About Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo

Hands-on animal park designed for kids. Family destination where children can pet, hold & feed small animals & view exhibits.

💬 What Parents Say

💡Visit otters during early morning or late afternoon for the best viewing experience, as they nap during midday hours
💡Arrive early to meet the greeting Tegu Lizard at the entrance—it's a memorable first experience that staff highlight
💡Animal feedings are included in admission and are a major highlight; plan your visit around feeding times to maximize interactive experiences with capybaras, deer, and other animals
💡Bring your own cooler or picnic basket to use the Twin Pine Picnic Grove, which saves money on food and beverages
💡Consider purchasing a season pass if visiting multiple times, as owners are highly engaged and the facility offers year-round event/theme days and special celebrations

Name: Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo
Address: 5135 Rome-New London Rd, Rome, NY 13440, Rome, NY, US
Telephone: (315) 336-1930
Rating: 4.6

★★★★☆ 4.6 (701 reviews)

📍 5135 Rome-New London Rd, Rome, NY 13440

Type

Zoo

Location

Rome, New York

Best For

All ages, children and families

Highlights

Petting zoo, baby pygmy goat cuddling, Wild Creatures Playland, animal presentations, swan feeding

Mission

Over 50 years of education, conservation, and animal interactions

Good to Know

✓Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo features a unique Maternity Ward exhibit where visitors can hold and cuddle baby pygmy goats, combining educational animal interaction with hands-on experience with newborn animals
✓The zoo includes a 2-story Wild Creatures Playland soft play structure with themed rooms (Rodeo Rider Room, Bouncing Wallaby Forest) and a 16-foot speed slide, integrating indoor play with animal education
✓The zoo operates a free-range animal model where peacocks and chickens roam freely throughout the park, creating dynamic and unpredictable visitor interactions beyond traditional enclosed exhibits
✓Fort Rickey offers a greeting Tegu Lizard at the entrance that visitors can meet, with staff recommending arrival early to interact with this featured reptile
✓The zoo maintains a diverse collection of over 40 animal species including exotic animals like capybaras, sloths, spider monkeys, and yaks alongside traditional farm animals, with visitor reviews highlighting the ability to feed capybaras lettuce as part of the standard admission experience

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