Lazy 5 Ranch
add photosLocated 30 minutes from Charlotte, the Lazy 5 Ranch is now the home for over 750 animals from 6 continents. These animals can be viewed everyday of the year by horse drawn wagon or from your vehicle while traveling along a 3-1/2 mile safari ride.
Additional fees if you choose to ride the horse drawn wagon
28 Reviews for Lazy 5 Ranch
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"go in early spring!"
and see the babies! We've been going up here about once a year since my kids were very little. You can walk around and see birds, prairie dogs, & such - monkeys & parrots when it's warm, and feed the camels, goats, etc. Get in your car or take a wagon ride and drive through - it's such fun - the ostriches have no fear of people and WANT THAT FOOD so hold on to your bucket! Most of the animals come right up to your car for a treat - there are only a few that you can't feed (big horns & zebras). They have a very small gift shop and ice cream for sale so if you're hungry, eat before you go. A wonderful, not overly commercialized experience!
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"drive thru zoo"
This is like going to a zoo in your car or on a wagon. You can drive in your car and the animals will come right up to your car, some will even stick their heads in your car so be careful. We went on a school field trip and went on a wagon ride through the park. We got to feed some exotic animals that you don't normally get to do. It was alot of fun and is a reasonable price.
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"Neat Place."
Lazy 5 Ranch is a great place to take the kids and see some exotic animals. This place is big for school field trips so its definitely kid friendly. They have a surprising number of animals here and you can drive through and get pretty close to them all. The llamas are always a hit with the kids. Its not quite the NC Zoo but in some ways its a little more intimate and you can really get up close to the animals.
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"bribed with food"
This is like a drive thru zoo. The animals actually will come up to your vehicle so you can feed them, BUT thats the only reason they come around...they know they are getting fed and I think it's dangerous and sad really that they are so dependant on their grain buckets, etc. Watch out though, they can also damage the paint on your vehicle and since there are signs posted warning you its drive at your own risk.
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"Great Family Fun"
We have visited this site twice and had a great time both visits. There are lots of animals that come right up to your vehicle to be fed. The emus will, indeed, try to stick their heads in the window but that was one of our favorite parts! Our 4 year old would shout the warning when she saw an emu approaching and we'd all hurry to get our windows closed! It became a family joke; just one of those things that build memories. The best part is getting so close to the giraffes. They are in a fenced enclosure but if you have a sunroof on your vehicle it awesome b/c they will lower their heads right down to feed from the food bucket. All three of my small children had a great time. One note: we did this with my kids' great grandma with us. It's a GREAT activity to do with an older person b/c they get to partake in an outing but don't have to do a lot of walking in the heat.
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"Kids really enjoyed, car a little scratched"
I took my three youngest (2, 11, 13) here in August. We loved driving through the trail and felt we could take our time looking at and feeding the animals from the feed we purchased (there is a list/ sign of which you can feed and which not to). The kids were a little intimidated by the emus. They were very very friendly and would stick their heads and beaks right in the window to get food. The only down part was one of the goats jumped up to try and get food and scratched the side of my car with his hoove. A sign does say drive at your own risk, but I was surprised. it didn't go all the way through the paint, more like two lines that won't go away even with buffing.
There are kangaroos and many types of birds in a walking part of the ranch. They have zebra's, giraffes, camels, and so many more animals. there is a small snack shack, and it is pretty warm in the summer so bring lots of cold water.
All in all, I would recommend it. If you are worried about your vehicle you can schedule ahead of time to ride in a large wagon (it does cost extra) through the trail.
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"lots of animals"
A different kind of zoo experience. Pretty neat to get this close to unusual animals. We chose to drive our car through the ranch and it got covered in slobber. I wonder about the well being of the animals. They seem to be glutted on those grain buckets. If you are a member of PETA don't go here
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"Great for the family"
Lazy five ranch was a blast. Its a great activity to do with your family and is inexpensive. You get to drive around the ranch on the trail and feed many different types of animals. The ostriches kinda scared the kids but it was great for pictures. There is a picnic area if you wanted to pack a lunch and they have a consession stand with some drinks and ice cream for a treat at the end.
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"Close encounters of the animal kind"
I really love this place. You get to drive around in your car and feed the animals that come up to your window.. If riding in the car is not for you then they have wagon rides that allow you to be out with the animals instead of all closed up. However, really young kids may become scared older kids will really enjoy this experience.
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"Awesome Time"
We took my 5 then 4 year old and he absolutely loved it! We drove through twice with our van doors open so all the animals could come up. It's a great way to get up and personal with the animals! Some of the animals may have gotten a little too close (a zebra tried to take a bite out of our seat)
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"Animals, animals, animals!"
You can take a drive through this ranch in your car or a horse-drawn wagon, but expect to see more than horses and cows. A road winds around 185 acres that include hundreds of exotic animals in somewhat natural habitats. There’s also a petting zoo and a playground.
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"Kind of makes me sad"
We like this place ok and I'm not going to pretend I'm some big animal activist but if you are concerned about animals to a higher degree then most people that I wouldn't suggest going here. The animals seem to be fine but wild animals going up to cars for food just seems unnatural to me. I also wonder if their diet is balanced with all the grain buckets they all eat. I know at zoos they have dietitians that weigh out their food for them and here we just feed them buckets of feed. My son was also extremely scared of the giant birds. I don't think we'll be going back but it was an ok time and I know many people like it.
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"Get up close and personal"
We had so much fun getting up close and personal with the animals. The ranch is home to many roaming animals. Drive your car through the ranch or ride in a wagon and feed the animals yourself. Buy several buckets of grain to feed the animals. Admission is very affordable.
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"Lots of fun!"
My boys loved this. I admit I was terrified of the agressive emus and ostriches. The birds try to get in your car and take your bucket. Other than the birds it was really great though. You get to be so close to the animals you can almost touch them. Do be warned you will see people not following the rules. We saw someone feeding the animals MCd's french fries. You are also not supposed to feed the horned animals either.
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"Awesome place"
This is a really neat "zoo." It has animals not normally seen at zoos though. You can either drive your car through it or take a wagon tour. If you take your car beware of animal slobber-there is plenty! We always have a great time here. The animals come right up to the car and you can feed many of them. Great Adventure! Just don't go in the midst of summer; it can be unbearable!
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"Love this place, can't wait to go back"
We went with our church group and rode the wagon. My kids enjoyed feeding the animals and getting a close up view of animals that they might not be able to otherwise. I suggest doig the wagon ride unless you want slober all over you car. Great playground and pic nic area so that you can make a day of it!
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"Great fun with the animals"
The park is in the middle of no where, but once you get there you know why. You can drive through the park or take a wagon ride. The animals will come to your window and eat out of buckets that are available for purchase. The kids had a blast. After we saw the animals, there was a petting zoo and a huge park to play and have a picnic. You can alsp buy ice cream at the shop
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"Where the animals run wild!!"
Lazy 5 Ranch is a fun place to take the kids, just not real young kids. You can ride through the park in your own car, but beware cause they will put thier heads in the car. You can also ride through on a wagon, which gets you more one on one with the animals. I loved the place and so did the other kids with us.
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"Lazy 5 Ranch - see over 750 animals!"
The Lazy 5 Ranch is an exotic animal drive thru park. Load the kids into the car and explore a 3.5 mile safari adventure where you can spot over 750 animals from six different continents. If you do not want to take your car you can call ahead and reserve a space on their horse drawn wagons. This is a fun adventure for the entire family - just remember to bring your camera!
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"A must see!!!"
This is an absolutely awesome trip for kids! You can drive in your vehicle, but you get the best view if you ride on the horse-drawn wagon through the ranch. Animals come right up to you and feed out of your hands, and most of them you can pet! The giraffes were my favorite! There are many different species of deer, long-horned cattle, antelope, buffalo. Watch out for the giant emu...they look like something straight out of Jurassic Park, and will knock your food bucket right out of your hands!!! Go early in the morning because by noon, they aren't the least bit hungry and will not come near you!!! Bring a lunch to eat at their picnic tables, and maybe money for ice cream!
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