From riding camels to hanging out with sloths, the animal encounters at Critter Lane Petting Zoo in Valles Mines, Missouri, are some of the coolest experiences in the state. While the Midwest is known for its farm animals, feeding adorable baby goats never loses its charm, and you can do that here too! Additionally, you'll encounter exotic animals not native to the area, including lemurs, wild birds, and more. Just an hour south of St. Louis, Critter Lane offers extraordinary experiences that go beyond the usual farm visit.
Like any petting zoo, your experience at Critter Lane is likely to change from day to day, so you never know exactly which animals you’ll get to interact with. The staff does a good job of tuning into the animals’ needs, so they’re not expected to be “on” all the time. The National Animal Welfare Association recognizes the zoo as an accredited facility.
The farm's residents include goats, lemurs, ostriches, cows, turtles, horned sheep, donkeys, parakeets, fish, deer, parrots, emus, chickens, kangaroos, snakes, cockatoos, sloths, and more!
Regular admission is under $10 per person, but you greatly benefit from a season pass! Purchasing feed for the animals is separate, the fee is nominal. You can also get preferred rates for groups and birthday parties which come with some additional perks.
Kids two years or older can ride camels or ponies. My childhood dream come true! For the pony anyway, I never thought about riding a camel. I’ll be adding that to my bucket list. There is a small fee but totally worth it!
With so many animals to hang out with, you might be tempted to forgo the sloth encounter. But I ask you, when are you ever going to have the opportunity to get close to two-toed sloths from South America? Mable and Sammy are adorable, and you can book an encounter by calling Critter Lane Petting Zoo directly. While the rest of the petting zoo is open most of the week, you’ll have to plan your sloth visit for the weekend.
If you’re looking for something kid-friendly to do outside of St. Louis, a trip to Critter Lane Petting Zoo is worth the drive. Check out the Facebook page before you go; they do host seasonal events. When you go to a petting zoo like this, you’ll be able to get up close and personal with the animals. I highly recommend getting a pair of waterproof shoes you can easily hose off afterward; nobody wants to take home any unexpected animal “treats.”
What are some of your favorite animal encounters in Missouri? Grant’s Farm in St. Louis is one of my personal favorites!
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