St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is one of Florida's oldest continuously running attractions, having opened on May 20, 1893. It has 24 species of crocodilians, and also a variety of other reptiles, mammals and birds, as well as exhibits, animal performances and educational demonstrations.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
Date opened	May 20, 1893
Location	St. Augustine, Florida, United States
Land area	more than 7 acres (28,000 m2)
Memberships	AZA
Website	www.alligatorfarm.com
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
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Location	St. Johns County, Florida
Coordinates	29°52′53″N 81°17′18″W / 29.88139°N 81.28833°W / 29.88139; -81.28833
Built	1937
NRHP reference No.	92001232
Added to NRHP	September 10, 1992

The park began in 1893 on St. Augustine Beach as a minor attraction at the end of a railway running through neighboring Anastasia Island. The alligators were added at first to get visitors to buy souvenirs and see the museum there. Soon, the reptiles themselves became the main point of interest.

Growing in popularity, the park moved to its current location in the early 1920s. The park changed owners in the 1930s, and, after a devastating fire, they started reconstruction and expansion of the facilities. In 1993, for their 100-year anniversary, the park became the first place in the world to display every species of crocodilian.

 

In 2008, the zoo opened a new Komodo dragon facility that also exhibits lizards and snakes found within Southeast Asia.

National historic status

On September 10, 1992, the Alligator Farm was designated a U.S. Historic District. As such, it was referred to as the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Historic District. According to the National Register of Historic Places, it covers less than 1 acre (4,000 m²), and contains one building and one structure.

As of 2012, this was the only place where one can see every species of alligator, crocodile, caiman and gharial. Over the years, the zoo has expanded to include mammals, birds, and other reptiles.

The farm is home to Chance the Snapper.

Crocodilians

Other reptiles

Birds

Mammals

• Black-and-white ruffed lemur
• Cotton-top tamarin
• Goeldi's monkey
• Golden lion tamarin
• Hoffmann's two-toed sloth
• Prehensile-tailed porcupine
• Prevost's squirrel
• Pygmy marmoset
• Red ruffed lemur
• Red-rumped agouti
• Ring-tailed lemur
• White-headed marmoset

The back section of the park contains a large bird rookery, where free-roaming local bird species such as egrets, herons, wood storks and roseate spoonbills nest and rear their young.

The park is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Florida Attraction Association.

• Alligator farm
• Gomek