Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo

About Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo

Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo sits on 210 acres in Tupelo, Mississippi, and is home to more than 260 animals, according to the park's own website. It is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The property began as a cattle ranch: in 1997, owner Dan Franklin started adding buffalo and removing cattle, and his herd eventually grew to more than 300 animals, at one time described as the largest herd of American bison east of the Mississippi River. Construction of a zoo followed the growth of the herd, and Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo officially opened to the public in November 2001.

The park is built around its resident herd of bison, which visitors can watch grazing and roaming across open fields, and around a drive-through safari section that anyone arriving in their own vehicle can enter. Beyond the bison, the collection includes a range of exotic birds, reptiles, and mammals, along with a reptile exhibit, a petting zoo, and a playground added as the property expanded over the years.

History

Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo began as a cattle ranch before Dan Franklin started converting it to a buffalo operation in 1997, gradually phasing out cattle as his bison herd grew. At its peak the herd numbered more than 300 animals and was, at one point, described as the largest herd of American bison east of the Mississippi River. Construction of the zoo itself followed the growth of the buffalo operation, and the park officially opened to the public in November 2001. Since then it has expanded to include a wider exotic animal collection, a reptile exhibit, a petting zoo, and a playground.

The park has also been home to two well-known individual animals. Tall Boy, described as one of the tallest giraffes in the United States at 19 feet, lived at the park until his death in January 2015. Oliver, a Capuchin monkey, became known nationally after two escapes in 2007 that were mentioned on The Colbert Report and David Letterman's Top Ten List; Oliver later became the father of six baby Capuchins born at the park.

Exhibits and habitats

Central to a visit is the park's drive-through safari, open to anyone arriving in their own vehicle, where visitors can see bison, zebras, camels, ostriches, and Watusi cattle sharing open range. Outside the safari loop, the grounds include a petting zoo, a playground, and a reptile exhibit. Several pavilions on the property are available for private party reservations, and a picnic area gives visitors a place to eat within the park.

Animal highlights

According to the park's own website, Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo is home to more than 260 animals; no separate species count is published. The core of the collection is its herd of American bison, joined in the drive-through safari by zebras, camels, ostriches, and Watusi cattle. The rest of the grounds hold a broader mix of exotic birds, reptiles, and mammals, along with the petting zoo's animals. Two individual animals have given the park a measure of outside attention over the years: Oliver, a Capuchin monkey whose escapes made national news, and Tall Boy, a giraffe once described as one of the tallest in the country.

Planning your visit

Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo lists its hours as 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., as listed on the park's website; hours like these can change, so confirm the current schedule before visiting. Ticket prices were not available in the material used for this page — check the official site for current rates and membership options. The park notes that school field trips are allowed earlier openings, and that some animals may not be visible when temperatures fall below 60 degrees.

Visitors can add a drive-through safari and feed experience to their visit, and pavilions are available to book for private parties and birthdays. A gift shop on-site sells animal-themed souvenirs. As with all details in this section, confirm hours, admission, and any seasonal notes on the park's official website before you go.