awesome. They seemed way less aggressive than other peacocks I've come into contact with.

Hand down worst zoo experience I have ever had. They should have just stayed closed. Most of the zoo is closed off, not worth the money. Hopefully when they fully open it will be better :(

The Austin Zoo is a rescue zoo and for this reason alone I have supported them for years. While many locals don't know of them or where they are located (because the zoo is a little obscure and remote) it is worth it to take a day-trip out here especially if you have kids. Or if, like me, you are really hoping to one day pet a tiger and walk around shamelessly conversing with the many varieties of monkeys and running away from the free-roaming peacocks. You can also buy inexpensive feed for some of the animals (not the tigers, I checked) and they do birthday parties and have a mini-train that runs around the complex. If you or someone you know likes cute (but big and possibly lethal) cats and other creatures, please check them out.

My biggest gripe is that the only bathroom building is located by the front entrance, so should you be too far if/when nature calls, that might disrupt your sight seeing plan a bit, so best to pit stop before you venture forward.

Fix the train!! Otherwise good. Need food trailer too

Very small smelly stinky zoo. I think austin can do better. Lizards all over the floor be careful.

Great sanctuary. Ypu can tell the animals are happy.