Places & Faces
Gator Country Adventure Park:
AN ANIMAL
SANCTUARY by Sadie Atha
Eddie Hanhart, park manager, and Big Al
From an abandoned farm to a thriving sanctuary, Gator Country Adventure Park is rewriting the story of alligators in captivity. Gary Saurage started Gator Country in 2006 with the hopes of educating the public on the treatment of alligators both in the wild and captivity while providing a haven for surrendered exotic animals. Now, the park is one of the biggest visitor attractions in Beaumont, Texas. Gator Country is home to over 500 alligators, including the oldest and largest alligators in captivity, Big Al and Big Tex, respectively. Big Al is 93 years old and has resided at the park since the 1980s. Big Tex spans 14 feet long and holds the record for the largest nuisance alligator caught in the world. “Alligators are extremely misunderstood animals. Alligators see humans as bigger than themselves,” Eddie Hanhart, park manager and Big Al’s handler, says. “We need to continuously educate the public on how to coexist with the animals since we are in their territories. At the end of the day, that’s why we get so many nuisance calls. The wild gators become too reliant on humans for food or they see us as too big of a threat.” For visitors, it’s easy to see why the staff cares so much about the animals. Each snake, gator and animal on their property has a distinctive
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Thrive Magazine for Better Living • April 2025
personality, including an alligator named Mr. Cuddles with only three legs, and a photogenic alligator named Toothless. “That’s my favorite thing to share—that these alligators all have personalities,” Hanhart says. “They are all so unique and it makes caring for them a little easier, even when they want to bite.” Along with the park's unique gator experiences, like wading and holding baby gators, feeding the gators, and watching gator shows, it also has snakes, lizards, turtles, a South American Coatimundi raccoon named Padme and a petting zoo. Many of these animals have been surrendered to the park. “Most people don’t understand the commitment it takes to care for reptiles like snakes,” expresses Hanhart. “These reptiles take constant care and supervision. Most can outlive or outgrow their owners, so most times, they end up here in our facility because the owners can’t commit due to the constant care or financial obligations.” The Gator Country staff also provides valuable resources for pet owners and assists with nuisance alligators found in yards. They emphasize the importance of not feeding wild alligators, as this leads to dependence on humans and the development of aggressive behaviors. Many of the park's residents are rescued nuisance alligators, now coexisting in a (mostly) harmonious community.
“The No. 1 reason we get calls is that these gators have started relying on humans for food, so the one thing I want people to take away is how to coexist with alligators in nature,” Hanhart says. “There are two rules that can help: don’t feed them and don’t let small pets and children near them.” People who make the trip to Gator Country not only get to experience the passionate staff but get to have interesting interactions with these animals and learn about their history and biology. In addition, Gator Country also offers Swamp Tours on Taylor Bayou. “The people who come here are truly why I love being here: getting to see the kids’ faces light up is the best part of the experience, too,” Callie Bailey, the park’s operations manager, says. “Gators have been a part of my whole life, and it’s an amazing experience getting to share that with people who come in.” Gator Country Adventure Park is located at 21159 FM 365, Beaumont, TX 77705, and is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day, except for major holidays. The Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau can help you plan your wild adventures with restaurant itineraries and other outdoor adventures at VisitBeaumontTx.com.