Farms and Zoos

All the animals at The Good Vibe Farm think they are dogs. Good, well trained dogs that come when you call their names. Even the ducks. And chickens. And goats. And horses. Definitely the pig. Maybe the turtles.

I am not exaggerating when I say that our tour guide would call the animals, by name, and they would quickly emerged from the sheds and barns and bushes and rush over to be fed by the kids.

The Good Vibe Farm is a small farm in Tomball that is open by appointment only, for tours and parties. You get to meet the fainting goats, rescued horses, chickens, donkeys, a pig and mini horses. Tours are about one hour each.

My kids were not sure what to expect when I drove them out to the farm… but after the tour they kept talking about how they liked that we had the place to ourselves, that we got to feed most of the animals by hand and that there was no rush. And also that the fainting goats smelled like terrible goat cheese. (Seriously, it was stinky and you need to smell it to believe it. Go, schedule a tour and smell the fainting goats. I dare you.)

To schedule a tour or a party, just head to The Good Vibe Farm Facebook page. (And don’t worry, just the fainting goats are stinky. The other goats and horses and miniature horses and chickens and pig don’t want you to worry.)

Also, you can find more Houston area farms HERE!

The Good Vibe Farm:

Address: 20702 Cypress Rosehill Rd. Tomball, TX 77377

More Houston Area Farms:

Get dirty at Houston area farms and zoos!

Whether you want to tour a working farm, go on a drive-thru safari, meet some animals or swing into piles of hay… the Houston area has plenty of farms and zoos ready to welcome you.

Find the long list below… and tell us what to add!

Working Farms:

These Houston area farms are working (or hobby) farms and provide tours and education.

• Agape Farm:
  • Located in Richards.
  • Schedule a tour.
• BeeWeaver:
  • Learn the basic biology of honey bees and the important steps in working a hive of bees.
  • For a small fee, BeeWeaver has public and private tours available.
  • Guest are protected in the screened in observation deck and the beekeeper explains the tools and practices of beekeeping… and the biology of the honey bee and parts of a hive.
• Figment Ranch:
  • Take a private tour of Figment Ranch and meet the llamas!
  • Make an appointment, take a golf cart tour through the ranch and learn about the animals.
  • For about an hour and a half you are escorted through the park and you get to pet, feed and learn about llamas, alpacas, emus, dwarf pygmy goats, sheep, turkeys, chickens, guinea hens, pigs, tortoises, ducks, dogs and cats.
• The Good Vibe Farm:
  • Schedule an appointment and take a private tour!
  • The tree covered tour lasts 1 hour and will be filled with fainting goats, horses, chickens, donkeys, a pig and mini horses.

Zoos and Drive-thru Safaris

At these Houston area farms and zoos, you either walk through to see the animals or you drive through and feed the animals from your car or a tram. (Many of these were sent to us, with their consent, by our friends at Fun2Go Misters. Go follow them for more ideas!)

• Aggieland Adventure Zoo & Safari Park:
  • Just under two hours from Houston, find a 250 acre drive-thru safari and 20 acres of walk-through zoo!
• Bayou Wildlife Park:
  • Right along a busy road, back behind the trees, is the Bayou Wildlife Zoo.
  • Here they have animals from 19 different countries, including locations in Africa, Asia, Australia, and North and South America.
  • Instead of staying in your car, you take a tram ride through the 86-acre property where exotic wildlife is allowed to roam.
• Crocodile Encounter:
  • Crocodile Encounter has alligators, crocodiles, tortoises and so much more.
  • You can take a guided tour, take a self-guided tour or organize a group field trip.
  • You can feed the giant tortoises and throw pellets to the alligators and, if you are on a tour, the tour guide feeds the big alligators and crocodiles. (Our favorite part is always feeding the giant tortoises!)
• Exotic Resort Zoo in Johnson City:
  • About three hours from Houston is the Exotic Resort Zoo at Johnson City.
  • Right now it is operating as a drive-through zoo only.
• Franklin Drive Thru Safari:
  • About a two hour drive from Houston is Franklin Drive Thru Safari.
  • At this 100 acre adventure park, you can feed and interact with exotic animals from around the world.
• Hatari Wildlife Park:
  • Not too far outside Houston is Hatari Wildlife Park! It includes a drive-thru safari and a shady walking trail with lots of room to explore.
  • You start at the drive-thru safari where you see bison, camels, lemurs and more. Then you get out of the car at the Explorers Retreat. Here you can visit the gift shop, dig for artifacts, pet some animals and feed the giraffes!
• Houston Zoo:
  • Located in Houston’s Museum District.
  • Find the long list of animals HERE.
  • Animal encounters are also available with a special ticket.
• Topsey Exotic Ranch:
  • A few hours from Houston is Topsey Exotic Ranch… where you can get up close to the animals without leaving your car!
  • Located on 350 acres, guests can experience wildlife in a natural setting.

Ag-Venture Farms

These Houston area farms have places to play, with big slides and hay piles and fun things to do. Some are only open seasonally.

• 7 Acrewood:
  • Located in Conroe.
  • Petting zoo, mini golf, pony rides and play town.
• Berryland :
  • Located in Winnie.
  • Open in the fall. Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, Hay Stack, Pumpkin Bowling, Candy Corn Hill and more.
• Blessington Farm:
  • Located in Simonton.
  • Open around the year (with some breaks between seasons).
  • Giant slides, barrel train rides, pedal cars and hands-on animal encounters with chickens, Baby Doll sheep, goats and many more. Feed camels, enjoy the walk-thru aviary and try the Gem Mining experience.
• Dewberry Farm: 
  • Located in Brookshire.
  • Open in the fall and winter.
  • Corn Maze, Pumpkins, Train Ride, Slide Mountain, Zip Lines, Pedal Cars and so much more!
• Froberg Farms:
  • Located in Alvin.
  • Market open all year. Seasonal events like corn maze, holiday festival and strawberry picking.
• Oil Ranch:
  • Located in Hockley.
  • All activities are included with admission price… milk a cow, ride a horse, climb the hay bales and so much more. Free pumpkins for kids. See our past post HERE.
• Old MacDonalds Farm:
  • Located in Humble.
  • Open for year-round fun on the farm.  
  • A 15 acre farm with petting zoo, pony rides, train ride and swimming pool.
• Old Time Christmas Time Farm:
  • Located in Spring.
  • Open in the fall and winter.
• P-6 Farms:
  • Located in Montgomery.
  • Open in the fall and spring.
• TGR Exotics: 
  • Located in Spring.
  • 100 animals representing over 25 species.

Houston Area Farms Map:

Take a drive to Aggieland Adventure Zoo and Safari Park! Just under two hours from Houston, find a 250 acre drive-thru safari and 20 acres of walk-through zoo!

Just look at the pictures from Fun2Go Misters!

Almost everything is included in admission, but not the animal feeding experiences. For this you can purchase the feed onsite.

In the Aggieland walk-through zoo, there are exhibits housing over 150 mammals, birds, and reptiles. In the Aggieland drive-through safari, you can see hundreds of animals and feed them from your car.

There is also a covered pavilion where the giraffes might just pop in while you relax.

Look at the photos below! Also, you can find more Houston area farms HERE!

Aggieland Adventure Zoo & Safari Park:

Address: 18075 FM974, Bryan, TX 77808

More Houston Area Farms:

Take a private tour of Figment Ranch and meet the llamas!

Fun2Go Misters went and says this is a sweet gem in Houston. And if you ask her toddler, she really enjoyed visiting and feeding the hairy giraffes!

Did you know that llamas can live up to 20 years, that llamas and alpacas do not have upper front teeth and llamas are much smarter than alpacas?

Make an appointment, take a golf cart tour through the ranch and learn about the animals. For about an hour and a half you are escorted through the park and you get to pet, feed and learn about llamas, alpacas, emus, dwarf pygmy goats, sheep, turkeys, chickens, guinea hens, pigs, tortoises, ducks, dogs and cats.

Learn more about Figment Farms HERE… and see more pictures below! Also, you can find more Houston area farms HERE!

Figment Ranch:

Address: 17102 Mueschke Rd., Cypress, TX 77433

More Houston Farms:

Not too far outside Houston is Hatari Wildlife Park! It includes a drive-thru safari and a shady walking trail with lots of room to explore.

Take a look at pictures from Fun2Go Misters!

At the park, you start at the drive-thru safari where you see bison, camels, lemurs and more.

Then you get out of the car at the Explorers Retreat. Here you can visit the gift shop, dig for artifacts, pet some animals and feed the giraffes! (See more HERE!)

Preview all the the animals HERE and look at the pictures from Fun2Go Misters below!

Hatari Wildlife Park:

Address: 1145 Co Rd 218, Weimar, TX 78962

More Houston Area Farms:

A few hours from Houston is Topsey Exotic Ranch… where you can get up close to the animals without leaving your car! Located on 350 acres, guests can experience wildlife in a natural setting.

Just look at pictures from Fun2Go Misters pictures!

When you arrive, there is a little building where you pay admission and buy food for the animals. After this, you drive through the trails and the animals come to you. Just watch for the very friendly camel that will stick his head through your window and nose around your car!

At Topsey Exotic Ranch, you can stay in your car, away from others, unless you decide to visit the gift shop or the petting zoo. (Masks are required in these spots.)

Look at pictures from Fun2Go Misters pictures and go HERE to learn more. Also, you can find more Houston area farms HERE!

Topsey Exotic Ranch:

Address: 945 Co Rd 118, Copperas Cove, TX 76522

More Houston Area Farms:

About three hours from Houston is the Exotic Resort Zoo. Right now this Johnson City zoo is operating as a drive-through zoo only.

We’ve been looking for fun, social distanced things to do around Houston… and look what Janie from Fun2Go Misters sent us!

At this Exotic Resort Zoo at Johnson City, you pull up to the gift shop and someone will meet you at the car window. Here you can purchase tickets and food for the animals. Find the map and meet all the animals HERE.

Take a look at the pictures below… and if you are looking for more social distanced things to do, go HERE! Also, you can find more Houston area farms HERE!

Exotic Resort Zoo in Johnson City:

Address: 235 Zoo Trail, Johnson City, Texas 78636

Find more Houston area farms:

Drive Thru the Franklin Safari! About a two hour drive from Houston is Franklin Drive Thru Safari. At this 100 acre adventure park, you can feed and interact with exotic animals from around the world.

We’ve been looking for fun, social distanced things to do around Houston… and look what Janie from Fun2Go Misters sent us!

At the park, one person needs to get out of the car for admission. Card and cash are accepted. After that, you drive through in your own vehicle. (You do have the option of getting out of the car to view some animals, and you need to wear a mask outside.)

Take a look at the pictures below… and if you are looking for more social distanced things to do, go HERE!

Franklin Drive Thru Safari:

Address: 4324 W Hwy 79, Franklin, TX 77856 (About 2 hours from Houston.)

More Houston Area Farms: