Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge — Attraction in Eureka Springs

Edit: I have tried a few times to email the email provided in the response and it failing to deliver. I sent an email on the general contact page of the website and still have not received a response. We really enjoyed (parts of) our field trip. It was very informative, our son loved it and they are doing a lot of great work for these animals. The only thing I have that left us very frustrated was the lack of transparency and communication. The first was the over charge. After talking with the school, the price of admission we were all told was in fact correct for the $15 entry fee. The facility sent the paper work to the school with $15, not the $25 they told us we had to pay (they got into the email of the teacher who set it up to confirm). The facility told us the school used last years pricing and our teacher signed for $25 which was not correct. I brought $30 cash for entry but thankfully my husband had the rest or we wouldn't have been able to get in. Other parents had to get money sent to them to make up the difference. Things happen and I get it! It goes towards a good cause, we happened to have it (thankfully) so it was ok, we moved on. **The thing I was the MOST upset about was my husband not being able to rejoin us. Our toddler had to go to the bathroom and there are no restrooms on the tour. The tour guide told my husband how to get to the restroom at the gift shop and told him he could group hop to get back to us since there were a few groups behind us. We confirmed he could rejoin us before he left. They would NOT allow him to rejoin us. They said it was unsafe and he couldnt go back to our group. So, in that case he should have been escorted back but they didn't. He missed the ENTIRE field trip (he only saw the cats up front) after being charged more than what they agreed upon with the school AND after confirming that he could rejoin the group. I am also very pregnant (with complications) and had a very hard time going down then back up the trail and needed my husbands help but he wasnt there. He took off work to come to help me with this field trip so we could all go but was absent because they refused to let him back with us. There was no misunderstanding either as all of the other parents heard her tell him he could rejoin us and our son was extremely upset that his dad and brother didnt get to come with us. There has to be some kind of consideration made that restrooms are needed along the tour because it isn't a short tour. And as well as communication with the tour guide that told him he could rejoin us. There has to be some kind procedure put in place for those who get seperated from their group. (We showed up very early to make sure we were our group as they requested). While it was very fun and if we have the money we would have liked to go again in the future, (they really are doing these cats a great service) the lack of transparency and communication was extremely disheartening so we may not be back. We couldn't even get a refund for the over charge once the school informed us it was correct. The other parents that went to recieve the refund were given attitude which was...

Our family absolutely love coming here. The interpreters are always super friendly and knowledgeable. Our room is always clean. We always spend the night and take two (free) tours while we stay.

We like the 4pm tour because it's the last tour of the day and the cats seem more active. We've also noticed more activity at the 9am tour as well. The tours generally last about 45 minutes. There is also plenty to see on foot after the tour is over, as well as a gift shop.

We stay in the Tree House and it is very unique. The kids love climbing a ladder to their loft beds. The loft is tall enough for an adult to stand up in (at least in the center). The beds are just mattresses on the floor but the kids say they're quite comfortable.

The queen bed downstairs isn't my favorite, I have to admit. When two people are in the bed it seems to make you gravitate towards the middle. However, opening the windows and being able to hear lions caroling nearby makes up for it.

The room comes quite well stocked. They provide breakfast items, a microwave, plenty of coffee, tea, an extra fan, TV with a few channels, plates and cups, plastic cutlery, paper towels, and even a wine bottle opener.

I must also mention the bathroom. There isn't much of one to speak of. It does come well stocked with a hairdryer, plenty of soap and shampoo, and makeup removers... but it is very, very small. Very. Small.

The private deck in back is very nice. There is a table with four chairs and it's a perfect place to spend the evening if the weather is nice.

All in all, if you are a cat person, I thoroughly recommend Turpentine Creek. It's an experience...

I had an amazing time here. We stayed in one of the lodges. It was super cute and spacious enough to enjoy hanging out in when we were not on the tour or out and about. Everything was very clean and felt welcoming as soon as we walked in.

The tours were wonderful. We got two tours per person included with our stay. We took the last tour of the day on the day that we arrived. We got off the tour in time to see them feeding some of the animals in the discovery area, which was so cool. The next morning we took the first tour of the day and got to see them doing some of the behavioral work with the animals and that was really amazing to see. We heard the lions caroling every morning and evening that we were there, which was something that I had been looking forward to.

Everyone who worked there was really friendly, and seemed to genuinely enjoy being there. The tour was very informative and it really sheds light on what these animals have been through before finding their forever homes. The animal areas were very clean and the animals seemed relaxed and happy.

I could not be more supportive and thankful that this place and more like it exist. Remember to do your research before visiting sanctuaries, as not all of them are like Turpentine Creek, which is a true and accredited sanctuary. I will definitely be returning in the future, and Turpentine Creek will now be on my annual donation list. Thank you for all that you do for these incredible animals, and for the education that you provide to...