Our Guide to the Alligator Park Near Shreveport, LA
Planning a weekend in Shreveport with a toddler? Put Gators and Friends at the top of your list. It’s an alligator park and exotic petting zoo about 10 miles west of town in Greenwood, Louisiana, and our 14-month-old had the BEST morning there. 🐊
Gators and Friends has been around since 2006. It’s home to more than 150 alligators, plus over 20 kinds of animals you can feed and pet through the fence: sheep, goats, kangaroos, deer, mini horses, and a few surprises. Honestly, it’s a lot of animal for one morning, in the best way.
We wanted to go to Gators and Friends while we were traveling through Louisiana so that Finley could walk around, pet the animals, and just be a kid. Not only can he watch alligators be fed, but he can ride a pony, pet the other animals and feed them. If you live nearby, you can even throw a party there- which one was going on while we were there & kids were THRILLED! Being a Louisiana native, this was so much fun. There was even a zip-line over the alligator pond, which was great for adults and older kids.
Below is everything I’d tell a mom friend before she goes. Prices, hours, what to do first, the gator feeding, and the little things that made it easy with a toddler. This was one stop on our family weekend in Shreveport, and the whole weekend is right here.
Gators and Friends at a Glance
- Where: 11441 US Hwy 80, Greenwood, LA 71033, about 10 miles west of Shreveport
- Fall hours: Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.
- Admission: $11 for ages 3 to 10, $15 for ages 11 to 59, $10 for 60 and up
- Animal feed: $2.75 a cup, $1.75 for a refill
- Pony rides: $6.95 for riders under 80 pounds
- Ziplines: $44.95 for 4 lines or $69.95 for 7 lines, 50 pound minimum
- Phone: (318) 938-1199
- Website: gatorsandfriends.com
- How long we stayed: about 2 hours
- Toddler approved? Very.
Things to Note: Hours change with the seasons, and not every website agrees on Fridays, so call before you go. The prices and hours here come from the park’s website in October 2026. When I checked, zipline booking was paused for staff training.
Our Saturday Morning at Gators and Friends
We went on the last Saturday in September and walked in right at 10, when they open. It was warm but shady, and Finley was in shorts, sneakers, and his little cowboy tee. Peak toddler style, if I do say so myself.
First stop was the gift shop for feed cups. Then we basically followed Finley. He toddled from pen to pen, said hi to every animal that would look at him, and got photobombed by a goat in one of his very first pictures of the day. 😂
He got so close- he had no fear.
We stayed about two hours, which was just right for a 14-month-old.
Best Things to Do at Gators and Friends With a Toddler
1. Grab a Feed Cup and Start With the Sheep
Buy at least one feed cup in the gift shop before you do anything else. The Jacob sheep (the ones with the wild curly horns) know exactly what that little white cup means. They line up along the fence and push their faces right through to get to you.
We did most of the feeding, and Finley did the reaching and some very serious supervising.
Tip: Hold the food in a flat palm, and keep wipes handy. Sheep are slobbery, and your toddler WILL touch everything after.
We only got one cup, which was perfect for us, but if you have multiple kids, I would get each a cup.
2. Hand-Feed the Kangaroos
This is the one I didn’t see coming. The kangaroos come right up to the fence and eat out of your hand, gentle as can be. Not something I expected to do in north Louisiana on a Saturday morning.
Hannah loved the kangaroos, which were just the most gentle animals.
3. Meet the Goats, Mini Horses, and Everybody Else
Past the sheep, the park just keeps going. Some of the animals we met:
- Boer goats: the big brown and white guys, and the reason Finley’s best photo has a goat in it.
- Goats, goats, goats: the smaller ones are the perfect height for a toddler to pet.
- Jacob sheep: curly horns, big personalities, always hungry.
- Kangaroos: curious and so gentle.
- Fallow deer: including white ones and spotted babies.
- Mini horses and donkeys: including a donkey with zebra stripes on its legs that we’re still talking about.
- An emu and a llama: both a lot taller up close than you’d think.
The park’s website also lists ring-tailed lemurs and a Scottish Highland cow. Animals sometimes step out of view for extra care, so if your kid has their heart set on one, the park says to call ahead.
4. Don’t Miss the Gator Feeding
Okay, this is the part you came for. Gators and Friends has more than 150 alligators, and at feeding time a keeper stands up on the boardwalk with a long pole while the whole pond wakes up. They splash, they snap, and a few of them lunge halfway out of the water. It is WILD to watch.
We caught the feeding around 11:30 on a Saturday. Ask about feeding times when you buy your feed cups so you can plan your loop around it.
5. Walk the Boardwalk Over the Gator Pond
The boardwalk winds right over the gator pond, so you can look down at them floating in the green water and sunning on the banks. It’s flat and easy for little walkers. The railings are tall, but keep a hand on your toddler near the edges anyway.
Finley’s favorite part of the boardwalk? Sitting down right in the middle of it to pick up leaves while the gators hung out below. Toddlers, man.
6. Take a Snack Break Under the Pavilion
There’s a big covered pavilion with picnic tables, perfect for a snack, a water break, or a few minutes out of the sun.
They also do live shows and let you hold a baby alligator under the pavillion.
7. Save the Pony Rides and Ziplines for Later
Finley is still too little for the ziplines, but this part of the park is on our list for when he’s older. Pony rides are $6.95 for riders under 80 pounds. The zipline course runs through the woods, over the animals, and ends with a 750-foot line right over the alligators. You have to be at least 50 pounds, so moms, this one might be for you. 😉
The 4-line course is $44.95 and takes 45 minutes to an hour. The 7-line course is $69.95 and takes about an hour and a half to two hours. Both include park admission and a cup of animal feed. Call ahead to book, since walk-ins aren’t guaranteed.
Tips for Visiting Gators and Friends With a Toddler
- Go right at 10. It’s cooler and shadier in the morning, and the animals are very ready for breakfast.
- Wear real shoes. The paths are gravel and dirt, and the park itself recommends sturdy shoes. Little walkers do best in sneakers too.
- Buy feed cups first. They’re sold in the gift shop, and you’ll want one in hand at the very first pen.
- Pack wipes and hand sanitizer. Sheep slobber, goat noses, fence rails. Clean hands before snacks, always.
- Leave the balloons at home. The park doesn’t allow balloons or small plastic toys, because they’re dangerous for the animals.
- Carrier or stroller? Carrier if needed, but let them roam. They cannot get into anything. A stroller would be so difficult since graveled in the feeding area.
- Call ahead. Hours change by season, and the ziplines and some animals aren’t always available.
- Plan around nap. Two hours was our sweet spot. Go in the morning and you’ll be done before nap.
How to Get to Gators and Friends From Shreveport
Gators and Friends is at 11441 US Hwy 80 in Greenwood, Louisiana, about 10 miles west of Shreveport. It’s an easy drive from town, so it works as a morning outing on a Shreveport weekend, or as a stop on your way in or out if you’re driving from the Texas side.
Make It a Weekend in Shreveport
We built a whole family weekend in Shreveport around this morning, and it was the perfect toddler activity to plan everything else around.
We love staying in Shreveport downtown so you are close to everything, including the interstate. Don’t sleep on the casinos, they allow animals at some and have the best food. Book below and don’t forget to sign up for rewards!
Our full itinerary, where we stayed, and where we ate are all in our family weekend in Shreveport guide.
Is Gators and Friends Worth It?
For a toddler? Honestly, yes. It’s affordable, a lot of the park is shaded, you can see it all in a morning, and your kid gets closer to the animals than at most zoos. We as adults had fun, the encounters are up close and personal.
Gators and Friends FAQ
How much does Gators and Friends cost?
Admission is $11 for ages 3 to 10, $15 for ages 11 to 59, and $10 for ages 60 and up. Feed cups are $2.75, pony rides are $6.95, and ziplines start at $44.95. Those prices are from the park’s website in October 2026.
Do babies and toddlers get in free?
Kids under 3 are free
What are the hours at Gators and Friends?
In the fall, they’re open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. They’re closed Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. Hours change by season, so call (318) 938-1199 before you go.
Is Gators and Friends good for toddlers?
Yes! Our 14-month-old loved it. The animals come right up to the fence, the paths are easy for little walkers, and you can see the whole park in about two hours.
How long do you need at Gators and Friends?
Plan on about two hours with little kids. Add an hour or two if anyone is doing the ziplines.
Can you feed the alligators?
No, the keepers feed the gators. You can feed the petting zoo animals with the feed cups from the gift shop. The park asks that you only give the animals their own feed, for the animals’ safety.
Is Gators and Friends in Shreveport?
It’s in Greenwood, Louisiana, about 10 miles west of Shreveport, so it’s an easy add to any Shreveport trip.
Here’s Your Sign to Go
If you’re in Shreveport with little ones, here’s your sign to go feed a kangaroo. Wear the sneakers, buy the extra feed cup, and don’t miss the gator feeding. Your toddler is going to love it.
Planning more trips with your little one? Here’s how we did Boston with a 2-month-old. If your kids love farm animals, our fall day at Eckert’s Farm is another good one. And if you’re headed to the other end of Louisiana, here’s our 48 rainy hours in New Orleans.
Tell me if you go! Come say hi on Instagram and show me your goat photobomb. 🤍
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