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November 2024 by A M
I wish I could rate this place better. It’s run down and the animals aren’t in the best care, plus the main guy rambles about politics for a while during the beginning of the snake show. I don’t mind people having opinions but my time is limited and I literally am paying to see a snake show and see the exhibits. I am not paying for a political lecture and to see a run down reptile zoo.
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October 2024 by Jason Hudson
Left here feeling disgusted, avoid this place that was likely great years ago.
I hate leaving negative reviews but I wish I would have read the reviews first. Multiple animals housed in inhumane enclosures. If they cannot afford to take care of this many animals correctly, they need to downsize.
During the venom show he complains about politics and government when they need government to come and regulate this facility.
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October 2024 by Jada March
Animals: Absolutely beautiful specimens showcasing incredible species from across the world and native species you may find in the backyard. Many examples of venomous and non-venomous snakes, including a black mamba, yellow anaconda, king cobra, rat snakes, ball python, and many others, including some albino variations. Loved seeing the turtles and alligators up close. 10/10
Enclosures: small, neat, tidy. I didn't notice an extremely strong scent sometimes found in reptile exhibits. There is a smell, but I mean that it isn't a bad one. Just like at the zoo. You can tell the animals are cared for, and the people there are passionate about what they do. The fence containing the alligators is studier than it may seem at first glance. The gators themselves seem very content. The turtles will swim up to you for you to feed them, very cute.
Scenery: lush plants, simple building. You can tell the facility has been there a while. But it's well kept and clean. The native plants are beautiful. One note though, there was a wheelbarrow of packaged dead rats by the bathrooms, I assume for feeding the snakes. Not exactly what we wanted to see in the middle of the walkway at the beginning of our experience.
Venom show: this was the turn-off for us. The actual show is very cool!! Seeing how the snakes are handled is an experience, especially since the lecture before the show explains the reasoning behind why snake venom is important to harvest. The problem came during the lecture as well, however, because the topic tended to deviate from just educational, to politically opinionated and motivated. I don't mind that so much, but when it lasts half of the lecture, then it made us uncomfortable. Especially since there were only 4 of us at the show. Another thing, the language used wasn't entirely rated pg, but more like low level pg-13. The worst of it was one use of "shit". The show did start late but we were warned that happens often so that fine. It started a little after 3 and the lecture lasted 40-50 minutes. At that point we were expecting someone else to be showing the snakes while the man there was talking. No. He finally went back and then we got to see the snakes and watch them be milked for their venom.
It's definitely educational and I'd say seeing the species on display is a great experience. Just be aware of slightly less child friendly elements in the lecture and be prepared to sit for a good 45 minutes listening before seeing any snakes on the show. Oh, and after the show he will let you hold a non venomous snake, very fun! Wish I could have held it longer, the scales were such a cool texture.
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October 2024 by Jordan Hughes
Wouldn’t go unless you’re wanting to have political talk all in front of children. My kids went to watch the snake presentation and got an ear full of “political talk” and the presenter couldn’t get enough in about how much he hates FL gov and that he “doesn’t believe in violence but believes we all need to draw our swords to prove a point. We were there to enjoy reptiles and Snakes. What a waste of money, and a let down for my kids!!! Sad times you can’t enjoy a day out anymore.
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October 2024 by harley bohot
i’ve never seen reptiles in such a bad conditions:( the snakes did not have proper enclosures at ALL! please do NOT come here and expect to have a good time. i left feeling really sad for all of the poor reptiles that are suffering
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October 2024 by Stéphane de Luca
My 6y old son is nut about lezards and snakes so we get there and saw lot of great specimen. There also is a big male gator which we could see just behind the fence! I fort thought it was a statute, not moving anything but its nose! The lady showed how the snake was reacting and manipulated them right behind the glass, wow! Rattled snakes are very agressive. And finally she let my son have a snake on him. He was delighted! A very good moment to share. Bravo!
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October 2024 by Michelle Medley
Sad to say but don't bring your kids here. The owner gives a fabulous 20-minute venom show, but the problem is, you have to sit through his 40+ minute political rant to get to the good stuff.
It's like that uncle everyone seems to have at the Thanksgiving dinner table, ruining the day for everyone with politics. Or maybe worse, the guy on the city corner with a bullhorn, thinking he is enlightening the people walking by.
His rants included how our country has gone to hell, politicians are terrible (Republican and Democrat alike!), health insurance is a scam, Florida used to be beautiful and has gone to hell, the rich don't pay their share in taxes, blah blah BLAH. I felt terrible as there were some kids in the crowd who clearly were very excited to learn about snakes but ended up just having to watch a bitter man tell them about how crappy our country has become. I'm sure he considers himself a patriot, but lecturing to children about how the United States is a terrible place is not patriotic to my way of thinking.
He provides a very valuable service, providing venom to the laboratories to create anti-venom. Sadly, he is so bitter that he can't get out of his own way enough to educate those who came to learn. If I had my kids with me I would have walked out. He even said his family has told him that he can't go on about politics. They should perhaps shut down the show or find someone else to run it. What a total downer and we were his captive audience.
On a lesser note, the noon show started at 12:20, with no acknowledgement that they were running late. Add on the 20 minutes of snake info and 40 minutes of political rant, and we were at the show for almost an hour and a half. I wanted to support small business rather than learn these things at the big Orlando amusement parks, but it was so unprofessional.
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October 2024 by Mike Manley
Help… I’m currently stuck in minute 40 with no end in sight of a political rant prior to the “venom show” I’m almost ready to grab a snake and milk a bite right into my neck. My snake obsessed 4 year old keeps saying I want to go home louder than he should and I’m not going to shush him anymore. Neat variety of snakes… skip the venom show.
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September 2024 by Kayla Humphries
I don't understand the reviews saying that the animals are "well taken care of". If you respect reptiles at all, you'll be appalled. As a long-time reptile keeper, the husbandry here is ATROCIOUS. Tiny enclosures, animals shedding improperly due to low humidity, dirty water, etc. I saw at least 3 animals suffering from obvious Metabolic Bone Disease. Some of the snakes are obese. Need I go on? Seems like money hasn't been put into the place for quite a while. It is actually depressing to walk through. The only thing I saw that had somewhat appropriate conditions were the Red-Footed Tortoises. Such a shame, considering there were some beautiful snakes that you don't see in captivity often.
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August 2024 by Barbara DeBartolo
Feel bad for the poor animals
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August 2024 by Deanna Tiller
Came to share the venom show with my 6 year old but got an hour long lecture on who to vote for from a cursing evolutionists/Marxist instead, though there was a large variety of snakes the animals seemed in poor condition, would not recommend going out of your way for this.
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August 2024 by Jennifer Willis
This place has been open since 1973 and the owner-operator performs an important service, which is the extraction (milking) of venom from live snakes. You can attend a show at around 12 or 3 pm, but perhaps skip the first 25 minutes or so because it’s mostly a sermon of the operator’s strong views about corporations, healthcare corruption, global warming, and anti-development environmentalism. (Star taken for boring small kids with politics.)
The gentleman’s stories about actual snakes and venom milking are super interesting, though. Afterwards you’ll have a chance to hold a non-venomous, very calm snake.
If you have never seen venomous species close-up, this is a fantastic collection. The snake room is amazing! You will see species not seen on public display anywhere else in N America, especially the mambas and taipan. Impressive King Cobra and some truly massive pythons.
There is no A/C but plenty of shade; just dress lightly and bring water. Also bring a change of underwear, because hoo boy, that big Egyptian cobra is super reactive. Scared the heck outta my kid who screamed when the cobra struck the glass trying to bite her, lol!
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August 2024 by Ed Ortiz
Overall, it was a very pleasant experience for me and my grandkids. The worker at the counter was extremely kind. The staff member that fed the alligators was great and extremely informative. However, the snake venom show was a train wreck. The presenter went off the tracks with a political rant. Regardless of your political views... I didn't pay to listen to 1 persons political views. It's a real shame and unfortunate for my 3, 5, 9, 10, and 13 year old grandkids that had zero idea what he was ranting about....
We ended up walking out of the show before even started. Needless to say... my grandkids were extremely upset.
I truly recommend the facility, but skip the venom show.
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August 2024 by Barbee Gomez
Website is very misleading it's a small place with very little to see and they claim to have baby alligators to hold and don't, also the snakes you can hold are only after the venom show. Definitely not worth what you pay to get in in my opinion had I asked about the stuff before we paid we probably would've just left I was already hesitant as soon as I seen the place
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August 2024 by Joe Norton
Went with my wife and daughter, was told the venom show was just starting. We started there but were a little late because within a minute or 2 of us being there a woman stood up and told him that nobody is here to listen to his political views, we were there to learn about snakes. He kept going on with his liberal rants, so we decided to walk out. Went right back to the lady i just handed 42 dollars in cash to 10 minutes previously and asked her for my money back as i wasnt paying my hard earned money to someone who clearly cant comprehend the difference of teaching about snakes or civics class. I was told id have to wait for him to refund me. This is literally 10 minutes in to an hour plus.long show. I wasnt waiting told them to enjoy my hard earned money. As i got to my car another worker came out and gave us our money back which i was thankful for but needless to say i wouldnt waste my time here.
