Branson's Promised Land Zoo — Attraction in Branson

OK, first of all...if you run across a "one star" type review...take a good read. You'll find that it's written out of ignorance, and is most likely tied to the fact that they don't like that this is a Christian run zoo with Christian themes throughout - not "in your face", but present and unmistakable. Oh, and BECAUSE they are faith based, they take their job of caring for God's creation very seriously.

That said, MY review: My daughter and I took the Ultimate VIP...or Ultimate Excursion tour. This is kind of pricey...REALLY pricey for what you'd think of for a "zoo", but I'm so glad we did it! To me, I look at return on investment...the return is intrinsic, and was well worth it. My daughter - 12 years old - had an amazing time (and so did I). As part of our experience, we were able to participate in a small animal encounter - holding a baby kangaroo, an armadillo, guinea pigs (not "exotic" but as a person who's had multiple guinea pigs in the past...they're just cute), baby mini-pigs, a snake if you want (not me, thanks!), etc. Two employees worked with a small group to explain some information about the animals, and helped with ensuring we did things right. Then, as part of the VIP tour, you go on the tram with the group to take a tour through the zoo. As part of the Ultimate package, you have a private tour on an ATV. Our tour was given by the owner's son-in-law (can't remember his name...I'm terrible with name, sorry!), and was awesome! It starts in the gift shop, and although small gestures, they were very appreciated: grab a free drink, here's a pack of beef jerky, get a complementary picture in the ATV. We had a big bucket of food, and small pails to refill to feed the animals, and then we drove around the zoo. He explained all sorts of interesting facts about the animals in general, the animals specifically, their zoo vs. typical zoos, etc. You can really tell they care about these animals, he knew the back story of so many of them. We were able to drive up into certain areas that you can't get to except on that tour, and had crazy emus put their heads right in the cart just attacking the pails of food. We were laughing - it was funny! We had buffalo, cows, camels, various exotic deer, etc. come up to the car and eat out of our pails while we petted them. Then we stopped at the giraffe enclosure and were able to feed...him (?) a couple heads of Romaine. It was great. Then he dropped us off at a small building with various small animals, handed us off to another employee who took us into the sloth enclosure, where we fed them strips of cucumber. Those creatures are too cool (including the baby). Then we went into the crazy lemur enclosure - they'll jump right on you, climb around...try to pick your pockets... We finished the day by walking around the rest of the zoo, back to the front. Here's my ONE negative. I'm a hat collector...they didn't have any hats for sale! I'll probably live though. lol. You definitely need to go to this, it's a good zoo, with caring people, healthy animals, great back stories of rescues, and a fantastic experience. Thank you all! ...

A copy of my complaint to the USDA- This place needs to be closed down! On March 31,2024, I visited The Promised Land Zoo located at 2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expy in Branson, MO 65616. I am filing this complaint because the conditions the animals are living in is deplorable. I contacted the Missouri Humane Society and they told me to contact the USDA because in spite of the conditions and neglect occurring they have no legal authority to remove the animals. I have never witnessed animals being kept in worse conditions. There were cattle sleeping in their own feces because the enclosure was covered in excrement and they had no other choice. Many of the exhibits were in similar condition, very filthy, mountains of feces and a very strong smell of urine. They have a reptile and small animal barn with little to no ventilation. The enclosures were dirty in this area as well and the smell of urine was so strong that it was difficult to remain in the building for more than a few minutes. The alligator exhibit is several alligators in a reservoir that has no water in it and no way to see in or out. There is an unsecured wooden panel that guests can lift to view the alligators. When the panel is lifted, there is nothing between you and the alligators. A small child could easily get into the exhibit and an adult could easily get bitten. They have a Lion and Tiger sharing an exhibit that is less than half the size of a basketball court. The zoo itself has a lot of acreage but most of it is fenced off and unused. The animal enclosures are small, poorly constructed (some are held together by old twisted wire), filthy and covered in excrement. Many animals themselves do not look healthy at all. They are way under weight with bones jutting out and ribs clearly visible. They look sick and sad. Their coats are matted with feces from being forced to lay in it. There were even animals eating feces. The enclosures appeared to all have water tanks or bowls for the animals but more of them were empty than full. There were very few that had any type of food in their enclosures and the ones that did it looked to be rotting and very old. Most of the animals looked severely malnourished, and there is no doubt they are being forced to live in unsanitary, deplorable conditions. There is a Patagonian Cavy that is skeletal and looks like it's ears have rotted off from infection. The poor Camel is so thin and malnourished that he was struggling to support his own weight. There was not one animal there that looked happy or healthy. This is not a zoo, it is a house of torture. No living creature deserves to live in the conditions these animals are FORCED to live in. I did not personally contact the zoo because after reading several of their responses to reviews that shared my concerns, they only made excuses and called the reviews lies. They aren't lies. The conditions at this so called zoo are unimaginable. If you can't help them I pray...

If I could give zero stars that is what I would do. My daughter and I were so excited to take my 2 year old granddaughter to the Promised Land Zoo. I mean with the name it had to be wonderful as they are God's creatures.

When I pulled up I told my daughter I thought it was odd the zoo was in the middle of town and looked like a shopping mall. We got our tickets and walked in. We fed the parakeets which was fun but while in there a worker made a very loud sound in the porcupine enclosure and all the parakeets flew up and would not eat the treats we had or fly anywhere. It was almost like they had been trained to get quit flying and get off the floor. We then started down the trail feeding the other animals but something just didn't feel right. I kept looking around and looking at my daughter like something just isn't right.

Some of the animals were just pacing back and forth looking anxious. The lion was in a small enclosure with a small area for shade. The lion and the tiger have their signs up next to each other as if they're supposed to be in the same enclosure, which isn't okay. There was a goat in the pin with a small zebra and the goat was standing on his hind legs trying to get food out of the container that was up too high. There were miniature ponies with the llamas, and the llamas looked too small. There were two animals that I don't even know what they were they just laid there didn't want any food and one of them looked like they were hot and needed water. The monkeys looked sad and anxious.

I have been to several zoos and I have never seen one like this. These animals are not being treated as God intended as the signs around the zoo states. None of the animals looked like they were thriving. We only made it about 30 minutes in the zoo and were ready to leave. I spent 75.00 for two adults and a 2 year old. I am more upset that my money helped support this place than I am spending 75.00 for 30 minutes. Before the owner/director suggests we should've upgraded our tickets, we knew what we were paying for - I am just appalled at these animal's living conditions. I didn't bother driving through. I know that the director/owner is going to say that I am an animal rights activist terrorist as she has in other posts that she does not like or that I am against faith-based. This is just not true. I also saw that she goes on here and makes sure she copy and pastes a good review and five stars to every bad review.

So to this director/owner that tried to get AZA accredited and was denied who has scriptures posted around and who likes to say people are slamming you because you are faith based: just do what is right for these animals. From what I saw the animals that spend 40 days and 40 nights on an ark were probably happier than the animals that are at Promised Land Zoo. And before you say it YES animals can look happy and healthy just like they can look sad and unhealthy. Anyone that says they cannot look sad shouldn't...