Branson's Promised Land Zoo Review

To give a review of Branson’s Promised Land Zoo, I must first provide a bit of context. If you’ve never been to Branson, my view is that it is a complete tourist trap. Outside of a charming downtown area, it’s full of expensive shows and attractions. With that in mind, this zoo fits right in. It is still enjoyable, but is more pricy than your typical zoo. It also doesn’t scream conservation like most zoos do (and should). The zoo offers both a drive-thru and walking portion, both of which I found enjoyable. The owners are Christians and have bible verses printed on signs throughout the grounds. The best part of this zoo is probably the hands-on interactions that one can experience.

Highlights:

Animal feedings – this was the first time we were able to get up close and feed emus, kangaroos, and duikers; we have fed camels, goats, and parikeets at other zoos, but while that wasn’t unique it was still a nice experience
Drive-thru – I really like drive thru zoos because it gives you the aspect of being on the animals’ territory. The animals had a lot of room, and we liked seeing the different types of cattle and buffalo that they have
Small animal house – by the drive-through portion of the zoo is a small animal house, where you can pet several different animals. This was very enjoyable

Lows:

Big Cats – this was the first time I’ve ever seen a lion and a tiger in the same exhibit – actually sharing a living space. There’s no way they had enough room
Parakeets – I know cleanliness isn’t something you’ll find at every zoo, but the parakeet exhibit had mice all over the place – that was a bit tough to deal with when you’re supposed to be feeding the animals
Connection between the two parts of the zoo – the “walking adventure” connects to the drive-thru portion of the zoo via a long walking path – probably about a half mile; although the walk wasn’t terrible, it’s completely unnecessary as you can get out and park during the drive-thru portion. So if you visit here, do the walking part, then do the drive-thru – don’t connect to one from the other