Emerald Coast Zoo

Tucked off Highway 90 in Crestview, Emerald Coast Zoo has grown from a roadside curiosity into one of the most memorable family stops in inland Okaloosa County. The zoo’s story starts decades ago when Debbie Mattox established what she called the Sasquatch Zoo, beginning with a spider monkey she brought home from a canoe trip on the Shoal River. Flooding eventually pushed the collection to higher ground near Highway 90, the same spot the zoo occupies today. In late 2017, the de Ridder family purchased the property, renamed it Emerald Coast Zoo, and moved onto the land themselves to run daily operations, while Debbie stayed involved in educating visitors about conservation.

What makes this zoo stand out on the Emerald Coast is how close visitors get to the animals. Hands on encounters here include sloths, lemurs, and kangaroos, and the zoo also houses giraffes, wallabies, penguins, Aldabra tortoises, black bears, snakes, and American alligators. A walk through aviary lets guests feed colorful birds up close, and the collection has grown to more than 250 animals under the de Ridder family’s care, including species such as hyenas, jaguars, and ostriches. Every day brings a lion feeding show, a crowd favorite that gives visitors a rare, safe look at big cats up close.

The zoo is a genuine family operation, not a corporate attraction. Owner Rick de Ridder and his family, including son David and daughter Suzy, live on site and personally build and test new habitats before animals move in. The family has also partnered with Rick “the Reptile Guy,” known from A&E’s Wild Transport, who brings additional reptile expertise to the property. That hands on, invested ownership shows in the way the zoo keeps expanding its exhibits year after year.

Plan for about two hours to see the whole property, longer if you linger at feeding times or let kids explore every encounter station. Emerald Coast Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. except Mondays, and stays open rain or shine year round, closing only for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Parking is free, pets on leashes are welcome, and wagons and golf carts are available to rent for guests who need help covering the grounds. The zoo also runs birthday parties, field trips for school groups, and a seasonal zoo camp for kids, making it a flexible stop whether you are visiting for an afternoon or planning a full outing.

Admission stays reasonable for a family outing: children ages 2 to 12 pay one rate, visitors 13 and up pay a higher adult rate, and families who plan repeat visits can buy a family pass covering one or two adults plus children 18 and under living in the same household. Parking is free regardless of ticket type. The zoo also books private rentals for groups who want the property to themselves, with options that include overnight camping among the exhibits, an unusual add on for a facility this size and a memorable way for families or scout groups to experience the zoo after normal hours.

Beyond daily visits, Emerald Coast Zoo runs a full calendar of programming. A seasonal zoo camp gives kids multiple weeks of hands on animal education each summer, birthday party packages bundle admission with a party space and supplies, and school groups can arrange discounted field trips with a minimum headcount. The zoo also hosts seasonal events tied to holidays throughout the year, giving repeat visitors and Crestview locals a reason to come back beyond a single summer trip.

For Emerald Coast travelers looking to break up a beach trip with something different, Emerald Coast Zoo offers a rare mix: exotic animals, a genuinely hands on family atmosphere, and a daily show schedule that keeps kids and adults both entertained. It sits roughly 45 minutes north of Destin, close enough for an easy day trip and worth the drive inland for anyone who wants to get closer to wildlife than a typical zoo visit allows. Bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and a little patience for the lion feeding show crowd, and expect to leave with a new favorite animal encounter story to tell.