The Preserve

About The Preserve

The Preserve is an exotic animal sanctuary at 650 Double Horn Rd. near Fredericksburg, Texas, in the Hill Country. It operates on a reservation basis rather than as a walk-in zoo: visitors book a guided, interactive experience in advance through the website. The Preserve's stated focus is "contact, caring and conservation." Its charitable arm, Friends of the Preserve, is a 501(c)(3) organization that describes its aim as protecting endangered species and inspiring the next generation of conservationists. The Preserve is not AZA accredited.

Two experiences are offered: the Elephant Experience, available year-round, and the Animal Expedition, offered seasonally. The website describes the Preserve as dedicated to expanding elephant education, knowledge and conservation, and as working on innovations in elephant care and husbandry. The site also lists a gift shop and an event venue called Seasons Event Space.

History

The Preserve's FAQ names its founders as the Johnsons and says each has more than 50 years of experience with elephants. According to the FAQ, the elephants have been with the family for decades and came from zoos or animal parks around the United States. Kitty, born in 1967, has been with the family since 1990; Rosie, born in 1984, and Becky, born in 1987, have been with the family since 1994. The FAQ says the key people who work directly with the elephants have been with the team for between 16 and 25 years, and that some are graduates of the Exotic Animal Training and Management program at Moorpark College.

The Preserve holds an Animal Welfare license from the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and says it receives at least two unannounced inspections a year. It states that it is accredited and inspected by the Zoological Association of America.

Exhibits and habitats

The Elephant Experience is a guided outdoor walking tour of about an hour and a half. The Preserve says guests meet Asian elephants, learn about their care and conservation, help bathe an elephant, and learn about grooming and foot care, with time for photographs. The Preserve's family guide names four elephants: Rosie, Becky, Kitty and Sophie. The FAQ describes a daily routine that begins at 7 a.m. with outdoor time while the barn is cleaned, followed by walks, stretching and training, a scrub with stiff brushes, and turnout to roam, graze or paint. The FAQ also says the only way to see the elephants is to book an Elephant Experience. The website calls them ambassadors and educators and says elephants in human care play a role in preventing the species' extinction.

The Animal Expedition is a walking tour of about an hour and fifteen minutes. The Preserve describes it as a walkabout through animals from two continents, Australia and Africa. The experience page lists kangaroos, wallabies and Australian birds in an area called the Australian Walkabout, ending with the giraffes, which guests can feed and photograph. The family guide adds porcupines and tortoises, and says guests can pet some of the animals.

Conservation and programs

Friends of the Preserve is the nonprofit supporting the Preserve's conservation and education work. The website states that elephants' native habitats are under constant threat and presents the elephant program as education about that threat. The FAQ says the Preserve's elephants take part in scientific studies, and that the Preserve serves on the Board of Directors of the International Elephant Foundation and contributes to conservation projects and research.

Planning your visit

The FAQ suggests checking the weather for Stonewall, Texas, and says Fredericksburg is about 15 miles away. Bookings run through an online reservation system, and schedules are posted two to three months in advance, with new months added around the first of each month. As listed on the Preserve's website, the Elephant Experience runs year-round, rain or shine, and the Animal Expedition is offered on Saturdays from April through November. The family guide says that on Saturdays the two experiences can be booked together, with an elephant slot at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. and an expedition slot at 4 p.m. Ticket and pricing details are on the Preserve's website.

According to the FAQ, gates open 30 minutes before each experience and the Elephant Experience starts on time. Children 13 and under must be accompanied by an older guest, and children 14 and older may visit unaccompanied. Closed-toe shoes are recommended, shaded parking is not available, and pets are not permitted, though service animals are welcome. A ticket is required for everyone who enters, and there is no waiting area. The FAQ says wheelchairs and walkers are welcome on the Elephant Experience but not recommended on the Animal Expedition; the family guide adds that the paths are decomposed granite with benches, that strollers work on both experiences, and that motorized wheelchairs handle the Expedition. Restrooms, complimentary water and packaged snacks are available on site. The Preserve does not offer refunds but allows ticket transfers for a fee. The listed phone number is (830) 992-0373.