Disclosure: My family and I were given free admission to the Colorado Gator Farm in return for our honest review. All opinions are our own.
Last week on our road trip to Canon City Colorado to visit the Royal Gorge Bridge we took a little detour to Mosca Colorado so see some Gators!! Mosca Colorado is between Alamosa and Salida Colorado. It was a bit out of our way but since we were in the southern Colorado area we decided we had to stop and see this fun place called the Colorado Gator Farm!
What Is The Colorado Gator Farm?
The Colorado Gator Farm is one of Alamosa’s most unique attractions. Using the geothermal waters of the valley in this area of Colorado, the owners decided to start their very own Tilapia farm in 1977. Instead of throwing away the dead fish, in 1987 they bought 100 baby alligators to take care of the fish remains naturally. These baby alligators grew fast in the warm, geothermal waters and locals started asking if they could see them. The Gator Farm opened to the public in 1990, showcasing their tilapia ponds and enormous alligators.This farm has also become an Exotic Animal Refuge. They have received dozens of unwanted, illegal, and abused reptiles from all over; giving the refuge not only alligators, but tortoises, iguanas, poisonous snakes, and giant snapping turtles.
When we first drove up to the Colorado Gator Farm we were quickly reminded that this is a working farm. Yes, there are bugs, it is dusty, and it smells. They warn you as you walk in, so they know. HA! After you pay for your admission, you get to start meeting all kinds of reptiles that live on the Gator Farm. Our first friend was an 18 year old Tortoise. The kids loved him, and he loved the food they gave him. These guys are all over the farm, and are pretty friendly.
Not all of these reptiles and exotic creatures were things we could hold, touch and feed. Scorpions, spiders, poisonous snakes and mean lizards were those that we just looked at through the glass. Now, the corn snakes were different. These guys are friendly…I guess. Jude did not hesitate when the employee asked if he wanted to hold the corn snakes. He was so brave and had a great time when he had two of them on him. That smile says it all!
At first Teagan was not going to touch those snakes but after Jeremy held one and she pet it, she decided she could hold him too. Sure enough! She did it!! Brave girl!
While visiting the farm, you follow a path through a number of buildings. In these buildings you get to see all kinds of creatures along with the gators. I especially thought the orange iguana was pretty cool!
The kids especially loved feeding the Gators some gator chow. The gator chow is available for purchase when you first walk into the farm. One bucket was plenty for our two kids. The kids thought it was great when the gators would move to get the chow. I on the other hand was freaked out at how their eyes could see that tiny piece of chow and get it quickly in the water.
The Colorado Gator Farm has over 200 gators on property. CRAZY! They are in every body of water around the farm; all gated of course. It is pretty fun to see the different sizes. Some of the gators are babies and others are over 25 years old and GIANT!
Every guest that comes into the farm has the opportunity to take a picture with an alligator – you can even hold her! This one pictured below that Jude is proudly holding is named Ali. She is a baby but was surprisingly heavy. It was a fun family photo to take a picture with an alligator.
General Information:
9162 CR 9 N
Mosca, CO, 81146
719-378-2612OPEN EVERY DAY!
Summer Hours (May 26 – September 3): 9 am – 6 pm
Fall Hours (September 4 – November 5): 9 am – 5 pm
Winter Hours (November 6 – February 28): 10 am – 4 pm
Summer Hours (May 26 – September 3): 9 am – 6 pm
Fall Hours (September 4 – November 5): 9 am – 5 pm
Winter Hours (November 6 – February 28): 10 am – 4 pm
ADMISSION PRICES:
Children ages 5 and under: FREE
Children ages 6 – 15: $7.50
Adults ages 16 – 64: $15.00
Seniors ages 65 – 79: $7.50
Seniors ages 80 and over: FREE
We had such a great time at the Colorado Gator Farm on our family trip. It was a great experience for the kids and they have not stopped talking holding the snakes and alligator. This was a great last stop on our family road trip last week. If you are ever in this area, please add this to your itinerary. You and your kids will really enjoy it.
Stay Connected With The Gators:
Have you visited a farm like this before?
Is it wrong that I want to toss a bunch of things into the car and head out? I figure it would only take me about 3 days to drive there, but hey, it will be worth it right? Love seeing and learning about wildlife!
How neat! I didn't realize there was a gator farm in Colorado. Looks like your kids had a great time. You're right, that baby gator does look really heavy!
My kids would have a blast visiting the gator farm. Now as for me, I would be so scared lol! I can't believe your son is holding that little gator, what a brave young man. That gator do look heavy…lol
Wow, that looks like so much fun and the kids are learning so much! I bet it is an experience they will never forget. How brave they were to hold the gator and snakes!
My daughter is absolutely obsessed with alligators. We have a gator farm here in Michigan that we have gone and helped pull the gators out of the warming shed (where they stay for the winter) and she helped clean them off and put them in the water. It's one of our favorite places to go!
We went to a similar farm when we visited Davao. We saw huge alligators in their natural habitat and thought they're interesting when they seem to not move at all. They're pretty scary though when they open their mouth.
Odd place for a gator farm. Interesting to read the origins.
What a fun family adventure! The kids are so brave, I would probably be freaking out holding a snake! I'm not the biggest fan of reptiles, but my little sister loves all animals. I would love to bring her here
What a cool and fun family adventure. Your kiddos seem to love holding all of those reptiles.
What an awesome adventure for the whole family! I also loved that orange iguana.
What an awesome place! I love that they take in unwanted pets. It's so hard to rehome reptiles. It looks like you guys had a real blast!
How cool is this?! I think of gator farms in Florida, not Colorado. How genius of them to even think of alligators to solve their fish problem. I'm sure my grandson would love to visit, but it might be a boy trip. I'm deathly afraid of snakes and all things slimy or with scales! (ps: Such a fun family photo with the baby) x
What a memorable experience! I'd love to visit a gator farm like that someday. I find critters like that interesting.