This place is amazing! I always wondered how we have a Gator and Reptile Park in Colorado and understanding that it is because the geothermal well provides 87F water year-round. Upon entering, we were greeted by Matt who welcomed us with the biggest smile and asked us to share our experience that we had in the Crocodile Rescue in Zambia. Matt and the other employees are so passionate about all the rescued animals at the Park. We were greeted by another employee who explained that all the animals have either been confiscated by law enforcement, given up by their owners, or simply found (the giant iguana was found sitting in a tree by a man walking a neighborhood). All the animals have pasts that aren't the best but they get to live the rest of their lives in a sanctuary getting the proper care they deserve. The Park is vast and there are plans to make it even larger. What I thought would take only 30 minutes took well over 2 hours. I am a kid at heart and also love photography so this was best way to spend our early afternoon. I absolutely adore the staff!! They are amazing and are passionate, which shows in their personalities and how they light up talking about all the different animals. read more

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I was really, really taken with this place. It was really cool to see the gators and the snakes and emu, and just all the critters that have been rescued. I was really glad to see that there's a place like this that supports those critters but also saddened by how many had been pets at one time. It was a great place to support would definitely go back. We all enjoyed our visit. I recommend buying food to feed the gators, cause I was really fun. read more

Colorado Gators Reptile Park - Zoos Near Me - Mosca, Colorado

This is a definite must see if you are going to be at the sand dunes for a few days and have kids. Lots to do and see! My kiddos loved feeding the tortoises, holding the baby gator, doing the zipline, feeding the emus, playing on the playground, and petting the cats in the gift shop. We spent more time there than we expected because the kids were having a grand old time. I would say because it's a working farm, there are some areas that are a bit messy / you need to keep an eye on your children around. The playground could use some updates / there are some parts that are broken or in need of fixing. The cats that live in the gift shop obviously use the area under the climbing wall as a litter box, and I saw several kids follow them in there. But everyone who worked there was really nice and informative. read more

We saw the sign on the side of the road and figured why not. The prices are steep, $30 a person. Most zoos are cheaper. They Encourage you to pet several different types of animals which we really enjoyed. And they took our picture while we held a baby gator. They have several kids pay areas so I'd say it's pretty family friendly. Again 60 bucks for two people was a bit much but it includes other activities on the property. We went Fishing and used a paddle boat. The paddle boat was broken but they gave us ores and the equipment for fishing. The attendant and staff were very friendly and told us fun facts throughout the day. read more

Colorado Gators Reptile Park - You can feed the emo but there was only one open to the public. - Zoos Near Me - Mosca, Colorado

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Great experience. Nice to visit an attraction that does not have constant upselling. An all inclusive experience that provided what it advertised and was great for the family. I would highly recommend. read more

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Been here twice now, people are friendly, 30$ per person seems like a lot, but considering all you get to do is worth it. i have been able to feed tortoises, hold baby gators, and feed grown ones. AND SOMEHOW I FORGOT ABOUT THE EMUS! Seriously, come here if you want to have a great time! read more

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This place is one of a kind and so much fun! We spent over two hours here and honestly could have stayed longer. The staff is knowledgeable and kind. There are so many animals - so much more than just gators! You can hold snakes, gators, feed emus, feed tortoises, and so much more! Will definitely visit again. read more

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I CANNOT say enough wonderful things about this place! The owners are fantastic people and the staff are the most friendly accommodating people around. We have went every year for the past 5 or 6 years and our kids look forward to it all year long. From the number of animals, to the information shared, to the environment, the shop, playground... you get the point. If you or your kids enjoy an interactive reptile experience in Colorado this place is second to none. GO! read more

A MUST SEE EXPERIENCE!!! Haven't been here in many years but love it just as much! Grew up going here in the summertime as a kid, so this family and establishment hold a special place in my heart. Jay and the rest of the family are as welcoming as ever! It is a little bit different due to the fire last year but still a great encounter overall! With so much to see! Not only gators, but crocs, snakes, lizards, birds, turtles, tortoises, and more. An enjoyable trip that is also incredibly educational! read more

Colorado Gators Reptile Park - Holding a baby alligator, just one of the many critters you can have an encounter with at the Colorado Gators Reptile Park! - Zoos Near Me - Mosca, Colorado

If you're in the area, Colorado Gators Reptile Park is an absolute must-visit! Home to hundreds of alligators and some other rescued exotic species, this place is truly one-of-a-kind. Being from the South Carolina coast, I'm no stranger to alligators, but it was definitely a first to see them in the mountains! One of the coolest parts of the experience was getting to see their celebrity gator, Morris -- the one who's appeared in movies like Happy Madison and on TV. And for the grand finale, you get to hold a baby gator! You even receive a certificate of bravery afterward, which is such a fun touch. Pro tip: If you buy a piece of apparel from the gift shop and wear it during your next visit, you'll get free admission. read more

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One of a kind for sure. We've been coming here for over 6 years when passing by and we enjoy it every time. A good stop if you need a little break from driving to stretch your legs. read more

Colorado Gators Reptile Park - Zoos Near Me - Mosca, Colorado

Earlier this year (2023) the Colorado Gators Reptile Park caught on fire. Many animals sadly lost their lives. On September 3, my oldest daughter begged us if we could go here. Admission Prices: Ages 5 and under = FREE Ages 6-15 = $12.50 Ages 16-64 = $25 Ages 64-79 = $12.50 Ages 80 and over = FREE She ended up holding Morticia and receiving a Morticia-teeth clamped certificate for doing so. This was included in admission. Take your own photos or kindly ask one of the staff members to assist you. There was so much more than just alligators of various kinds. Morris, the 500-pound movie star, was the standout for most onlookers. (He ate Chubbs' hand in "Happy Gilmore.") I was fascinated with Bo Mangles and the other albino alligators. Clever name, Bo Mangles. I bet he does... They was a fish house. My daughters fed the tilapia for free! Turtles. Tortoises. Lizards. Pythons. Emus. Crocodiles. A fig tree brought across country from 1887 still stood. Inside the gift shop, my significant other encouraged me to look at the "lost fingers" in jars. Yikes. I hope they keep building and improving. Some of the signage could be more professional. Some animals could use explaining period. While every single staff member was joyous and friendly, they can't possibly be there to answer every single question. The only other thing I would change is the safety of the parking lots. Flashing crosswalk lights? Crosswalk lines? Better signage? Heck if I know what might help... Folks don't slow down anymore anywhere. There wasn't enough space in the small lot in the same area as the entrance, so we parked across the rural street in a dirt overflow lot. Unbelievable how folks persue to drive like jerks in that area. TIPS + Some of the brochures scattered all over Alamosa have "free bucket of gator chow! One per group" coupons. + Free EV (eletric vehicle) charging station is available. Please plan a visit here... most of the animals were rescues. It's definitely a fun please to learn for little ones and cowboys alike. read more

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Only in the San Luis Valley. Started by getting an alligator to eat Talapia heads and guts, now they grow fish to feed the gators. Just down the road from the UFO Viewing Station. read more

July 25, 2023. Tuesday. Afternoon. This place rocked! It started as a tilapia farm in '77. They added gators in 1987 to take care of the fish waste. This family farm does a lot of good by accepting pets people no longer want and taking in seized animals. You can fish the ponds in front of the entrance. Rods, reels and line are provided. They have catfish, carp and tilapia. When you catch one, you can either feed it to the gators or take it home to eat. Admission costs $25 a person. You could buy a really cool t-shirt for $35, and admission would be free. Wish I had bought a t-shirt as there were some really humorous ones. Upon entering, my wife and I were presented by an alligator named Morticia, to hold. See attached photo. She had a wonderful calm demeanor and scaly skin. Could have used some lotion. Holding her was worth the price of admission. There were some giant, 10'+ gators that had been in the movies, as well as three, blind, cool looking albino alligators. We enjoyed watching them feed the alligators because they get super active. The four emus had ridiculous hairdos. We viewed stand-up sharks, caimans, box turtles, red eared sliders, green sunfish, redtail catfish and piranha. We saw crocodiles as well. The differences between the two were that alligators can live in very cold weather and can't survive in saltwater. There were signs posted everywhere with fun facts about the animals along with funny jokes. They have indoor aquariums with fish, turtles, alligators, caimans, snakes and crocodiles. There is a huge open tank that you can toss fish pellets at the tilapia. They frenzy after this food and jump out of the water to get it. You could easily spend three or more hours here with the entire family. The signs were super educational, and the critters were active when we visited. Do yourself a favor and visit this tilapia and gator farm in Mosca, CO. Bring a fishing rod and buy a cool t-shirt to support this family run farm. read more

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Colorado Gators Reptile Park is a great place to view various reptiles, birds, and other beasts in a contained and artificial environment. The facility offers many alligators that visitors can view from a variety of distances. Colorado Gators Reptile Park claims to have been launched as a tilapia farm in 1977, so it comes as no surprise that there are many fish. Last I checked, however, fishing is not permitted. Human fishing would disrupt the food supply chain for the many alligators. Some of the alligators are massive and appear passive. Nevertheless, certain signage alleges that these big boys are not passive, as they have murdered partners and attacked innocents. Do not worry, though. The risk to visitors following posted rules seems to be minimal. Admission as of summer 2022 is $20, with reductions for certain people on the sole basis of age and nothing else. As such, it is not a great choice if you're looking to save money. The staff may allow you, your children, and your parents to hold a baby alligator, which is particularly tender on its underside. As far as I know, you are not allowed to eat this alligator or other alligators on the premises. "This is a working farm it does smell!!" read more

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After visiting the sand dunes we decided to just stop in Alamosa for the night. At the hotel we found a flyer for this place and our 12 year old reptile enthusiast wanted to check it out! We brought the flyer for a free bucket of food and stopped at the convenience store just south of the farm to get discounted tickets. It was most definitely worth the 45 extra minutes of driving time it added to the trip! The farm was beautiful, all the staff were so kind and happy to answer any question we had. My wife didn't do the tour so she walked out dog along the pond and said it was stunning, my son and I had an amazing time seeing the various animals and holding the baby gators. This is a MUST STOP for anyone with kids or just anyone who enjoy this type of experience. We are already planning another trip to take my niece and nephew with us read more

Colorado Gators Reptile Park - view of the mountains from the path along the pond, as well as the geese and ducks in the pond - Zoos Near Me - Mosca, Colorado

Wonderful visit for the whole family. We have visited regularly with out of state friends and it's always a hit.

We stayed in Salida for a couple of days and decided to check this place out. It was about an hour + drive going and coming back, but it was worth it! They have so many cool things here. So many alligators, snakes, fishes, you name it, they have it! It's well taken care of and they employees were super nice! I had a conversation with one of the gentlemen that works there and he was so nice and helpful! I wish we had a place like this in LA. Next time I am in Salida,Co. I will be stopping by at this place again! Totally worth the drive. read more

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This was the most incredible unprompted stop on the way home from the great sand dunes! If you pass this up you will surely regret it. The staff is so knowledgeable and friendly. The exhibits will far surpass your expectations! The staff even hosted a free lunch for park guests on Memorial day. Couldn't recommend this place enough read more

Now, we happened to be in the area, visiting the Sand Dunes, and a friend told us about this place to check out. Now, in all the years I have lived in Colorado, I never heard of this place. Who would have thought there would be an alligator farm in Colorado. Well, before I get into some of the attractions, you can get some discount tickets either online, or at the convenience store south of this attraction, along with a free bucket of chum. Now, believe it or not, there are over 300 Alligators here, from little too small, and green to albino. They also have snakes,, turtles of all sizes, and lizards. If your anywhere near this area, driving through on vacation, this is a must stop for the family and kids. The staff is very friendly, and informative. Don't be afraid to ask questions, they are happy to answer them for you. read more

Colorado Gators Reptile Park - Zoos Near Me - Mosca, Colorado

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WOW!! What a fantastic experience! We took 4 teen boys here (12 yrs-17 yrs) and everyone loved it. Amazing customer service! They take their time and make sure that you are having a great time. Very knowledgable and they truly care about their animals. Fun stories and overall a really fun tour. Highly recommend! read more

Colorado Gators Reptile Park - Zoos Near Me - Mosca, Colorado

Really fun and interactive. Plus you get to hold a baby gator every time you go. Lots to see

This is a small operation. But their size doesn't reflect the fondness they have for the gators and the rest of the resident animals here. We came for the gators and at $40/person we were surprised at how long we stayed inside. There were fat snakes and little snakes. We were welcomed by a Cuute garter snake. Followed by the cutest gator ever! She was in charge of being Cuute and friendly with the tourist handling her for pics. She even gave her handler several kisses. She's well fed and loved. As you move along you will pass other animals like a bored looking giant bird and some iguanas. When you get to the gator pen pls look for the oldest and biggest one. He's alone. The rest are fed while you watch. The farm started back in 1977 as a tilapia farm. For human consumption. A geothermal well that was 2,050 ft deep and 87F. The first gators were garbage disposals for dead fish! Parking could be tricky if u get there late. The place reeks of fish and other gator smell. But hey you're not there to smell the roses. Tip: as you move along when you think you're ready to go home; look for the pen beyond the gator farm. Enclosed were three wolves. Free to view them. There's a three legged one and he's the loudest! read more

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We stopped at this place finally after I heard about it through Vice when they reported on the UFO Watchtower, and let me tell you it did not disappoint. I've been to many zoos and this place was by far the most fun and interesting animal rehabilitation place I've ever been to! I wish more places were like this! It was so interactive, not just more of the same "looking at animals from 50 feet away" like you get at every other zoo. Plus you could really tell the staff love the animals. We definitely want to come out for the next Gator Fest! Thanks you! read more

Colorado Gators Reptile Park - Zoos Near Me - Mosca, Colorado

This place was really cool, we all got to hold a rescued gator which my son loved. We fed gators the entire way through the park, saw some awesome animals, learned a bit. Had a conversation with a cockatoo, and got chased by some geese! Definitely a little dated, but man it was a good time for the price and we all had fun! read more

Very interesting and educational habitat to visit, with lots of cool interactive experiences!

Excellent. Tons of gators. Can bring your dog through the entire establishment. Worth it.

We had such a great time at this hidden gem! We came to use my get out pass but they didn't know what it was and did not honor it at check in. It wasn't a huge deal as we were happy to pay admission and support them and the animals, however I followed up with GOP to see what the heck was going on as this was my second time the pass wasn't honored somewhere. Anyways, the reptile park was amazing. So much to see and do and every single staff member we came across had a smile on their face and was happy to see us. It seems their animals are very well fed and taken care of. Most animals I saw had signs indicating their name/species and where they'd been rescued from. I am glad this place exists! Their gift shop was cute too. Their bathrooms were clean, just older. read more

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Good value and fun for kids. Definitely go fishing at the end. My kids loved feeding fish to alligators.

This place is fantastic. Totally worth the visit. My 11 yo and I walked thru the whole place and especially loved seeing the tortoises, being able to feel their shells and watch them follow us, holding the baby alligator, feeding the fish, and seeing the albino gators. Just be smarter than us and remember bug spray!! read more

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We had no idea what to expect, and we were super impressed with the variety and extent of animals, exhibits, and opportunities to feed and hold them. Not your typical slick attraction, in a refreshing way. read more

My visit 3/10/24, I honestly could not believe the conditions these reptiles were in. Algae ridden ponds/containment areas too small/broken filtration systems/hungry EMU's scrapping the bottom of the bowls. The largest dirty pond had way too many alligators, there is tires, trash, bricks in the water. I even witnessed opens wounds on an alligators tail and head. You get to hold a Juvenile alligator, get a certificate, great right? Not for that poor alligator, that is forced to bite down on the paper certificate. Then it gets tape around the mouth and tossed in a cooler??? Proper care is needed. I have sent my review on. The only way for these animals to get help is to report these conditions and do not support the business. If you want to see a real Alligator Park, where the animals are taken care of with lots of room and clean water, they are out there, this road side carnival is not it. Also, Both toilets in the women's bathroom were plugged, and had been for awhile. People were using them anyway, I reported this and was brushed off. read more

Stopped here after it was recommended by a family member. The admission was pretty stiff at $20, but the experience makes up for it. At first you are able to feed turtles that roam freely. Next, you are able to take a picture with a baby alligator which is super cool. The snakes, reptiles, and of course gators were almost surreal to see so up close. I loved the experience and will return if I'm ever in the area with family again. read more

Colorado Gators Reptile Park - Big guy - Zoos Near Me - Mosca, Colorado

This place was amazing!!!! Very large and expansive. Tons of alligators and free roaming tortoises. Some snakes and other reptiles. At the beginning you are treated to the opportunity to hold a snake which was AWESOME. Snakes are my favorite and they feel so silky smooth and are beautiful. It was great to just walk around the property, hardly anyone else was there so we had the place to ourselves. Highly recommend for kids and reptile loving adults. read more

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BEST. DAY. EVER!!!!!! This was so much fun! For $100 I took the gator wrestling class-and it was money extremely well spent. No where else will you get an experience like this-thank you, Conner!!!! They also have hundreds of gators and reptiles for a fun family outing!! Thank you, Colorado Gators :) :) read more

Dam good place for the kid till next time my son loves it there we love Colorado it's the place to be I recommend it to all read more

Colorado Gators Reptile Park - Blanca Colorado - Zoos Near Me - Mosca, Colorado

What a neat place to visit! We stopped by on our way to Alamosa. I loved how there were turtles just roaming around everywhere freely, they were fun to watch! There were some people who work on the farm catching the alligators for fun which was really neat to watch. Took one guy 5+ times to jump on one and tie its mouth which made it entertaining! The kids got a kick out of feeding the alligators their chow. They had a game going for kids where the fastest one to run with a basket and put 10 eggs inside and run back would win a $5 gift card for the gift shop. All the staff were really friendly all through the farm. Prices were reasonable to get in and also in the gift shop. I printed off a 20% off entrance fee coupon from their website. You will smell even after washing my hands twice in the bathroom I still smelt like Gator Chow until I was able to shower. Overall it's a cool place to visit at least once just for the experience. I think it's awesome how they rescue Alligators and properly care for them. read more

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We went 18 miles out of the way and ABSOLUTELY worth the stop! Friendly staff, interactive, watched the feedings and my kids held Peanut Butter read more

It was so wonderful to watch my future daughter-in-law enjoying herself at the Colorado Gators Reptile Park! She had been there as a child and as we were planning our trip to ride the Durango to Silverton Train, we timed our trip so we could stop there. We all held a live alligator which was amazing! We also got to feed the alligators. read more

Not a great start...we had a flyer from our hotel that stayed the pricing. Couple in front of us has the same flyer. They refused to honor it saying they had changed their pricing. But when every hotel in town has your Flyer and is advertising your place but you don't honor it...that is bad business practices. read more