Branson's Promised Land Zoo

Branson's Promised Land Zoo occupies a sweet spot between a traditional zoo and a hands-on animal encounter — close enough to its animals that kids can feed giraffes from a platform and pet goats in an open area, but curated enough to maintain the variety that makes it worth a dedicated visit. For families with kids in the 2–12 range, this is one of the more distinctive Branson experiences because the animal proximity is genuinely special.

The zoo features a mix of exotic and familiar animals: giraffes, kangaroos, alligators, large cats in enclosures, lemurs, and the petting area's more accessible goats and small mammals. The giraffe feeding experience — where kids can hand an elevated giraffe a leafy branch and watch a prehistoric tongue wrap around it — is the kind of thing that produces a photo that ends up in the family frames at home. Purchase this add-on at the ticket window; it's typically $5–10 per person and worth every dollar for the reaction it gets from 3–9 year olds.

The zoo is entirely outdoors and weather-dependent. Summer afternoons in the Ozarks get hot and humid, and the terrain involves walking paths through the property — not a problem for older kids, but worth knowing for parents of toddlers in strollers on warm days. Plan morning visits (arrive at the 9:45AM opening) to catch animals at their most active and beat the heat.

The zoo closes at 4PM, which is earlier than most Branson attractions.

The path terrain is somewhat uneven; compact all-terrain strollers handle it better than lightweight umbrella strollers. Parking is free on-site.