On The Road Again: Alligator Farm

Hot Springs, Ark.

ABOVE: The attraction puts on alligator feeding shows three times a week. “Alligators are not really that mean or aggressive,” said Jamie Bridges, who co-owns and managers the attraction. “You can poke them and they will move out of the way.”

TOP: The Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo receives about 300 visitors a month during its busiest months during spring and summer breaks.

Photos provided by Designs Group Consulting By RAY BALOGH | The Municipal

The ostensibly oxymoronic name of the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo might cause one some apprehension.

But the family-oriented attraction in Hot Springs has been entertaining and educating children and adults for more than a century.

Yes, it is possible to hold and pet a baby alligator. In fact, that is one of the most popular features of the tourist attraction, which also maintains a petting area with emus, pygmy goats, miniature donkeys and sheep.

Also housed at the zoo: a cougar, lemurs, flat-nosed guenon monkey, wolves, ducks, wild turkeys, rabbits, raccoons, turtles, black belly sheep, peacocks, silkies (described as a cross between a chicken and a rabbit) and other domestic and exotic animals.

Visitors can feed the animals in the petting zoo, with all feed provided by the management; for $5 a venture, they can also feed baby alligators meat on a stick or some of the aviary’s 80 parakeets seeds on a stick. Alligator feeding shows are held at noon every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday May through mid-October. Typically 100 to 200 spectators line the fence to watch the show.

“Some people come back every year,” said Jamie Bridges, who manages the enterprise, “and we get 99% positive reviews.” He shows up at

The baby alligators can be fed and held. “We put rubber bands around their mouths,” said Jamie Bridges, manager. “Alligators can close their jaws with tremendous force, but have very few muscles to open them.”

the farm and zoo two hours before the doors open to clean the place to remove any offensive smells. “We are a family attraction,” he said. “We’ve seen people bring their kids and grandkids.”

The alligator farm was founded in 1902 by H.L. Campbell and once contained a marine museum, complete with a merman. The attraction was a popular choice for tourists visiting the nearby hot thermal baths.

Also patronizing the farm were the many Major League Baseball teams who conducted spring training in Hot Springs. A baseball field was situated across the street, and Babe Ruth is purported to have hit a home run into the alligator pen.

In 1965 Jack Bridges Jr. and his wife, Sue, purchased the business, added several new species to the zoo and opened a gift shop, complete with some original display cases from 1945. The attraction is currently managed by their son Jamie and his wife, Suzy, who are also 75% owners. Jamie’s brother owns the remaining 25% interest.

“The busiest months are March, June, July and August,” said Jamie, noting the contiguous states to the south — Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi — all observe their statewide spring breaks during different weeks in March. During those four months, the attraction receives about 1,200 visitors each month.

Jamie figured the alligator farm and petting zoo has seen patrons from all 50 states, as well as Canada, Japan, Australia and several European countries.

The gift shop sells a variety of apparel, souvenirs and local artisan craftwork, with the most popular items being T-shirts, shot glasses, mugs, alligator heads, back scratchers, key chains and magnets.

The farm and zoo also maintains a Facebook page and frequently posts educational snippets for the viewers. Among the tidbits of information: • The temperature of an alligator nest determines the gender of the babies. Low temperatures produce females and higher ones produce males. • Baby alligators develop in eggs and have an “egg tooth” that helps them break out of their shells. Lemurs in the zoo cast a wide-eyed curious look at the humans watching them.

• Alligators often rest with their mouth open to release heat, similar to a dog panting. • As an alligator’s teeth are worn down, new ones grow in to replace them. In a lifetime, an alligator may have as many as 3,000 teeth. • Alligators can survive two to three years without eating. • Albino alligators are extremely rare, with biologists estimating only about 100 exist throughout the world. • Alligator snapping turtles are the biggest freshwater turtles in

North America. The largest one on record weighed 249 pounds. • Wild turkeys can swim by tucking in their wings, spreading out their tails and kicking. • A group of turkeys is called a rafter. • Mountain lions prey on deer, but they will also eat other smaller animals, even coyotes, porcupines and raccoons. They will often hide their kills and feed on them for several days. • Pygmy goats can produce one to two quarts of milk a day.

The admission fee is $9 for adults, $7 for children 3-12 and free for children 2 and under. Groups rates for 20 or more visitors are $6.50 for adults and $4.50 for children 3-12. Military and senior discounts are available and printable coupons can be downloaded from the attraction’s website and Facebook page.

The Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo is located at 847 Whittington Ave., Hot Springs, Ark., and is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jamie suggested visitors should arrive by 4 p.m. “People spend an average time of 45 minutes with us, but most spend more time here.”

For more information, call (501) 623-6172 or visit www.alligatorfarmzoo.com or www.facebook.com/alligatorfarmzoo.