On a recent trip to Pigeon Forge, we had planned to spend most of our time outdoors hiking and exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The zoo is about a 20-minute ride from Gatlinburg to Sevierville. We were lucky that the weather cooperated during our stay. But if it does happen to rain, the Rainforest Adventure Discovery Zoo is a fun indoor zoo in Tennessee that is well worth a visit.
The Rainforest Adventure Discovery Zoo in Tennessee
Looking for an Indoor Zoo in Tennessee?
In nearby Sevierville, Tennessee nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, Rainforest Adventure Discovery Zoo is open year-round.
This is an affordable attraction for the entire family, plus it’s indoors which is perfect if it happens to rain!
RainForest Adventure Discovery Zoo features over 600 live animals representing over 130 species and has been themed by one of the nation’s finest zoological contractors. (their work includes the Animal Kingdom at Disney World)
According to their website, they have animals on loan from zoos across the US, primarily for educational purposes.
In fact, if you’ve never seen an axolotl in real life, this amazing zoo in Tennessee is one place where you finally can!
Some of the animals either hatched or born in captivity or on loan from zoos across the US include and include reptiles, mammals, birds, bugs, and amphibians.
We were specifically intrigued to see the Rat’s Life Cycle display. It showcased a pregnant rat and then all stages of a rat’s life through adulthood.
I believe they become tasty snacks for the zoo’s reptiles once they reach adulthood, but don’t quote me on that.
Ahhh, the Circle of Life.
A Perfect Stop for Roadschoolers and RVers
The RainForest Discovery Zoo website is a wealth of information for both before and after your visit to Sevierville. There’s also a pretty large gift shop on-site as well!
While we visited, we saw plenty of staff members cleaning and scrubbing the animal’s homes, ensuring they were well cared for and happy.
Adult Tickets (ages 12 and up) are $16.99. Seniors can get in for $14.99, and children ages 2-11 pay $9.99. Littles under the age of 2 get in for free!
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