Sit, pet, and hold playful black-tailed prairie dogs
25 minutes
Up to 2 people
Feed
Settle in with Goose & Cracker for a hands-on encounter with playful black-tailed prairie dogs. Sit among them as they run, play, and interact with you.
Receive a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before start. Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. No-shows are charged the full price.
Product ID: SDG7XK
Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in.
Mitchell's Petting Zoo & Exotics
This family-owned exotic petting zoo has earned a devoted following, and it's easy to see why. The animals, ranging from capybaras and camels to prairie dogs, sloths, and even a warthog, are clearly well cared for, and visitors consistently remark on how friendly and approachable everything feels. The staff bring genuine warmth and knowledge to every visit, going out of their way to make guests feel welcome. The add-on animal encounters are a standout feature, with the capybara experience drawing particular praise from families. Private experiences are available and worth considering, especially for kids. One thing to keep in mind is that the overall footprint is on the smaller side, so if you're expecting a large-scale zoo, adjust your expectations accordingly. Think of it more as an intimate, hands-on experience rather than a full day destination. The owners have built something genuinely special here, and that comes through in nearly every review. Visitors who stumbled upon it by chance often leave planning a return trip.
The family and I had a wonderful time meeting all of the animals at Mitchell’s Petting Zoo. Everyone who works there is so friendly, too. We purchased two additional encounters with a kangaroo and the capybaras (ahead of time and online!) for our daughter’s 13th birthday and it was so worth it, especially the capybaras. I was worried this would be more geared towards really little kids, but my daughter loves animals so we gave it a chance. It ended up being a ton of fun for the entire family. My husband was on the ground giving capybaras belly rubs and was easily as happy as the kiddo! 😅 So worth the visit and the animals all seem very well looked after and loved. Every time I thought we’d seen it all, we found another critter. If you love booping adorable animal snoots, I can’t recommend this place enough.
Maggie Ransom
August 23, 2026
The family and I had a wonderful time meeting all of the animals at Mitchell’s Petting Zoo. Everyone who works there is so friendly, too. We purchased two additional encounters with a kangaroo and the capybaras (ahead of time and online!) for our daughter’s 13th birthday and it was so worth it, especially the capybaras. I was worried this would be more geared towards really little kids, but my daughter loves animals so we gave it a chance. It ended up being a ton of fun for the entire family. My husband was on the ground giving capybaras belly rubs and was easily as happy as the kiddo! 😅 So worth the visit and the animals all seem very well looked after and loved. Every time I thought we’d seen it all, we found another critter. If you love booping adorable animal snoots, I can’t recommend this place enough.
Maggie Ransom
August 23, 2026
Meet and learn about animals with all-day admission (open 10am–5pm)
Hand-feed and pet a two-toed sloth with a staff guide
Hand-feed, pet and photograph capybaras with staff guidance
See robotic milking in action and follow milk’s journey to cheese on a one-hour guided farm tour.
Open-air Jeep driving on the Cherohala Skyway and East Tennessee mountain roads
Take the top down for an automatic Porsche drive on the Cherohala Skyway