What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/983687
8 WHAT'S UP! MAY 20-26, 2018 Walk On The Wild Side Zoo promises extraordinary experiences JOCELYN MURPHY NWA Democrat-Gazette D espite the billboard hanging there, it can still be easy to miss Branson's Promised Land Zoo as you're coasting down Shepherd of the Hills Expressway. Though the drive-through safari entrance calls to mind the Jurassic Park gate, it's easier still to misjudge the more than 75 acres of park filled with unique animal experiences that lies beyond. "People see us and think we're just a little roadside zoo," says zookeeper Marcia Phillips on a recent sunny May morning. "They don't realize how much we have and how much time you can actually spend here." The Branson location is the zoo's second — the founding location is Promised Land Zoo in Eagle Rock, just north of Eureka Springs — and it is still constantly updating and expanding. The newest addition is the Animal Adventure Building, where lots of reptiles, touch tanks and close- up encounters (more on those in a minute) reside. The building still has a new smell about it and is a respite from the heat if visiting on a hot day. Though the zoo is known for the drive-through safari, the sheer size of the property and variety of encounters allows Promised Land to offer a customizable visit based on how much or little guests want to interact with the animals — and at what distance. I recently spent a full day at the zoo and came away with a few memories I'll never forget. (Spoiler: The story involves sloths and a lemur.) Visitors to the zoo choose ticket levels that correspond with the experiences they want to have — and even the "Basic" tier includes enough activities for several hours. With general admission, guests lead their own safari as they drive the 2.5 miles around the park. This tour skirts the perimeter of the enclosures so there is always a fence between the vehicle and the animals, but even from your own car you can see hundreds of animals not native to the Ozarks, many of which are threatened or endangered in the wild. On the safari path, guests will find the Animal Adventure Building and surrounding Foot Safari area. Capybaras, a guinea pig village, Mace the giraffe and more are found here as you take as long as you wish to traverse the meandering paths, stopping in the shade of a pavilion or feeding a few of the animals. After your driving safari — or before; it's your experience! — there are close-up interactions happening at the front of the park. A petting zoo is always a hit with families, and Promised Land's petting area also has some exotic and unexpected animals sprinkled throughout — not for petting, just for looking. In Parakeet Paradise — some visitors' favorite part of the whole park, Phillips reveals — you'll get a small stick with seed on the end you can then feed to the parakeets. Sure, you see these colorful birds any time you pass through a pet store, but there is something whimsical and delightful about being surrounded by so many tiny, hopping parakeets while feeding a few. Be sure to grab a schedule on the way in because that's how you'll know the times for the Live Animal Shows that take place throughout the day. On a small stage just inside the entrance to the zoo, keepers bring out a few animals not on display elsewhere in the park for visitors to learn about, touch and take pictures with. The animals rotate daily so it won't always be a hairy armadillo or a bearded dragon, but the keepers always make the show educational and fun for the kids. COVER STORY FAQ Promised Land Zoo WHEN — Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. WHERE — 2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson COST — Basic $11.95/chil- dren 2-12, $19.95/adults; Better $26.95/$34.95; Best $66.95/$74.95; Ultimate $150/ person INFO — 417-337-9453, plzoo.com Branson's Promised Land Zoo offers tons of animal encounters — both with animals you can see in the park and exclusive experiences you can only get with a VIP ticket. Courtesy photos