Fort Chiswell Animal Park

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Fort Chiswell Animal Park 45 acre zoo with interactive safari tours and walk-through petting zoo. May 1 - Labor Day:
Open Daily
Weekends 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Weekdays 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(1767)

Fort Chiswell Animal Park is your chance to get up-close and personal with animals from around the globe while also enjoying the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you like animal encounters, don't miss this unique opportunity!
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GENERAL ADMISSION:
$20.00 for Adults
$15.00 for Children (Ages 3-12)
Ages 2 and under FREE

YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:
The Guided Safari Bus Tour
Walk-Through Petting Zoo
Picnic Tables On-Site
Free Parking

FEEDING OPTIONS:
Zoo Chow--$5.00 per bag
Roasted Peanuts--$4.00 per bag

2022 OPERATING SCHEDULE:
Month of April:
Open Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Labor Day - End of November:
Open Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (LAST SAFARI BUS LEAVES 1 HOUR
PRIOR TO CLOSING)

We’re excited to introduce our new girl and she needs a name!  This is a 7” Cuban Bronze Tarantula and she will be on di...
10/23/2026

We’re excited to introduce our new girl and she needs a name! This is a 7” Cuban Bronze Tarantula and she will be on display in the gift shop starting this weekend. She’s settling in well and likes to spend a good bit of time out of her hide. We are accepting name ideas through October 31st and the winner will receive a family four pack of tickets to the zoo. Put your best ideas in the comments below!

Gus loves the fall weather!
09/26/2026

Gus loves the fall weather!

TAG A TEACHER & HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!It's time for our annual Teacher Appreciation Days where area teachers and one g...
09/18/2026

TAG A TEACHER & HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

It's time for our annual Teacher Appreciation Days where area teachers and one guest receive FREE admission to the zoo! New teachers can see what educational opportunities are available here in our corner of Southwest Virginia and we also want to thank the many teachers who bring their classes year after year. Animal feed and the safari bus tour are included! Please present your current teacher ID or paystub to receive your complimentary tickets. This event is open to active instructors in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina who are employed by a public, private, or parochial institution.

We love this time of year and look forward to seeing you soon!

We want to thank everyone who came out to see us today and over the weekend!  The animals loved all the food and attenti...
09/08/2026

We want to thank everyone who came out to see us today and over the weekend! The animals loved all the food and attention. Rascal and Pataki were especially playful.

After Labor Day, we start operating on our fall schedule. We are now open each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 - 5. The last safari bus leaves at 4 pm. We also open during the week by appointment for groups of 20 or more.

We will be on this schedule through the end of November. It's a great time of year to visit the animals!

Harriet is up and at it this morning!  It's going to be a beautiful day.
09/05/2026

Harriet is up and at it this morning! It's going to be a beautiful day.

Every day is the same, but different...😊
08/25/2026

Every day is the same, but different...😊

Even though school has started back, we are still open daily.  We'd love to see you on safari!
08/15/2026

Even though school has started back, we are still open daily. We'd love to see you on safari!

This is the post we never wanted to write...  Today we had to say goodbye to our magical Puff.  If you've visited this s...
08/05/2026

This is the post we never wanted to write... Today we had to say goodbye to our magical Puff. If you've visited this summer, you've probably missed him on the safari tour. He's been having some health issues and has been under the care of Dr. Corinne. We hoped he would be able to return to the buses that he adored so much, but it wasn't meant to be. Today he got to enjoy his favorite snack of peanuts and was surrounded by his caretakers right up to the very end. We estimate he was in his thirties, but it sure didn't make the goodbye any easier.

Jeff purchased Puff in 2008 after he had been in a neglectful situation. Once he came here, he thrived. Puff had a huge personality that was only matched by his appetite. He loved to steal feed cups and bags of zoo chow out of the bus window. His favorite toy was a giant haybale. He drank right out of a water hose if given a chance and enjoyed splashing in his water troughs on hot summer days. He relished the cold and we dubbed him our "snow camel."

Tonight we have a big hole in our hearts, but we take comfort in knowing that Puff lived a full and wonderful life while he was with us. If you have a favorite photo or video of him, please share it below. We want to celebrate the wonderful camel he was.

For our zoo family, today marked the end of an era.

07/31/2026

Did you know we have our very own bee tree? This hive has been here for many, many years and is left alone undisturbed. We feel very lucky that these amazing little insects choose to stay here. This colony is a special part of the park!

Address

569 Red Hollow Road
Max Meadows, VA
24360

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