ZOOS & ANIMAL PARKS NEVADA

Nature Health Farms is a family-owned farm and petting zoo attraction located at 351 Bunarch Road in Pahrump, Nevada, conveniently situated about 45 minutes from Las Vegas and near Death Valley National Park. Established in 2019, the farm is home to free-roaming alpacas, ostriches, donkeys, pigs, turkeys, ducks, geese, goats, pigeons, peacocks, and a miniature horse, most of which wander the property and are approachable, gentle, and interactive. Visitors can explore the petting zoo, wander through hemp fields and sunflower gardens, discover rare antiques, and enjoy abundant photo opportunities throughout the scenic grounds. Open Wednesday through Sunday, Nature Health Farms is consistently ranked among the top attractions in Pahrump, offering families and visitors from the Las Vegas area a peaceful, therapeutic, and entertaining farm experience in the Nevada desert.

Sierra Nevada Zoological Park, also known historically as the Sierra Safari Zoo, was a private zoo located north of Reno, Nevada, that operated for several decades before permanently closing in March 2024. During its years of operation, the park was home to a remarkable collection of exotic animals including white tigers, Barbary lions, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, leopards, hyenas, sloths, lemurs, zebras, camels, alligators, and pythons, along with six species of monkeys and eight types of wild cats. A petting area allowed visitors to feed deer and goats. The zoo was known for providing close encounters with rare and endangered species and served as an educational destination for families and wildlife enthusiasts throughout northern Nevada and the surrounding region.

Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary is a nonprofit animal sanctuary located at 8103 Racel Street in Las Vegas, Nevada, offering a peaceful refuge for rescued animals in the heart of the desert city. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the sanctuary welcomes families, school groups, and individuals seeking a meaningful connection with animals. Visitors can enjoy interactive feeding experiences with goats and ducks, guided tours of the grounds, and educational programs designed to promote animal welfare. The facility is designed to be inclusive and affordable, with special pricing for seniors, children, and budget-friendly admission on Wednesdays. Annual memberships provide unlimited access throughout the year. Gilcrease also hosts birthday parties and field trips in its on-site event room, making it a versatile community destination. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the sanctuary relies on visitor support, memberships, and donations to continue its animal care mission.

Andelin Family Farm is a beloved 150-acre agritourism destination located in the Spanish Springs valley of Sparks, Nevada, operated by Cameron and Natalie Andelin since 2010. The farm is home to a wide variety of animals including camels, alpacas, ponies, chickens, horses, cows, turkeys, sheep, peafowl, llamas, kune kune pigs, emus, and goats, with seasonal highlights including hands-on encounters with baby goats, piglets, calves, chicks, and lambs. Annual events include the Fall Harvest Festival with a pumpkin patch and corn maze, Baby Animal Days and Tulip Festival in spring, and the summer Sunflower Festival. Year-round offerings include goat yoga, painting classes, summer farm camps for children, and educational field trips, making Andelin Family Farm a wonderfully versatile destination for families and school groups across northern Nevada.

SeaQuest Las Vegas is an expansive interactive aquarium and animal experience spanning over 31,000 square feet inside the Boulevard Mall on Maryland Parkway in Las Vegas, Nevada, home to more than 1,200 animals from 300 species. Guests can explore globally inspired themed zones including Caribbean Cove, California Coast, Mayan Jungle, Amazon Rainforest, and Egyptian Desert, each showcasing animals native to those regions. Hands-on encounters include snorkeling with stingrays and tropical fish, hand-feeding sharks, interacting with otters, sloths, caiman alligators, wallabies, and iguanas, and touching sea urchins and starfish in open touch tanks. Weekend mermaid shows and Animal Whisperer Tours add extra excitement to every visit. SeaQuest Las Vegas offers a uniquely immersive wildlife experience that stands apart from the typical Las Vegas entertainment landscape.

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is Las Vegas's premier aquarium experience and the only AZA-accredited zoo and aquarium in Nevada, situated within the iconic Mandalay Bay resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The attraction features over 2,000 aquatic animals representing more than 100 species across 14 breathtaking exhibits, including a 1.3-million-gallon shipwreck tank experienced through an acrylic tunnel surrounded by 15 species of sharks, sawfish, giant rays, and endangered green sea turtles. Other exhibits showcase Komodo dragons, golden crocodiles, Amazon predators, piranhas, octopuses, moon jellies, and a touch pool. Certified divers can book guided dives with sharks, and the facility offers animal encounters, expert-led tours, and an Undersea Explorer VR experience. Shark Reef Aquarium provides a thrilling, educational escape from the casino floor, welcoming families and adventure-seekers of all backgrounds.

The Aquarium at Silverton Casino is a beloved free attraction in Las Vegas, Nevada, located at 3333 Blue Diamond Road. The centerpiece is a massive 117,000-gallon reef tank housing thousands of tropical fish alongside three species of sharks and three species of stingrays, while separate jellyfish displays glow under LED lighting. Freshwater aquariums at the adjacent Bass Pro Shops showcase koi, trout, catfish, and sturgeon, and a canyon river exhibit features ducks, turtles, and additional fish. Daily stingray feedings take place at 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM, and live mermaid performances run Thursday through Sunday, with dedicated Mermaid School programs and dive experiences available for certified divers. Named one of Las Vegas's best free attractions, the aquarium supports ocean conservation through its affiliation with the Save Our Beach Foundation.

Camel Safari Las Vegas is a ZAA-accredited, 176-acre exotic animal zoo and adventure experience located in Bunkerville, Nevada, approximately one hour north of the Las Vegas Strip. The facility is home to over 30 camels and more than 40 camelids, offering guided camel rides through the Mojave Desert with sweeping views of the Virgin Mountains on Fridays and Saturdays by reservation. Beyond the camel rides, visitors embark on a tram safari and guided zoo tour where they meet a two-toed sloth, African-crested porcupines, six-banded armadillos, sand cats, New Guinea singing dogs, woolly opossums, llamas, alpacas, and more. Animal handlers provide educational commentary throughout the experience, which lasts approximately three hours. Camel Safari is committed to desert animal conservation and education, making it a distinctive and memorable outing for families, couples, and adventure-seekers visiting the Las Vegas area.