Georgia Untamed Zoo

About Georgia Untamed Zoo

Georgia Untamed Zoo is a wildlife park at 684 Hightower Road, Hogansville, Georgia 30230. The zoo's directions page lists distances from several cities, including Atlanta at 59 miles, Columbus at 56 miles and Macon at 92 miles. The zoo's online booking system is hosted under the web address ironphomesteadzoo, and one passage on the home page refers to the zoo as the Homestead. It is not an AZA-accredited facility.

The zoo's mission page is headed Inspire, Expand, Ignite. It says the founders have loved animals for years and felt called to introduce fellow animal lovers to them. The stated goal is that visitors leave inspired to find their own place in animal conservation, and the page says no one is too young, too old or too insignificant to take part. It notes that people who once thought of themselves as just one person have gone on to become veterinarians, scientists, conservationists, zoologists and biologists.

The home page describes the zoo's goals as enriching visitors' nature and animal experience, educating them on the importance of conserving fragile species, and giving each person an up-close, hands-on encounter.

Exhibits and habitats

According to the zoo's FAQ, the Wildlife Walkabout Experience lets guests see more than 50 species on natural terrain trails with hills and uneven surfaces. The FAQ says the trails are navigable by wheelchair and stroller when dry.

The zoo's tickets page says general admission includes full access to the Petting Barn Area, a Walk-in Exotic Bird Aviary, a Wildlife Walk Through, a Barnyard Play Area and a Safari Viewing Station. The home page also invites guests to relax under the Parrot Tree and to hold parties and special occasions at the Prairie Pavilion. Guests check in at the gift shop, where animal feed is sold along with snacks, ice cream and drinks. The tickets page lists add-on feeding options including animal feed in two sizes, a bird feeding stick, gator feed and a camel carrot cup, and notes that bird and gator feeding are seasonal.

Species named on the website include capybaras, a sloth named Samuel who lives in the Sloth Barn, and cassowaries, which the website describes as among the world's most powerful and prehistoric birds. The feeding add-ons on the tickets page refer to gators and camels.

Conservation and programs

The zoo's Conservation Partners page names Worth Wild Africa as its partner. The page describes that organization's work as anti-poaching patrols, community-driven conservation projects, habitat restoration and outreach and education. It says the zoo works with the partner to raise awareness and generate funding. The page also describes a Lemur Project that is to help fund field photography equipment for researchers studying the 112 species of critically endangered lemurs found on Madagascar.

The Encounters page lists four animal experiences: a 15-minute Capybara Encounter, a Sloth Encounter, a Cassowary Feeding Encounter, and a VIP Experience that combines the three, adds what the zoo calls other surprises, and includes general admission. Guests aged 15 and under must be accompanied by a paid adult for the capybara and sloth encounters, and the VIP Experience requires an accompanying paid adult for guests 18 and under. According to the FAQ, encounter groups have a maximum of 5 to 10 people, each participant needs a ticket, guests should arrive 15 minutes early, and the species offered vary seasonally. Other guests may book the same encounter time unless a party books the entire block of slots for that encounter.

The zoo also lists an Adopt an Animal program, sponsorship opportunities, field trips and group tours with Safari Guides, and a donation page. Teachers can reserve field trips through the online booking system.

For events, the zoo advertises birthday party packages that include a two-hour party pavilion rental, admission for ten party guests and animal feed for each guest, along with either a private guided tour or a gift shop surprise. Additional guests can be added individually, and a Cake with a Critter experience is optional. The website says birthday cakes and desserts are not permitted in the zoo unless a formal party is reserved. The home page lists weddings, birthdays and special occasions among the events the zoo hosts. Event inquiries go to events@georgiauntamedzoo.org.

Planning your visit

As listed on the zoo's website, the zoo is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with final ticket sales at 4 p.m. daily. Tickets are reserved online. The tickets page says a booking covers the guest's arrival time and the first hour of the zoo experience, and that guests are welcome to stay as long as they wish. Admission categories listed include adults, children 10 and under, seniors 65 and older, active military and veterans, and toddlers 2 and under, with one toddler admitted free per paid adult. Prices are on the zoo's website.

The FAQ says visitors may bring their own meals and coolers. Service dogs are permitted in certain areas by appointment only, with 24 hours of advance notice. The FAQ says reservation changes must be requested at least 24 hours ahead. The zoo says refunds or rain-checks for inclement weather are not offered, that ponchos are sold in the gift shop, that shelters and activities are available in any weather, and that sloth encounters may be done inside. The zoo may close early or not open at all because of weather. Updates are posted on the website and Facebook.

The zoo's phone number is (706) 452-1907, and its general email is info@georgiauntamedzoo.org.