Southwick's Zoo — Attraction in Mendon

This Zoo is fantastic. Overall we spent 5 hours here on our trip. We went on a weekday in summer and always had a good view of the animals. Its worth the drive (We drove about 1 hour to get there). Shops and Food: This Zoo has a large gift shop, and many smaller gift shops scattered throughout the park. They have alot of cool and unique items, however - we were disappointed they did not have any pins (as we collect) that had the name of the zoo on them. The have a full service restaurant: Galliford's Restaurant & Tavern and several smaller places to grab a bite or snacks scattered around the park. We chose to have a sit down meal in Galliford's because it was so hot about halfway through our trip. We got a stamp on our hands and wound our way up the stairs (there is also an elevator) to the restaurant. You get stamped when you enter through the zoo so you can get back in. You can also just go and eat at this restaurant without going into the zoo. The service was attentive and very friendly. The food was REALLY good. Highly recommend. This zoo is one of the most interactive I've seen. It does not hold a lot of 'dead space' that you see in some zoos. There are multiple viewing points for most exhibits and you can be much closer to the animals than in other zoos. We were super entertained the whole time. Attractions: One of the most fun exhibits was the Deer Park. It has a big walking trail (if you just want a nice stroll in the woods filled with deer.) We chose to stay on the small main trail and use one of the corn feeding machines to get a handful of corn (50 cents). I do not recommend this for anyone who has a fear of animals or very small children (unless held by parents). There deer will come right up to you and eat out of your hands (does and stags). They can be a bit pushy so be prepared. Bring wet wipes/hand wipes for afterwards as there is no hand washing station in the exhibit. The zoo also offers shows, pony rides, camel rides (weight limit is around 180 lbs for the camel ride), small reptile and insect house, animal themed automated riding scooters, and a 2-person seated automated zipline (had a pretty hard stop - so be mindful). NOISE WARNING- if you are sensitive to loud or sudden noises - wear noise reducing ear plugs - especially in the vicinity of the zipline because it is quite loud. Make sure to see the: White rhinos, snow leopard, cotton-topped tamarin, Kangaroos, Giraffe and deer! Vibes: There are also several older and defunct attractions at the zoo- like themed water fountains, county fair-esk rides etc. When we went (July) randomly christmas music was playing and there were (very few) christmas themed displays scattered around the zoo (Maybe Christmas in July?). The zoo has a quirky vibe. Parking: Huge lots are available adjacent to the zoo entrance. This is so far my favorite zoo in MA (out of the three total I've been to.) It's overall interactive-ness, animal close ups, surprise exhibits (think that is just a little stone wall? Take a look over it - it might just be turtles! or an armadillo!), access to quality food and ease of parking made it a...

Recently visited Southwick's Zoo and left heartbroken. I'll start this review by saying after some research I found out that Southwick is not AZA accredited, meaning that this place is not certified to have the standards required for any sort of animal welfare. Many of the animals, especially the primates, looked visibly depressed or distressed. I witnessed a monkey being harassed by a visitor. The animal was jumping and rattling the fence in obvious agitation and there were no zookeepers present, only teen employees who seemed unequipped to handle it and who were only working by the food.

For a zoo that keeps critically endangered species specifically primates like gibbons (Siamangs, White-Handed Gibbons), lemurs, and the Cotton Top Tmarin which is critically endangered. It is shocking that there's no indication of participation in real conservation or rehabilitation programs, meaning all the primates this zoo acquires will be in captivity for life.

Without trained staff or clear protections for animals, this feels more like an entertainment attraction than a facility that prioritizes animal welfare. There was a large group of teens by the Siamang enclosure trying to touch the animal as the animal was reaching out of the chain fence that kept in inside (the animal was also showing signs of distress, bearing teeth, and biting the fence).

When leaving the zoo with my partner, witnessed a man immitating monkey sounds at the Black Crested Mangabey's enclosure. The animal was clearly in distress, leaping back and forth between one of the "trees" and the fence where the man and his family laughed. I cried watching that monkey, and I hope others will consider this before visiting. These animals deserve enrichment, safety, and care from professionals. The zoo also has music playing loudly from speakers near the animals, no staff or eduactors by the enclosures, and a the constant background noise of children. These animals should not to be trapped as photo ops in...

The Christmas experience that Southwick Zoo creates is both pleasant visually and audibly. Many lights and decorations serve as guides for navigating the different attractions as well provide spectacular photo opportunities. While exploring the different areas of the Zoo you will hear very pleasant, holiday themed music over the speakers that being you to a place of absolute holiday bliss. Understandibly many of the animals were relocated and their habitats left vacant, however the reptile room provides a glimpse into life as a cold blooded reptile. Additionally the petting zoo allowed first hand experience with many small goats that were more than willing to make you feel appreciated if you spend .50¢ at the pellet vending machine. (Side note the aforementioned vending machine was the only drawback from the southwick zoo experience, it is only .50 however when you are down to your last two quarters and you have a rambunctious 7 year old that wants to feed his, "favorite goat friend" and the machine doesn't dispense any pellets and making a scene about losing two quarters at a petting zoo doesn't seem like a worthwhile endeavor, it will be ALL you hear about on the drive home.) Lastly two attractions that were entertaining were the virtual reality Santa sleigh adventure. $5 per person and lasts about 4-6 minutes. Well worth the price and even with admittedly low expectations, was thoroughly pleased with the outcome. And the "Frozen" themed show put on by staff. The performers were very talented singers and did an impressive job recreating the songs from the Disney film. Seating was first come, first serve and consisted of highschool sport type metallic bleachers that without the provided carpet swatches would have been too wet to sit. But what can you expect from a show that comes with the price of admission at a zoo? Overall the experience was recommended and enjoyable. Provides a couple hours of entertainment for families with or without...