3 Palms Zoo & Education Center — Attraction in Smyrna

🚫 Skip this place unless you enjoy being insulted at the door. 🚫

I had read reviews on other sites about the rude man at the entrance, and unfortunately, our visit confirmed them.

When we arrived, my husband explained we were a family of five, including our baby who is 9 months old. Instead of simply charging the admission, the man looked at my daughter and said, “Wow, she looks big for 9 months.”

This was not an innocent observation—it was a shady, backhanded way of suggesting we were lying about her age so he could charge us. For the record, my daughter is absolutely 9 months old—small for her age, no teeth, not walking, sitting in a stroller with a pacifier. His comment was unnecessary, insulting, and immediately set a negative tone.

If the policy is that everyone pays—even infants—then state that clearly. Don’t make rude remarks about a child’s appearance or insinuate dishonesty. I even offered to pay the $6, because he clearly wanted and needed it EVEN THOUGH SHE ISNT ONEEEE but instead of being straightforward, he backtracked he didn’t say it like that blah blah. Nah, dude ya did. We aren’t in the financial position where we have to lie about our daughter’s age to get into a makeshift towny zoo. We don’t have to do that - idk if that’s your typical clientele, but it isn’t us. We just moved here from our West, and this is the exact person I don’t ever want to run into again. Alligators? This dude looks like he may have some other things in that alligator pit.

For a place that depends on families visiting, this kind of treatment is unacceptable. If you choose to come here, be prepared for a rude encounter before you even get inside.

We won’t be returning, and I would not recommend this “zoo” to anyone who values basic respect. To the owner: your mouth is bad for your business, friend. Was it worth 6 bucks? Say it w your chest next time instead of masking your BS with shadiness. Next time, maybe save the commentary, because you might run into someone like me who is actually confrontational right back at you....

3 Palms Zoo is a petting zoo full of rescued and abandoned animals. The people running it are doing great work and support from visitors helps them to be able to continue operating.

They have a donkey named Dominick, 2 llamas, a sheep, cows, goats, pigs, a skunk, rabbits, giant tortoises, lots of turtles, 2 prairie dogs, 2 alligators, a racoon, a coyote, foxes, 2 emus, 2 vultures, 2 pelicans, pigeons, chickens, turkeys, pheasants, peacocks, all types of geese, and some other types of birds.

They have seasonal events for Halloween, Christmas, Easter, and Christmas in July. Admission for the events is the same price as regular admission, which is only $6 a person, and they offer scoops of dry food for only $1 per scoop.

This is a great place to visit with kids or just...

The staff was incredibly welcoming and friendly, creating a comfortable atmosphere from the start. They were also very knowledgeable about the animals and their habitats, which made the visit both fun and educational. The space itself was just the right size—not too overwhelming—especially for first-time visitors and young children.

Pros: A wonderful opportunity for little ones to be introduced to a variety of animals in a hands-on, approachable way.

Cons: The grounds could use some improvement in terms of cleanliness and landscaping. Since most of the visit involves walking on grass, a more manicured space would enhance the overall experience.

I’ll definitely be returning with my younger grandchildren—they will have...