The Little Known Exotic Animal Zoo Near Cincinnati Where You Can Play With Sloths
By Andrea Limke|Published June 21, 2019
×
Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
We are very spoiled here in the Queen City that we have both the Cincinnati Zoo and the Newport Aquarium right in our own backyard. We can visit these fun-filled destinations all year long, and each spot offers so many incredible experiences and even animal encounters. If you’re looking for something a little different that would make for a great day trip from Cincinnati, check out Idle-Hour Ranch in Troy. Just under two hours from home, this little-known exotic animal zoo near Cincinnati has a wide array of creatures to see and interact with, and they even offer a unique encounter where you can play with sloths!
Idle-Hour Ranch is a family-owned farm and animal sanctuary located in Troy, Ohio.
While it requires a two-hour drive from Cincinnati to reach this exotic animal zoo, it’s well worth it and makes for an excellent day trip destination. You'll find a unique assortment of animals here, as well as a passionate and caring staff that just wants to share their love for these creatures with you.
You'll find everything from goats to camels at Idle-Hour, but that's just the beginning.
When visiting Idle-Hour plan to stay for about two hours or more, depending on how many activities you choose to do. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for children ages 3-12, and $10 for Seniors (65+). Children under age 3 get in for free.
Visitors rave about the variety of animals at the ranch, as well as the cleanliness and organization of the farm itself. When you purchase admission, food to feed the animals, or one of the activities or encounters, you are directly helping the ranch carry on with its mission.
One of the favorite things to do at Idle-Hour Ranch is a Sloth Encounter.
Sloths have become "trendy" lately, as many people have discovered the quirky personalities of these charming animals. At the ranch, you can meet Queenie, a sloth that will find her way into your heart.
You will be able to pet Queenie, feed her, and take pictures. Visitors are not able to hold her due to safety concerns of her sharp, curved claws, but you’ll have plenty of opportunities to have a hands-on experience with the assistance of a trained handler.
A 30-minute Sloth Encounter can be made by appointment only and costs $150 for two people. You will have your own personal time with Queenie, and you can bring along up to five additional guests for $25 each. If you have a few friends who also love sloths, split the cost and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Learn more about the Sloth Encounter here.
During your visit to Idle-Hour Ranch, you can also ride a camel, kids can take a pony ride, have their faces painted, and, of course, purchase a bucket of food to feed the animals.
The animals are well-loved at Idle-Hour Ranch and your visit to this sanctuary only helps aid in those efforts. Try the Sloth Encounter or simply plan a day trip to this exotic animal zoo near Cincinnati.
Sloths are so full of personality, despite their adorably slow nature, and you can get up close and personal with these unique animals at Idle-Hour Ranch. This exotic animal zoo near Cincinnati makes for a great day trip and is a wonderful area to be in if you love animals. Have you heard of this little-known animal sanctuary? Are you booking your Sloth Encounter right now? Let us know in the comments!
For more information on Idle-Hour Ranch, visit its website here and follow along on Facebook here. The ranch is open June 14 – November 3, 2019 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 4845 Fenner Road, Troy, OH, 45373
And for more exciting animal encounters offered around Cincinnati, check out our previous article here.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
