Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Reptile Lagoon

    3.9 (24 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Reptile Lagoon Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Reptile Lagoon

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Brittany K.

    South of the Border screams tourist trap! They practically lasso you in with their 50+ signs lining I-95. Am I complaining? No. I fell for it and loved the kitschy-ness of it all. I hadn't expected to find anything like reptile lagoon in this area. It was an unexpected but more than pleasant surprise. As soon as I learned about their conservation efforts, I was sold. Paid a very modest fee of $8 and bolted straight into the exhibit area. They have a variety of crocs, gators, and reptiles. All of which are housed comfortably in clean and natural habitats. The design of the space was well thought out and made very easy to navigate. I understand that SOB isn't exactly the kind of place you make special plans to see or travel to. However, if you happen to be driving I-95, definitely make this a rest stop! You can stretch and spend roughly 20-30 minutes learning more about our gator neighbors here in the south. Pssst! Did I mention your money supports conservation causes? Because, well it does. That's a major positive.

    Katelyn N.

    Look, I'm no "Karen", and I usually never leave negative reviews because it's not worth my time and effort to type out and post something negative, but this place screams neglect of their animals...It's smelly, dark, dank, and depressing...Of course I thought, well reptiles like it dark, right? But then I saw all the alligators(10-15 of them) piled on top of each other just to get a portion of themselves under the heat lamp, which was the only light in the place! The price was fair at $8.00 person and I heard it went towards conservation, so I thought ok, let's stop there! I'm only glad I did so I could write this review and also contact someone that helps neglected animals, such as these critters. The enclosures definitely need to be more spacious and overall, upgraded. The size of the animal should depend on the size of the enclosure, it's not brain surgery to know that! The worst of the worst though, was a large snapping turtle that looked dead. He wasn't though because he opened his mouth, but he didn't move anything else, and he had tons of algae and other stuff growing on his shell and his body. He wasn't even completely submerged, the water was dirty, and it seemed he know his enclosure was too small for him to move around, so he just stayed put.It's like he accepted his tragic fate of being stuck there until he dies. Almost all enclosures seemed way too small except for the main enclosure that held btween 12-15 alligators! The experience was sad, upsetting, and I had tears in my eyes when I left! Thanks so much South of the Border!

    I would rate the reptile lagoon zero stars but that wasn't an option. Overall the environment was very depressing none of the animals were moving and if they were they were banging against the glass. One turtle was pressing against the glass and the water was very foggy and I couldn't even tell there was something in there. Another turtle was covered in algae. The alligators and crocodiles weren't moving at all or even blinking I couldn't even tell if they were alive or not. The signs say "endangered and threatened" but SOB isn't helping the situation. My children and I were very disappointed they were crying because the reptiles looked sad. I just wanted to give an honest opinion of the South of the Border Reptile Lagoon in South Carolina. So please reconsider going to this place in particular, I know I won't be returning.

    Species of Mamba
    Chris C.

    This place is enormous, They have a lot of nice exhibits, large amount of snakes to view. Extremely clean, large exhibits for most of the reptiles. They have a lot of exotic species. Great day trip.

    Horned viper I think.

    Went to south of the border just to see what the billboards were about despite what a couple people had told me. I loved the nostalgia of the place, looks like it was a place that would've been hoppin back in the 70's before people and kids had so many electronics to keep themselves occupied. I only went to the gator farm out of pity because I thought it was a place whose glory days were gone 40 years ago and I wanted to help keep the place from shutting down. When I walked in it didn't look like a whole lot, one alligator in a sand pit and some birds but when you walk past that it's pretty amazing. The guy that said "the gators weren't real ", they hold their mouth open and don't move. I seen a worker throw a piece of meat to one that was dead still and you'll know they're real then. I never was a reptile freak or anything and I was amazed. Ugly gators and crocs and snakes that I never even knew existed. I told a friend that had passed it up many times and never stopped, don't know if he ever did but he sounded interested. I never knew how big a king cobra really is until that day. I stayed there for hours in awe looking at snakes and the staff let me stay past closing while they were tending to them, not telling everyone to do the same. If I'm ever down that way again, they're open, and I have the time I will go back.

    Huge Crocodile
    Julie S.

    Really cool exhibits, family and kid friendly. My autistic brother loved it! It's very inexpensive, $8 for adults, $6 for kids and you can stay inside as long as you want! Gift shop has some pretty cool toys and souvenirs, a little pricey though. Exhibit is really safe too and snakes are kept in these darker tunnels and are avoidable, so those who can't stand them can easily avoid going through their exhibits. Lots of cool turtles and gators from all over the world! Really educational and they help fund protection for gators and other wildlife!

    Steven M.

    I love reptiles! This place has the best collection of snakes and crocodiles I've ever seen. Watch out for the black and white cobra, he bites! Idk about the rest of this creepy tourist trap, but the reptile lagoon is a great diversion if you are passing by. Only $8.

    American Aligators

    See all

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan R.
    2
    43
    12

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    i feel like the price could be cheaper. They did have more species of alligator then i expected. The snake exhibit was super nice too!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah F.
    113
    27
    80

    7 years ago

    Good value for the entire family. We all had fun seeing so many alligators and crocodiles and snakes. We saw a feeding which was fantastic.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Remy P.
    17
    23
    4

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Friendly staff a d beat bag for your buck. There's so many exotic creatures to see, highly recommended

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Beckie S.
    137
    23
    30

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ann W.
    0
    35
    11

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of L T.
    0
    2
    0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bob E.
    14
    16
    1

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Reptile Lagoon

    Review Highlights - Reptile Lagoon

    Went to south of the border just to see what the billboards were about despite what a couple people had told me.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Aloha Safari Park

    Aloha Safari Park

    4.4(183 reviews)
    57.6 mi

    This is such a cool safari park... its a hidden gem TBH. They have farm animals which you can pet…read moreand larger animals you can observe and get relatively close too. Of course their big attraction is the drive thru animal park which you take your own car along a dirt trail and can feed (if you choose) various animals. The price for this place will not break the bank. A couple of observations to improve: 1) It needs to be maintained more... some of the exhibits just feel like add-ons on top of add-ons and it feels dated. 2) A refresh and modernization to the walking trails would be good. 3) A proper cafe or even drink stations with covered seating would be nice. Something more than just random popup trailers. 4) A more permanent (possibly lit) sign off highway 87 would be nice (if possible) Again this place is awesome, would come back!

    My Husband and I came here on my Birthday, and it was the most fun and entertaining experience!!…read more First, we did the drive through, and I was not ready for how hard we would laugh and how aggressive an ostrich can be. They come and dart their heads in to get food. Also, the llamas and alpacas will follow your car if they want more food. Hilarious. We repeated to ourselves several times not to feed the donkey and the zebras, as they can bite! We actually drove through the whole thing twice, and I'm really glad we did. More and more animals came to our car the second time around. There are camels that are feet taller than our car. We were able to feed and interact with some more huge gentle giants and also learned to roll the windows up if an ostrich was running towards us! The walk-through portion is fun as well, we fed some barnyard animals and even pet a kangaroo! The big, exciting part for me though was when we got to feed carrots to the giraffes. They are so huge but so docile and they take the carrots with their tongues. This was really a fun experience, with us even putting the carrots in our mouths for them to give us "kisses". All the staff members are friendly and helpful, the areas are well kept and the animals seem to be well cared for. The price is $15 to enter, and that includes the drive through and walk through, you get a wrist band so you can go to each as many times in your visit that you want to. The cups of feed are $3 each the first time, and then an additional dollar for refills. The giftshop was cute with lots of fun stuff to purchase. There is also a food vendor there on site with some yummy foods, and an area with picnic tables to enjoy a nice lunch. This was a great time, and I will recommend to anyone in Fayetteville or surrounding areas!

    Photos
    Aloha Safari Park
    Aloha Safari Park
    Aloha Safari Park

    See all

    Parkton Animal Oasis

    Parkton Animal Oasis

    5.0(3 reviews)
    33.6 mi

    We did a photo shoot at Parkton Animal Oasis, and it ended up being one of those experiences that…read morejust makes you smile the entire time. The photo shoot was with a kangaroo and a fennec fox, and somehow they managed to be even cuter in person. The kangaroo was barely a month old, tiny, calm, and ridiculously adorable. The fennec fox was just as cute, all ears and personality, and the staff made sure the experience felt safe and respectful for the animals the entire time. After the photo session, we took a full tour of the facility and saw a wide variety of animals. We were able to feed most of them, which made the experience feel interactive without feeling rushed or forced. The staff clearly knows the animals well and takes the time to explain things, answer questions, and make sure everyone is comfortable. We didn't get to directly interact with the foxes during the tour due to regulations that prohibit visitor interaction with them, which was explained clearly and made complete sense. Even without that, the experience was still fantastic. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about what they do, and you can tell the animals are well cared for. Everything felt organized, ethical, and thoughtfully run. Overall, we loved it. Great experience, great people, and now the only real problem is figuring out where I can get a fennec fox of my own.

    Nothing beats going in the fennec fox and capybara enclosure and feeding the animals up close in…read moretheir environment! The wallaby and coatimundi are adorable!

    Photos
    Parkton Animal Oasis
    Parkton Animal Oasis
    Parkton Animal Oasis

    See all

    The North Carolina Zoo - Harbor Seal Sign

    The North Carolina Zoo

    4.2(352 reviews)
    82.2 mi

    Absolutely loved our visit to the North Carolina Zoo! The entire experience was wonderful from…read morestart to finish. Every employee we interacted with was incredibly friendly and helpful, which made the day even better. My daughter was especially excited because she's currently obsessed with elephants, and getting to see them in person absolutely made her day. She also loved seeing the tigers! Unfortunately we didn't get to see the giraffes on this trip, but that just gives us another reason to come back and visit again soon. The zoo itself was very clean and well kept, and it was such a beautiful day to be outside exploring. Overall it was a fantastic experience for our family and we will definitely be back!

    We got to the zoo when it opened on a Sunday. 9 AM. In my opinion, if you can't get there early,…read morethen don't go. We parked in Africa and we thought the animals in Africa were great ! Maybe because it was early and they were pretty active. By the time we got to the North America side, the animals seemed to be less visible. It was hot out. We only stayed until just after NOON. It got so crowded !!! A lemonade was $10 ! No idea how much the food was but ---- NO !!! Bring your water bottles and snacks. Employees were friendly and beyond helpful. Restrooms are pretty spred out so plan accordingly. After just over 3 hours, we walked over 9000 steps. Go EARLY !!!!!

    Photos
    The North Carolina Zoo - Asia Is Closer Than You Think Promotional Sign

    Asia Is Closer Than You Think Promotional Sign

    The North Carolina Zoo - OMU-only male unit!! 02/01/2025

    OMU-only male unit!! 02/01/2025

    The North Carolina Zoo - North Carolina Zoo Africa Entrance Bridge

    See all

    North Carolina Zoo Africa Entrance Bridge

    T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station - Petting Bubbles' trunk

    T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station

    4.1(57 reviews)
    58.1 mi

    My husband and I went on the Day Safari Tour April 24, 2025…read more This tour was not only fun but very knowledgeable. As we held several animals the guide explained details of each. I loved the chimpanzee hugging me and giving my husband a fist bump. The photographers know exactly when to photo for the best experience. You receive several photos in the package. There were planned bathroom breaks, two refreshment snack stops and a terrific lunch which included a variety of food and drinks. We only wish there were photos of the tiger climbing the post and white tiger chasing the ball. We know we could not be near the tigers for safety but to have these photos we be appreciated. Hopefully next year we can attend and have these two photos added to the collection. Thank you for caring about all these animals. Rena and Darcy

    This experience was absolutely worth the price…read more You get exactly what you're looking for-photos with some amazing beautiful animals that you would never truly get to experience anywhere else! This price is extremely fair as I've been to several different animal experiences in the past, the only difference is you can see the love the staff has for these animals and it's just so magical! Thank you to this amazing staff for everything and making sure all the experiences here are extra special!

    Photos
    T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station - Holding lemurs

    Holding lemurs

    T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station - Holding lemurs

    Holding lemurs

    T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station - Once in a lifetime experience money goes towards preservation of these amazing animals!

    See all

    Once in a lifetime experience money goes towards preservation of these amazing animals!

    Tiger World - Sleeping in the sun.

    Tiger World

    4.2(121 reviews)
    98.8 mi

    I have to admit that the first thing that came to mind was the Netflix show a few years back but…read morethis place is mad legit. It's not like the NC Zoo experience but the amount of big cats here and how close you are to them is extraordinary. You can tell that they really care for all of their animals and if you get the chance to talk to one of the keepers, they will talk to you with relevant information to the point you could have a BS in zoology. It's cheaper to get in here that our local Science center and way cooler. I'm not a cat person but these cats are awesome. They even had a timber wolf which was really cool. Well worth the trip from Greensboro area and again, you can tell that they really care for these animals.

    For $72 for a family of 4 including 2 cups of feed and tickets to the parakeet experience, I'd say…read morewe got about $50 worth in actual value. If that was the actual price, I'd probably give it 4 stars. They have a nice variety of big cats as well as bears, baboons, and even kangaroos! The place is on the small side but cozy, and the kids had mostly a good time. Problem is, most of the animals there can't be fed anything (some can only be fed peanuts), and so the kids ended up feeding the seeds mostly to the peacocks and geese running around in the open. Bit of a waste. The parakeet thing was fun for a few minutes, but the staff kept shuffling us further down away from the concentration of birds to allow for new groups to come in. For what I paid for that experience, I was not thrilled about that. Gripes aside, Tiger world was on the radar to check out for a while now and glad we did it once to see a nice variety of animals, though the reptile exhibit was tiny and unimpressive. Enjoyed coming once, but don't see the appeal at that price point for any repeat visits.

    Photos
    Tiger World - KOTJ

    KOTJ

    Tiger World
    Tiger World - Lynx

    See all

    Lynx

    Reptile Lagoon - zoos - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...