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Location
Best time
Visit in the afternoon or early morning when you're more likely to see animals active, as reviewers noted many animals were sleeping during late afternoon visits. However, plan for a shorter visit (1-2 hours) since this is a small roadside zoo with limited animals compared to larger facilities.
Visitor tip
Take advantage of interactive experiences like hand-feeding giraffes and the animal scavenger hunt to engage children. Staff are friendly and may allow hands-on experiences like holding snakes, which can make the visit memorable for kids.
Visitor tip
If you're passing through the area as a quick stop rather than a dedicated day trip, this zoo works well for families with young kids seeking a brief, close-up animal encounter. It's better suited as a 1-2 hour detour than a full-day destination.
About Natural Bridge Zoo
Elephant rides & other experiences. Privately-owned zoo with interactive experiences including elephant rides, feedings & a petting zoo.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Zoo
- Established
- 1972
- Mission
- Propagation and rearing of threatened or endangered species
- Ownership
- Privately owned, independent
What visitors say
My boyfriend and I took a day trip to the Natural Bridge Zoo! Overall, it was an enjoyable experience. We went late in the afternoon so most of the animals were sleeping. You could still see a lot of the animals. Great customer service…
I have always enjoyed occasionally stopping at this Zoo, as the only downfall is there aren’t that many animals here to look at. The ones they have are beautiful, and it’s still a relaxing experience! I am a huge Giraffe lover, so…
The reviews had us extremely hesitant to take our nieces and nephew. However, we stopped by on our way through and it did not disappoint. We enjoyed the fact that there were animals within minimal walking distance of each other. Yes,…
From 1,959 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- Natural Bridge Zoo features elephant rides as a primary interactive experience, with elephant ride mentions appearing 282 times in visitor reviews—the most discussed attraction feature
- The zoo offers hands-on animal feeding experiences including giraffe feeding and parakeet interactions, with animal feeding mentions appearing 131 times across review topics
- Located in Natural Bridge, VA, the zoo is positioned within proximity to multiple natural attractions including Natural Bridge Caverns, Natural Bridge State Park, and Natural Tunnel State Park
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