Looking for something out of the ordinary inside the Ozarks? This popular Eureka Springs, AR attraction is sure to bring on the butterflies for anyone who appreciates the majestic, proud, and–despite their beauty–dangerous qualities of big cats!

If you’re planning a vacation in the Ozarks, you’ve likely considered Eureka Springs as a must-visit destination. While you’re there, don’t miss your opportunity to check out Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) and get in touch with your wild side.

A true non-profit animal sanctuary, TCWR has rescued neglected, abused, and abandoned animals since 1992. Bring your family to explore this little haven to find out what’s safe inside.

Located off HWY-23 outside of Eureka Springs, TCWR provides hours of enlightening fun while you explore and learn about the 100+ animal residents that call this place home. While known primarily for its big cats, TCWR also provides lifelong homes to other wildlife species like bears and primates.

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The Experience

It costs a lot to keep big cats fed! So you can feel good about your investment, because TCWR uses ticket sales and other guest purchases to fund the refuge. You can get your tickets ahead of time online, or you can purchase them at the counter inside the gift store once you arrive. After getting your tickets, you’re welcome to explore the self-guided Discovery Area of the wildlife rescue.

The Discovery Area is home to some of the sanctuary’s residents. Throughout this section of TCWR, you’ll encounter a host of animals playing in their habitats or showing off for guests. Watch for Bam Bam the Grizzly’s famous antics. My favorite was the panthers. Is there a more beautiful cat than a panther? Before the guided tour, you’ll find these lively creatures around the Discovery Area of TCWR:

• Brown Bears
• Black Bears
• Grizzly Bears
• Bobcats
• Cougars
• Leopards
• Jaguars
• Servals

You can wander and explore as long as you’d like on your own, or join in on one of their guided tours. The tours run every hour throughout the day. The last tour leaves at 4 pm during long days and stops at 3 pm during the winter months. While we spent quite a bit of time in the Discovery Area before and after, there are more than 460 acres housing various big cats. So, you’ll want to jump on a tour.

I mentioned that Turpentine Creek is a “true” sanctuary, but I didn’t take the time to demystify what that means. Let me clarify here. TCWR’s mission is to end the trade of exotic animals and ultimately, eliminate the need for sanctuaries in the first place. Maybe not in this generation, but they hope to spread the word about the dangers of exotic animal breeding and cub petting.

As such, they lead by example. Staff don’t handle, play with, or touch these large animals (unless for a necessary medical purpose). And you won’t be encouraged to either. Actually, that might result in consequences nobody wants!

While they do take a hands-off approach, these animals receive personalized care. Each rescued wildlife has its own name, habitat, and personal story. You can really tell how well the staff cares for these animals, and throughout the tour, you learn how each one came to reside here. You’ll also learn super interesting facts about the big cat trade. For example, did you know that white tigers in captivity are almost always the result of inbreeding? That’s why these big cats often have physical disabilities or other medical conditions.

While Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest and most reputable big cat sanctuaries in the United States, there is a connection to The Tiger King. Don’t worry; they’ve never supported Mr. Joe Exotic. It is worth noting that they do have 34 animals rescued from either his for-profit business or his associates after those establishments were closed down.

TCWR inherits animals that come from abuse, neglect, and abandonment. For that reason, you’ll see a few animals with notable deformities. You’ll also see a handful of big-cat hybrids such as tigons and liligers. Again, they have a hard stance against these types of breeding practices and share their passion with visitors. It’s an eye-opening experience.

Our tour group was small, so guests were welcome to ask questions as they popped up. The staff seemed to be well-informed and eager to share the facts. If you’d like more behind-the-scenes access, you can purchase a Carnivore Caravan Tour. This takes you to an exclusive area of the refuge called Rescue Ridge.

The sanctuary works hard to protect its residents and provide them with life as close to nature as possible. While they don’t support captive wildlife, the animals here can’t be released back into the wild. Instead, they spend their days playing in leaf piles, chasing down oversized balls, and as of last year, each enclosure is set to have its own in-ground pool.

Is it Worth It?

I’m going to say yes, but I’m a little biased because big cats are my favorite animals! General admission is $32 for adults, $20 for teens, and $15 for children, seniors, or military/veterans. Kids under three can get the whole experience for free. The exclusive tours can be quite pricey, so they may be worth it for some big cat lovers, but probably not for most families on vacation in the Ozarks. The on-premise accommodations are affordable and worthy of checking out for quite a unique stay for the memory book!

Plan Your Stay

That’s right, you can stay the night with these wild cats! Rent a spot in the on-site RV campground or book one of two temperature-controlled Glamping Tents. They also have a seasonal Tree House Bungalow and family and pet-friendly Safari Suites.

For a day visit, the refuge opens to the public at 9 am and is closed by 4 pm. They do have varied holiday hours closing early on Thanksgiving and remaining closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge might take up half a day’s worth of adventure while you visit Eureka Springs. However, this quaint little town has much more to offer your family while on vacation in the Ozarks. For more ideas, check out our Visit Eureka Springs post and add in an Ozark Mountain zip-lining or Onyx Cave Park adventure.

Book Your Trip to See the Tigers in Eureka Springs, AR

If you’re ready to check out dates or make reservations, browse through rates from local hotels. Or, for more time with big cats and a more personalized experience at the refuge, you can book a stay at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Rescue.

You can also book a rental car from Economy Bookings to help you navigate your Ozarks road trip vacation.