Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge Reviews

Stayed here for a weekend. We were booked in the Serengeti cabin. We were both pleasantly surprised with the amenities! They thought of every detail and creature comfort. It was very neat to wake up to the resident cats caroling and chuffing!!! The team tour around the sanctuary is very informative. Spent a lot of time watching the bear BAMBAM playing and swimming. They are doing great things to correct the maltreatment of these critters. The outside temperature was pretty warm and the AC in the cabin barely keeps up. They have several fans in the unit. These cabins are actually made from a coated tent material so we weren't surprised any the inability to keep
It cooler but will be aware of the timing of a return trip. Preferably cooler weather. All in all a very neat experience!

Fantastic place to celebrate an Anniversary with your spouse! We stayed in the tree house and it was so nice! There are 3 beds. One full bed and 2 twin beds upstairs. The tree house has a spectacular view of freedom field that you can see with provided binoculars. There is a kcup coffee maker with kcups and tea provided, microwave, plates, plastic ware, lantern, deck with table and chairs. The bed was comfy and they provided bathroom essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and even make up remover wipes. They treehouse really does feel like your in a secluded place in the woods. You also wake up hearing lions and tigers caroling! It's so calming! Make sure to go on the 9am tour and/or the 4pm tour to see more cats! They sleep during the day. This retreat is a must!

Stayed in the treehouse. It was great. Loved being able to walk out and see two of the tigers whose habitat was right beside us.

This is our favorite place to visit when we are in Eureka Springs!! The morning tour is the best, because we got to hear the lions caroling! The tigers chuffed at us and the servals hissed. We took the tour twice while we were there. The staff is very informative and tell you the history of each animal and how they ended up there. Great for the entire family and the trams make it easy for everyone. Definitely worth it every time!

We’ve been to many zoos and wildlife refuges, but nothing quite like this. I was very pleasantly surprised to see the cats so active— from stalking, to swatting at the trees... even talking to us! At other places, the cats seem bored at best (depressed at worst) but certainly not here. You can tell they’re happy and loving life. We came for the 10 am showing and the weather was really pleasant, which may have contributed to their good moods :) In particular, our tour guide Abby was a delight. She really conveyed the passion of the Refuge, and spoke about the animals like they were family. It was really neat to hear their back stories; she really made the tour come alive. I highly recommend this!

We decided to do a night of glamping in the Tigris tent and then go for an AM tour. The tent was lovely, clean and climate controlled. The adjacent bathrooms were nice and clean too. Warning- tents can be pretty loud on windy nights! The option of doing a fire pit was available too and it was cool to hear the cats make their sounds. We were able to walk around and see some of the animals when we arrived at 4:30 and then enjoyed our tram tour the next AM. You can tell the workers really care for the animals and know their personalities. I’m glad they highlighted the importance of predators are not pets and should not be held or played with. I never knew the tragedies behind the roadside animal shows. Hopefully places like this aren’t needed in the future, but I’m glad the animals have comfortable living areas to spend the rest of their days.

Excellent experience! The staff genuinely cares about the animals. They understand the nature of man vs. beast and work to provide the best environment for both. We thoroughly enjoyed our overnight stay as well as our tour of the animals. Highly recommended.

This was worth the money. We had a new intern doing the tour and for only being there two weeks I think she did very well! It was interesting and informative. We were there on a cool morning so we got to see a lot of the animals.

The Refuge is a few miles outside of town but easy to find.
COVID-19 restrictions require them to offer tours via tram (where you can remove your masks),
The guide was personable and knowledgeable.
Some of the back stories of the animals in residence were quite sad.
As is typical for these facilities, some of the animals were energetic and curious, while others were lethargic.
Although not perfect, I'm glad they have better living quarters than they did before they arrived at the Refuge.
A good experience and worthy cause overall.

My adult daughter and I were driving cross country and stopped here for an overnight. We couldn’t have been happier with our stay! We arrived just in time for the last tour and got to walk around the grounds. We stayed in the glamping tent and it was WAY BETTER than I expected. I have attached pictures but it had plenty of light, comfortable beds, refrigerator,microwave, coffee, tea, muffins, oatmeal and more.
We walked around in the evening and in the morning to see the animals more active. We will be talking about this stay for a long time

We have visited several times and every time is wonderful. We did breakfast with the curator, it was so informative and well worth the money. They helped me set up a surprise wild cat call out for my husband as an anniversary gift. It was so much fun to be there in person and see it happen. He loved it!!!!! This is a place worth supporting for any animal lover.

Loved this place. It was a little rainy, but that just made the big cats more playful. This place does amazing work and deserves our support. Such sweet animals they rescue!

Amazing time can't wait to go back, I would advise you if you have a chance to go make sure you do. The animals stories are very said but I'm glad they are doing what they are doing for the animals.

Waited a long time to be able to visit this rescue. We were greeted by Khaleesi and Joey, two beautiful Tigers. Took the tour and loved it. Wish we could have taken the private tour. The staff was very friendly, informative and helpful. They do good work giving these animals a forever home!

We have been to several rescue centers but Turpentine Creek is doing it right. The tour was educational, but we were most impressed by their care to be a non-contact experience for the sake of the animals. This place deserves major funding!

Turpentine Creek is one of my family's favorite places to visit. We make the trip every couple of years, and with each visit are impressed with the improvements they have been able to make. We learned a long time ago that the best way to experience the refuge is to spend the night. We've stayed in the Siberian Suite and the treehouse, and loved them both. We loved listening to the big cats during the night, and lodgers are able to walk around in the early morning before guests arrive. That's when the cats are most active. But it's still worth a trip if you can't stay there. They offer tram tours that are very educational, and you get to hear the animals' histories. This would be especially good if you have mobility issues, because there are a lot of hills. If you do some research into Turpentine Creek you can learn about the amazing work they do to rescue cats from some pretty horrific places. They are strong advocates for these beautiful animals. Let me say that we started going there when the kids were about 2 and 6. My daughter is now 30 and she & I just returned from a girls' trip to Eureka Springs, with Turpentine Creek being the highlight. Highly recommend! I think it's worth the trip because it's enjoyable, and every dollar spent there will help them help the animals.

Wonderful tour guide that was VERY knowledgeable about the Big Cats there! I learned SO much! Definitely worth a visit and you will be supporting a great cause too!

Another trip of many to the area. This time we did the carnivore tour at TCWR and stayed on site in the Siberian suite. So cool at night to hear all of the animals when the park is closed and quiet. Accommodations are nice and you have some access to enclosures after hours. Joey and Kaleese were fun to watch right outside our bedroom window. We had always wanted to see rescue ridge the part of the park for the animals not on the normal tour and decided as it is a non profit we would splurge on this trip. It was a great tour. We not only got to see Rescue Ridge but also Freedom field which is being finished up along with the vet hospital and commissary. Really glad we did it. It appears the Tiger King and Carole Baskin animals have changed their growth plans as funds appear to all be going for the animals and that is one reason we love this place. We have been to dozens of zoos across the US and have never seen animals as relaxed as they are here. Tickets are higher than a zoo but remember you are helping to fund this place as donations and tickets are what keeps them afloat. If you love big cats this is the place to see them and don't forget Bam Bam their loveable grizzly. They have more bears but they are offsite on Rescue Ridge with a 2 1/2 acre wooded enclosure, so impressive.

We love Turpentine! This was our 3rd visit, but 1st time bringing the kids and everyone really enjoyed the facility and tour. The animals are very well cared for and the staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. We will keep going back for years to come to see what new animals have arrived and would highly recommend it to anyone, especially families looking for great memories.

The staff were extremely nice and helpful. The tour guides' knowledge of the animals was very impressive. The glamping tent was a very neat feature. Learning about where these animals came from and seeing them well taken care of is heartfelt thing.

I took my daughter for a quick road trip get away in the middle of July to Downtown Eureka Springs. I love animals and I really wanted to visit the Refuge. My daughter does not care for zoos at all. So I waited until the last minute to book our stay at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. Website showed them completely booked. I called the day of our arrival and they were able to get me into their Okavango Suite at the Zulu Lodge (which would have been my preferred lodging if I booked on my own). The cabin was pretty cool, and the ac worked great during the 100+ temperature days. The staff were very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. We saw lots of great rescue animals; tigers, lions, puma, jaguar, and a brown bear. Unfortunately it was too hot for the giant grizzly bear they had to come out of his den. A lot of the big cats were hiding out were they were cool also. The tour and information given was very neat. Even though the back stories of the animals were sad, the amount of care they were getting was uplifting. We had a great time. And the daughter liked it more than me! Will definitely go back in the fall or spring.

This place and group of people are great. The rescue efforts are beyond amazing. The majority of the cats were out enjoying the sun. Highly recommend!

Kids enjoyed it. A bit pricey but for a great cause. Don’t recommend going in heat of the day as the cats are (appropriately) hiding out and napping the the shade. Good tram your. Would recommend pre-purchasing the tickets online

This was our 11th visit(we live 5 1/2 hours away) to Turpentine this year and the 1st time we finally spent the night. The Siberian Suite was my Christmas present and it was well worth it! Fergie right outside the room was amazing and hearing all the lions and some tigers caroling during the night was so awesome! Being able to sit on the deck and see my favorite, Chief the lion, made it worth it. We brought our 6 year old grandson and has claimed Daniel the lion as his favorite. Watching the tigers "stalk" him was funny. Turpentine is well worth the money and a visit.

We visited Turpentine for the second time and it was so amazing once again! The animals are so well taken care of and healthy and it's unbelievable that they have so many to see. Their cause is highly commendable and they do a great job on the tours of explaining what they do, why they do it, and how they do it to preserve these majestic animals. They are very appreciative to have people come visit and we will go back everytime we come to Eureka Springs. Highly recommend place to visit!

Great place doing wonderful work. Love seeing all of the animals and hearing their stories. Can do a tram ride as well as a walking hour. They have added on a lot over the years. Even have lodging there now if that is something you want to do. Great for big groups. Would recommend if coming to the area.

I just think this is such a fabulous place and each of their animals has a story and I really enjoyed reading the stories and what a great place rescuing these beautiful animals

This was very informative, the tram moves through the park nicely . Wish the guide would have removed her mask when using the microphone because it sounded very muffled and difficult to understand at times. I say that because guide was almost 10 feet from everyone and behind a clear sheet of plastic. This is our second visit to this sanctuary and was very enjoyable Ali f with information about what humans are doing to animals that are causing places like this to exist. Anytime we are an hour or less away we will keep visiting. I forgot to take pics I was in awe of these beautiful creatures.

You will definitely see quite a mix of animals and many thanks to the people and sponsors who rescue these animals and give them a safe space to live out their years after being rescued from irresponsible people. You will learn all about how these animals came to be and even see some real life ligers.

We had a very well-narrated trolley tour around the facility yesterday afternoon led by Jessica during which we heard the sad tales of these magnificent animals. We were fortunate on this sunny but cool day that the animals were lazing in the sun in their enclosures, so we were able to admire them as they dozed. After the tour we walked the whole Discovery Center and looked at each of the animals again and read their stories. We came away better informed about the problems of private ownership of wild animals and efforts underway to protect the animals as well as their (under-informed?) owners.

If you are ever close to Eureka Springs, Arkansas do not pass up the opportunity to visit Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. You will be amazed of what these beautiful cats have been through and how happy they appear now. When they rub up against the fence I feel like I could get in with them and love them to pieces. They are so beautiful.
The staff that care for these animals are amazing.

The tour was our favorite part of our day at Turpentine Refuge. We learned about each animal and how they came to the refuge .
But the greatest caveat is the sole reason the refuge exists - to save animals from different types of bad lives.
The entire staff is devoted and focused while making visitors feel a part of their
lives and purpose.
Wonderful is not a strong enough word to describe this refuge.

We stayed overnight in the Serengeti Suite at the Zulu Lodge and loved it! It was comfortable, full of character and charm, and absolutely loved hearing the animals at night. Also, all the staff were extremely friendly and helpful! We took an early tour and enjoyed seeing the beautiful and regal animals and hearing about their rescues. Their stories were heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. Heartbreaking because they had such sad pasts and heartwarming because they now have a forever home for their futures thanks to Turpentine Creek and the wonderful love and care they receive there. I was happy to pay for our lodging, tour tickets and gift shop purchases knowing that the money will help take care of these magnificent species and give them a life they deserve. I hope many others will read this and will want to visit and feel the same way.

We loved seeing all the big cats and how well cared for they are at this rescue center. Our tour on the tram allowed us to see a large variety of big cats including lions and tigers. The tour guide was knowledgeable, and the approx 1 hour tour went by really fast. She did a great job of sharing each beautiful animal's story. Try to go on the 10:00 tour or 4:00 tour for the most active times for the cats. They also like to be out during and shortly after rain. We went right after a rain, and the cats were so active with many walking the fence lines curious about the group on the tram.

My favorite part of the trip (besides the great room) was listening to the cats roar after feedings! It's quite the amazing experience and made me love the place even more. And hearing the hyena at night from the "retirement" area was a fun bonus. The amazing work they do for these animals is so heartwarming. To hear their stories in heartbreaking but rewarding to see that they are now living the best lives they can.

Great overall experience. We enjoyed getting to be so close to these amazing animals. We were staying on property so we were there for feeding and training times. All staff was very friendly and readily available to answer questions and educate us about animal behaviors and back stories. The tour provides a lot of information and you are able to see cats not available by just doing the walking path. My recommendation is stay on property, take the tour and you will go away loving these animals!

You can tell that everyone here loves what they do and want to protect these animals. Very educational learning about how the animals came to the sanctuary and their stories. Really opens your eyes. It was great how they took time and stopped at each animals home and positioned the tram so everyone could see them. Everyone very approachable to ask questions. This is a great place to donate or do a fund raiser for, great cause.

We went in the morning since it was so hot and we thought perhaps we would see more of the animals which we did. The tram tour was all that was offered due to COVID but it was very nice and informative. They are doing a great job helping and protecting these beautiful creatures. Definitely a must see while in Eureka Springs.

The tour was wonderful! Not only did we see these magnificent animals, we got to see them rolling around, playing with their toys in a large enclosure with grass, earth, trees to give them the best life possible. They are truly wild, this is a hands off sanctuary. And the tour guide was excellent, telling where each animal was from and the abusive life they had suffered before rescue. The goal is to give them the best possible life in their remaining years and they do.
Here, the animals come first.
Lodging in the tree house, we could hear the cats “caroling “ at night; it was an experience I will never forget.
Everyone we came in contact with was very nice and very helpful. We definitely recommend you visit and bring the children. It’s never too early to learn! And it’s awesome to see these wonderful beasts.

this place was very informative and they do a great job its a little pricey $32 a person but i find its worth it and who doesnt like big cats

This place is doing wonderful things for rescued animals! So worth the visit on a chilly December afternoon. I had no idea that there were so many big cats that were being kept in captivity in such poor conditions but Turpentine does a wonderful job rescuing as many as possible and recouping them here at the refuge. Thank you to the staff for everything they are doing for this cause.

Great place to overnight and listen to the cats "Carol" at night. Lodging from Suites to Glamping.

What an experience! We had a private tour of the grounds including the newest area, rescue ridge, and the veterinarian’s office. Our two hour tour turned into a three hour learning experience. Our incredible guide was able to hold the attention of a 9 year old and a 13 year old. She was so knowledgeable and answered every question. It is obvious that all of the staff/interns love the animals.

We splurged and stayed in the tree house on site. What an incredible experience waking to the sounds of the animals caroling. Although the tree house was on the small side, it met our needs. There were a few items provided for us in the refrigerator which was nice.

We are planning our next trip!

This was a cool sanctuary and the money went to help preserve the cause but could have lived without this on our trip. Someone on another one of adventures suggested so thought we would check it out could have saved our money and skipped it. We live near a very cool zoo that also participates in refuge projects so we have seen similar things.

A bit pricey for the tour but the money goes toward running the park so keep that in mind. 95% of the cats were either inside or simply laying down. Didn’t see any bears. Probably would have seemed “worth the cost” had the animals been active but that’s not the point of this place.
The tour was informative and our guide very sweet.
Worth a stop to at least check it out and make a donation (take a tour).

We did a guided tour which lasted an hour. It was neat to see all of the rescued animals. I loved that our guide told us the animals’ full stories including the ugly parts which absolutely opened my eyes.

Very nice facility. You know the animals are better off, then where they came from. You want to go early in the morning while the animals are still active, once the heat hits they basically go to sleep in the shade. The tram was better then walking it but was very noisy at times. The Guide did a good job giving us the back ground of each animal. We have been to other sanctuaries and the enclosures were larger then some and probably a lot bigger then their previous home. All the animals appeared to be happy and well taken care of. Thank You to Turpentine for being the foster parents for these animals.

Turpentine Creek is amazing! We haven’t been here in years. Every worker we spoke to truly loves to work there. That says something about this place. We camped in an RV spot and got to hang out to Joey near us. We enjoyed watching him in his pool watching us. 😊

If you haven’t been here before, you should go!

I love the work that this group does for these animals! They truly give them the best life possible! Lodging is very nice and I had rather give them my money to support their work!

This has been by far my most awesome vacation experience! Everyone there is so knowledgable, helpful, sweet, just everything you would want in a wild animal experience! Definitely recommend taking the carnivore tour. While we didn't get to see the animals being fed on that tour, we did get to see the cats from BCR, which was my sole reason to go there to start with. I had to meet Max. They made sure to stop by his enclosure and sit there until I got to see him. He chuffed at me! I will never forget it!

My wife and I went as part of our anniversary vacation. The big cats are incredible and of great interest to learn about. The guides are well equipped to provide as many answers as possible to your questions. You will learn a lot about Lions, Tigers, ... and yes even Bears! Other animals are also present with their own unique stories. Well worth it!

I had the remarkable experience of staying in one of two safari tents that had ALL the conveniences of a five-star hotel except indoor running water. The tent and the nearby bathroom were pristinely clean and comfortable. With the canvas covers of the windows rolled up, I had insect protection while still being able to hear the sounds of nature all around me.I was intermittantly serenaded through the night with "caroling" by the cats, a gentle sound almost a blend of purring and sighing they make conversing with each other. Paid extra for a private tour of behind-the-scenes places such as the veterinary clinic. Worth every penny!!!!

I did the tour with 7 friends on a girls weekend trip. Everyone enjoyed the tour as our guide was very informative. The animals all seemed to have tragic beginnings but now live in a place with lots of love and care. Good activity to do in Eureka Springs that’s fun and you are helping a good cause.

Very informative on the big cats. It appears they do everything they can to make the lion and tiger comfortable, happy and ways to entertain themselves. They advertise they have bears. But you only get to see one bear, bam-bam at the very beginning. He didn't seem to have the same luxuries. Though there was a pool in the enclosure that was it. He just walked in. Circles. Looked sad made me sad

I've known about this refuge for several years; I finally got to go last year. This year I took some of my family and now they are hooked and understand my love!

What a great place to visit! As we waited for our tour, we walked along the cemented walkway and saw different tigers, bobcats and a jaguar! Several tigers came right up to the edge of their fence and chuffed to say hello! We booked the 9:00 am tour because we knew the weather would be cooler and there would be the likelihood of possibly seeing more animals. We saw so many out and about. It was fun looking for them hiding throughout their enclosures. We really enjoyed the stories and information provided by our guide. It's amazing to see the work that goes into caring for these wild animals. Their enclosures are large and provide many opportunities for enrichment. We have enjoyed following the rescue stories and seeing pictures on Instagram. They even have a Live Cat Cam on Turpentine Creek's website! During our visit, we stayed in the Okavango Suite Safari Lodge and could actually hear the cats "caroling" in the early morning on our last day. Our room had a mini fridge stocked with complimentary water, juice and breakfast treats. It was really appreciated.

My wife and I toured on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Many of the animals were hiding in their shelters. We did get to see many of the other animals though. This was a well kept and informative tour. We enjoyed our time there.

Great staff. Wonderful work that they're doing, You can tell the animals are while taking care of and have really nice habitats with lots of toys. A lot of the animals were sleeping but there were so many that I still got to see quite a few. Surrounding land is very pretty too.

Oh my goodness!! A dream come true. We enjoyed hearing the big cats calling at night. It was absolutely amazing!!!

We were visiting Eureka Springs and were excited to find a big cat sanctuary outside of the city. It was a quality sanctuary with many big cats in their as close to natural habitat. For the price you can take the tram tour chocked full of information and also walk by several enclosures. Bam Bam the grizzly is close to the front and such an amazing site to see this regal bear foraging for sweet potatoes and playing in the waterfall. Each animal has a story of human neglect/abuse as they all were acquired illegally. They also have a campground and a lodge to stay on the grounds. Fabulous place. Go and see and help fund them.

Such a beautiful sanctuary. The animals have tragic pasts but they’re lucky to be taken in here. Very clean and well kept. The tour was wonderful. I love that you can stay here.

We booked the 11am time slot and we kept hearing, "trust me" and "if you could see this cat". We really couldn't see many animals at all. Was basically a tram ride. We were disappointed.

We loved this stop. The tram tour was very informative and really helped you understand the need for rescue of big cats and other animals. Very knowledgeable guide and friendly staff. We appreciated the ways they gave opportunities to ask questions and contribute. We were there mid to late afternoon and some of the cats are vocal and active as feeding time approaches. We are seniors, so it was affordable for us, too.

We took our 4 year old Grandson and stayed the night in the Siberian Suite. We had the best time! We had Joey, the tiger, right outside our window. We took the tram tour Sunday afternoon and again Monday morning. The animals were more active in the morning as the afternoon was warm. We heard the lions “chuffing” all night which was very cool to experience! All of the staff were extremely friendly and the experience was educational. They do a great job. We would highly recommend staying at Turpentine Creek but even if you can’t stay you should definitely visit.

Awesome stay in the Adult Only Safari Lodges on property with friends. Five cabins with community fire pit and hot tub. Each cabin/lodge had queen bed, microwave, refrigerator, light breakfast items, coffee, tea, bottled water, and juice. Very cozy and comfortable for a cold January night in the Ozarks.

Our first trip to the refuge. We will definitely be back and hope to make an overnight visit once Covid is not a risk to the animals and people. As someone who has been active in domestic animal rescue for years I understand first hand the amazing transformation an animal can make with proper care.

Best place ever , room is so clean and has coffee , tea and other eats . You can visit the animals , and they have a tour tram for your comfort . But you can walk as much as you want. The staff is great and helpful . The gift shop has so much for you to buy . We will be back again .

We stayed in the Bengal Suite and it was one of the most memorable family vacations we've ever had. The room was sparkly clean with all the amenities we needed, including breakfast snacks, water, juice, soaps and shampoos, nice thick towels, free wifi, etc. But, the best part though was having a tiger, a liger, and other animal enclosures literally right off the sitting porch of our cabin and you can hear the lions "talking" well into the evening! TCWR is an amazing place, and as much as I enjoyed visiting here previously, staying here was even more incredible. I am in awe by what they are able to do for the animals here (mainly by way of volunteer work, mind you). The animals are clearly loved and cared for as they should be, especially those that were in bad situations before being rescued by TCWR. They are doing amazing things here! Come and see these beautiful cats, bears, and animals for yourself and support this amazing place.

This place was amazing. Nothing fancy, but lots to experience. We were blessed to hear the male lions "chortle" for some time and it was comparable to the chill you get when hearing the elk "bugle" at Rocky Mtn National Park in the fall.

A great tram-tour with a lot of information about the animals, their safety, and how a good rescue operation should run. We enjoyed the entire experience and appreciate everything this refuge is doing for animals! Becky was a terrific tour guide and we had a good laugh at her love of the "grumpy cat" expression. If we ever return, we would definitely stay overnight to hear the big cats "sing" to us!

Some sad stories that had to be told along with alot of happy endings and beautiful animals. highly recommend going if only for an education. tour was informative. all employees were great!

We spent last night in the Siberian Suite and it was amazing! The room was spotless and the bed was very comfortable. The enclosure housing "Fergie" the tiger was adjacent to the building and she spent much of the evening on her perch outside our bedroom window. We've toured the sanctuary many times but this was our first overnight experience & the animals did not disappoint! At sunset we sat out on the deck & opened a bottle of wine. The lions began caroling at dusk & the tigers joined in shortly thereafter. At one point a pack of coyotes joined in, it was an experience we'll never forget. The night's stay was a birthday gift from my wife & I told her I want to make this an annual trip. I highly recommend Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge to everyone!

It was a nice and clean sanctuary. I think they are doing good for these animals. Kind of sad stories about how they came about being there. It’s non profit and all ticket prices go to the animal care. Animals weren’t very active while we were there. It was a cool morning but most animals were sleeping. But worth seeing and learning about animal abuse by people trying to profit from these beautiful animals.

The cats seem so contented here. So often big cats at zoos are pacing endlessly, but here they seem relaxed. Many were near the fence where they could be seem easily, or sleeping up on a platform. The black leopard was purring so loudly playing with his ring that I could hear him purr twenty feet away. These beautiful cats seem well taken care of and it is a special treat to to be able to see them. The interns are entheusiastic about being there to care for the cats and the tram tour is well done. For a special treat consider staying overnight in one of their lodging units.

We are a family of 5 with kids aged 9, 11, 13 and we all enjoyed it. It is very informative with the tour. It’s interesting to hear the stories of the animals and where they came from and help you think about animal tourism and supporting animal friendly animal tourism.

Dress appropriate for the weather as it is outdoors. It was cooler than we expected the day we visited do we layered up with all the clothes we could find in our car.

This place is awesome!! Listening to the cats chuff to each other is thrilling and strangely comforting. Turpentine Creek is a fantastic place and their staff is phenomenal. Their gift shop is well stocked with custom items.

We got to hear the amazing lions caroling, we watched the tigers, bears, and lions play. They are so well taken care of. Turpentine has been a special place in my heart ever since my first visit in 2015. I took my partner to see my favorite place on earth and even on a rainy day we had a blast. The staff is so friendly and nice, and they have many ways you can donate to help the animals in their care. They are a TRUE sanctuary. They do not breed, touch, or trade their animals.

Very fun and educational tram tour. The staff really care for the animals that they have rescued. They explain what each Big Cat has been through and how and when TCWR saved their lives.

The knowledge and obvious love of these beautifull rescued cats and Bam Bam the grissly bear by our Hostess on the trolley tour was unbelievable. She was one of the most knowledgeable presenters I ever had the pleasure of sitting through. I didn't want it to end! I still wonder about the cat we saw being taking for his chemo treatment. Having gone through chemo this year I felt deeply for this beautiful animal.

My Mom and I have visited and stayed at Turpentine around Mother’s Day since 2004. We have always loved our time there. The animals are so well cared for which they deserve after so much mistreatment. If you are an animal lover, please visit and if you can, stay there.

I was impressed on how well the animals were cared for! The shuttle tour is a must to see the most animals!! The guide was polite and knowledgeable! I would definitely go back again!!! Upon arriving a male lion was vocalizing sound cool! A must see!!!

The refuge was absolutely fantastic! Such a wonderful experience to see all of the spectacular animals! My family absolutely loved our time there. The weather was perfect. We will definitely be going back to support this wonderful place!

Visited with my 18 year old daughter and the tram tour was very educational. The tour guide stayed and answered all the questions we could think of and clearly had a devotion to the cause of these magnificent animals. I recommend visiting to support the important work of this refuge.

This was a really fun place. Everyone in our family enjoyed it (kids 10-16). We prepurchased time-specific tickets and arrived on the last tour of the day. It had just rained and was almost feeding time, so the animals were very active. We were stalked by the tigers as we rode by on the tram. We even got to hear the Lion "talk" and watch a little bit of their veterinary training at the end.

If you are thinking about visiting, do it! I booked an overnight stay in their treehouse onsite. It was the best experience I could ever have! Their staff is so sweet and welcoming. The animals are taken care of better than I've ever seen anywhere. Each animal has a story that any staff member is willing to tell you as you make your way around. Make sure you stop by and say hi to my favorite lion, Chief and learn his story of how love and proper care can make a HUGE difference. During your stay you won't have to worry about an alarm clock, the lions will gladly wake you up by caroling. I will forever support this true sanctuary to provide every exotic animal a forever safe and loving home.

Wonderful experience. Our tour guide Sarah was outstanding. She not only led our tram tour but walked around the grounds after answering questions and sharing more information about each animal. Great facility and beautiful, healthy animals!

A very interesting and informative experience. The Refuge provides a valuable service to animals who were mistreated or poorly bred. The tram tour is excellent and the guide was very knowledgeable and related many facts and knew each of the animals and their habits very well. There's sad and cautionary backstory to how many of the big cats were rescued from private ownership or dubious roadside zoos.

This is a good family outing while visiting the Eureka Springs area, and my only reservation was that it was a hot late morning visit. There's not a lot of shade for humans.

We had a few hours to fill for the afternoon, so we followed the signs in Eureka Springs to this Wildlife Refuge. We took a nice tour on a small tram around the animals. It was interesting to hear how the animals came to call this place home, and see how well they are doing now. The guide on our tram was excellent and was very well educated on the Refuge. It was fun, and educational too.

We were a little disappointed with out visit here. The facility is outstanding and TCWR is a true refuge for tigers and lions—not just in name only. They do an excellent job taking care of animals that have been mistreated and it is their “forever” home. However, it is a little pricey ($25) during this time of Covid-19, because in their extreme effort to protect the animals and people, you cannot walk around. Therefore, you cannot see many of the animals at all. Secondly, unless you are there when the animals are being fed, at least 1/2 of the animals are probably asleep in locations where you can not view them at all.
We were taken around on a tram which was nice because that way the guide could talk in a mic which was helpful because otherwise with her wearing a mask you could not hear her at all. The group was very large! But the brakes on the tram squeaked so loudly that it made it hard to hear her a lot of the time! (Plus a little boy and his father kept a conversation going behind us that made me want to give up trying! 🤪)
I feel the price should have been lowered due to the changes that had to be made at this time due to the Covid virus.

This is an amazing experience! You get to see lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!

They have a walk-through area and they also have a tram area where they take you for a guided tour.

This is not a zoo. This is a comfortable place for these creatures to live. The education about the refuge and the big cats' stories was the best part.

This was a really information and fun way to learn about the animals in refuge. We highly recommend for all ages. We learned so much and had a great time.

Very cool place. All animals are rescued and taken very good care of here. All monies spent to get in and on souvenirs goes to take care of the animals.

This place has been on my must-see list for months, and I was not disappointed! Jadranka, my guide, was friendly, smart, dedicated, and wonderfully knowledgeable about all the animals. The love for these critters is evident throughout the facility. They are cared for, have room to roam, have quality veterinary care as well as enrichment, and are finally happy. Kudos to all of you, and next time, I will stay on the property!! 😊

We have been members here for 15 years. Each time we visit we are impressed by all the improvements. Everything that has taken place since our first visit is really wonderful. People who complain about the cost should consider how expensive it is just to feed over 10O big cats plus all the bears and other animals. We just returned from San Diego where we visited their Zoo. We paid almost $100/each! Wowzer! We saw way more big cats, bears & other animals at Turpentine Creek. As stated in other posts the animals are most active early & late in the day. If you can visit when it is snowing the Tigers are really active chasing & biting at the snow flakes! Each time we have visitors from out of town we try to make a visit here & everyone has been very impressed & loved the experience.

Our 2nd trip. Really enjoy this wildlife refuge. Their cause is admirable. I've said it before, so much nicer than a zoo. Most zoos do not have the large cats to see like TCWR does...and they are there for the best reasons. This trip was a little different due to covid...our tour was via tram. First visit we could do by foot, which I enjoyed more...but we understand and were happy to abide by all safety rules...no problem wearing a mask for us. You will see animals here you may never get to see elsewhere, and from what I understand that is sad in it's own way...due to people trying to mix breed animals that should not. But so nice these innocent animals have a caring place to live. Safety is the top concern, these are not pets, these are animals and they have instincts...don't behave improperly around them and upset them. Enjoy their beauty and the fact they are there. Great place and great mission.

Knowledgeable and engaging tour guide. Variety of animals with different histories and backgrounds. Loved the gift shop!

Turpentine creek wildlife lodging staff is very friendly and the rooms are always very clean and tidy. What we will talk about is the experience, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity but I would recommend Turpentine creek wildlife lodging as much as you can go it’s a great getaway and family friendly place to visit. Big thank you to Turpentine Creek wildlife for helping and giving the awesome care and voice for their animals

It was hot when we went so not as many animals were out. Loved hearing the narrative from our guide, although sad to hear some the stories. Great thing this animal sanctuary is doing.

This place is a true sanctuary. They very clearly care about ethical treatment and I loved my experience there!

The Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is a special place where the animals seem to matter. Each habitat is special for the animals that live there. It is primarily a big cat refuge but a wonderful large grizzly bear is the first animal that you see. we saw about 15 total animals on the day that we visited. The animal scientist who narrated our visit was perfect and seemed to care about each animal. Getting to the tram was difficult in my wheel chair as soft gravel and grass were obstacles along the way. Wonderful overall experience.

Oh! This is an amazing experience! Very informative and seeing this majestic cats so close is such an experiment ! Definitely add to your itinerary ! All your costs go to helping the maintenance of the facility and cats !

Great spot for kids & families to see big cats up close. Awesome to see the animals in a healthy setting as well.

The granddaughters really Enjoyed the place. It was nice to ride the tram around and the girl that was telling us about everything was really knowledgeable! Of course some of the animals were not out where you could fully see them.

Visited here for 1 hour tram tour which we were the only ones on it. The guide told us many sad but also hopeful stories about the rescued cats. Saw many lovely animals and walked around after tour to see them . They are doing an amazing job rescuing and caring for these animals. They try to give them enough room to roam a bit and they are well fed and they give them toys to play with. We saw a tiger gnawing at a pumpkin and another playing with a huge ball. Very impressive work!

We stayed overnight and we heard the lions talking to each other during the night. We also took a tram tour and got to see the animals in their habitat. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. The animals are so beautiful and it was nice to see them playing with their enrichment toys.

Great place, we loved the tour. it was good to find out how to avoid the types of places that just take advantage of the cats. Very informational.

Great place and doing good things for the animals they have. Don't go in the mornings no as it seems the animals like to sleep in.

Coming during COVID-19 mask mandates changed the experience here, versus what I heard from feedback from others in my group that had been here pre-COVID. I was a bit disappointed as to how much of the property can't be seen now, but it was nice to have a guided tour and get more backstory about the animals were we able to see.

Most of the stories were great, they were informative or funny, and served to enhance my understanding of their experiences and the operation in general. However, some of the stories waded into anecdotes of lions and tigers getting sick with COVID. I was surprised to see the COVID transfer to lions and tigers being real, but it is still an astronomically small number of animals. We wouldn't be getting any closer on foot than we were on the tram, and masks were required for all attendees anyway.

Additionally, it became preachy near the end that we should support more government laws regarding big cat ownership. I'm supportive of educational efforts, to share information on the pros and cons of these industries, but asking guests to support government intrusion detracted from the experience. Not to mention, such laws wouldn't do much, because people who choose to have animals in unsafe conditions are unlikely to follow laws and regulations anyway.

Complaints aside, the animals are fun to watch and appear to be well taken care of. It's a bit pricey but a worthwhile experience to have. Maybe save this one until they've calmed down on COVID panic, but don't rule it out.

We visited for the 3:00 tour. The bear up front was adorable and fun. And that was the end of the positive. The first thing our guide told us was that we had just paid $50 and the animals are really only active at 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Had we known that, we'd have waited an hour for the later tour. We rode around listening to her literally repeat the same sentences over and over at each cage, fussing and fuming about animal abuse rather than sharing interesting things about the cats...and most of said cats were sleeping in their indoor enclosure and couldn't be seen. Of the maybe 15 we saw, only 2 so much as moved a muscle. If the animals are only active twice a day, then only give 2 tours per day. And please make it a pleasant tour, not a long sermon on not abusing animals...I don't abuse animals and I don't support animal abuse, so you wasted my time, your breath, and my money.

my wife and I, who have stayed here two times previously, took our 11 month old daughter here last week. We stayed in the Siberian suite as the other facilities are not suitable for young children. Very cozy, they even had a pack and play crib made up for our daughter, which we were not expecting but appreciated! Can't wait to go again!

My husband and I are monthly donors to TCWR and wanted to visit the refuge in person. We are so glad we went! It was wonderful to see how well cared for the animals are. The amount of thought and effort that goes into taking care of these animals is incredible. We enjoyed the tram ride around the refuge and hearing about each animal’s personality and rescue story. It was also lovely to see animals like Lakota the tiger and Bam Bam the grizzly bear enjoying their custom pools in the summer heat. The gift shop is also full of great stuff. This is a must-visit place for animal lovers!

I started following TCWR on Facebook once the BCR cats were being announced they were moving there. I had a dream to meet Max tiger in person. That dream came true during this trip. There is nothing I can put words to describe the feeling of pure happiness seeing him in person. What I wouldn’t give to live near there and volunteer there! Staff and volunteers there are so knowledgeable, helpful and caring. Definitely going again and it needs to be on everyone’s bucket list!!

Our family stayed for two nights in the Siberian Suite. It was awesome! Super clean, comfortable, and stocked with a nice variety of snacks and drinks. We enjoyed sitting outside (even at night, in the cold!) so we could listen to the lions caroling. So amazing!!

We were able to see so many beautiful animals. They have a fabulous internship program and the interns are hard working and very knowledgeable. The animals are so loved and well taken care of.

The entire staff was so welcoming and nice, we can't wait to visit again.

very knowledgable staff. beautiful cats! several rescues from oklahomas tiger king. animals were happy and well taken care of. around $25 gets you a bus tour and a chance to walk around and take your time as well

My family of six visited Turpentine in honor of my mother who recently passed in April. It was her very favorite place in the world and we had visited multiple times over the years. We purchased the carnivore tour, which was hands-down one of the best experiences in our lifetime. We spent well over three hours Visiting, seeing animals, understanding the vetting, looking at how their meals are prepared and overall just watching the animals. It is expensive, but it's something you would never forget. This was actually the second time I've done it. Even if you're just completing the regular tour, it is so well organized, and well run, all of the employees are truly dedicated to the mission. Jade, one of the animal caretakers took extra time to paint a memorial call out for a tiger to enjoy when we got in front of the enclosure. The only downside is there was the call of bad weather and many of the animals were put in their night houses so we missed Several of the high profile animals, but Jason still made our experience memorable, highly highly highly recommend, my only regret is that I didn't stay in the lodging on premise. We will do that next time.

I have stayed in the cottages and the Siberian suite
Definitely first choice is the Siberian.The tour staff was very helpful to my handicapped wife in assisting her getting aboard the tram. Great staff.

You have got to go. They even have places on site to spend the night.

They do a lot of great work saving big cats and other animals. If you do one thing while visiting the area, you MUST DO THIS!!!

This is a wonderful place to visit and support. It is the permanent home of beautiful animals rescued from terrible conditions. Although we did not stay there overnight we wish we had time to do so. The accommodations seemed very nice and it would have been awesome to hear the animals at night. Staff was very helpful. We enjoyed the young interns who were gaining experience caring for these beautiful animals.

First wildlife refuge I have visited so I can't compare to others. I really enjoyed learning why it was built and the facts of what it takes to support these animals. The guide set the appropriate expectation that this isn't a zoo but a place where animals come to live their best lives after sometimes inhumane treatment.

The time of day does matter. I thought early morning we would be able to see more tigers walking around but most were still in their night-time dwellings which was far from the tram ride.

The experience we had at Turpentine was Grrrreeeaat!

Tony the Tiger said it best. But, he is a cartoon, and being on the premises with the real tigers, lions and more was so special.

Our lodge, the Congo suite felt like being in Africa. Listening to the animals coraling at night was amazing.

It is so wonderful to know the Big Cats have been rescued and are so well cared for!

An added value we had was to get an education on the team tour, led by capable young interns.

Cannot help but give 5 stars for the work this place does. Owning these cats should be regulated. The stories of how the animals came here is heartbreaking. Our tram guide was wonderful. Now the downside for our trip. 100 degrees in July in the south at 1 pm. This is on us not the refuge. I assumed the cats loved hot weather. Most were in their houses and not out. The ones that were out were lounging in the shade and were hard to see. We will definitely go back when it is cooler and possibly the 8-9 am hour, when it's feeding time. Again we went at the worst time of the year. The animals are very well cared for.

A wonderful place for old and young alike. The tour starts with an overview of the refuge's purpose and layout. Then you board a tram that takes you around the various enclosures. The tour is very educational and enjoyable.

This refuge for wild large cats is an absolute gem. They do their very best to provide the best care for these animals, many of which endured horrific cruelty by previous owners before being rescued by Turpentine Creek. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the animals in their care and the tram tour of the facility is well worth the visit. You can also lodge on the property if you so desire. They also take COVID seriously there as the large cats can contract the disease so they do their best to ensure that the animals and the visitors follow appropriate risk reduction protocols. I cannot say enough good things about this animal refuge. It was the highlight of my trip to Eureka Springs. Please donate to them to help them continue to rescue these beautiful creatures.

The caroling, the cats were so active. It was a beautiful, relaxing experience! I love this place and what they do for these beautiful animals. All the staff were so friendly. The tour was incredible!

Very relaxing, loved seeing the saved animals. We learned so much about big cats and bears.
Terrible to hear about their about and neglect.

This is a large animal refuge that is so strong that they take in animals from places that are less strong. A lot of care and concern for the animals. The most common animal is tigers. Also lions, servals, bobcats, and bears.

There are guided tram tours starting at the top of each hour.

Since we arrived at 9:15, we walked the grounds first (took about 40 minutes) - saw what we could with interpretive signs throughout.

Then we took the guided tram tour (55 minutes) and learned the history, the care, and saw twice the number of animals from when we were walking.

Very clean. People take pride in their work. There is a gift shop and restrooms.

We spent just over 2 hours there.

We went as a weekend getaway to see the refuge and stay there as well. We were not disappointed. Worth everything. Thank you for all that you are doing to raise awareness for these magnificent animals.

The stories of the rescued wildlife is sad but proves this refuge has a great need.
The animals were beautiful!
Their habitats were pristine.
All staff was very helpful and informative.
Seems we saw the animals up closer after their evening feeding.
Loved hearing the chuffs!
Bam Bam was very entertaining.

The entire experience of the tour and overnight stay is definitely worth your money. Family oriented.

My kids loved this place…even though it was freezing. My kids are big animals fan. But the loved hearing about the animals and their rescues. Watching the bear play and seeing the tigers and lions out was a big hit.

Plan at least a couple of hours here. An hour to see the animals you can walk through and an hour for the tram. Yours leave on the hour. So for us we got there about 1:15 and gave us time to look before the 2pm tram tour.

And if you have hear of tiger King some
Of his animals were rescued and brought here.

Everything!
From the Highly Educational Tram Tour, to the Wonderful Staff, strolling through the enclosure( meaning relax, enjoy, and take the time to read) Fun Lodging, to the Enchanting
Cats Caroling!
1st visit 2018,
2nd visit/was our 1st overnight stay 2021in Bam Bam's Glamping Tent,
3rd visit/2nd overnight in the Tree Top House2022.

We are a family of four and stayed two nights in the Siberian suite. We fell in love with Fergy, the liger residing just outside our window. Sleeping on site and listening to the animals at night was magical. Fergy and Chief the lion were bellowing at each other multiple times during the night (but we still got plenty of sleep). This was such a unique experience. The whole refuge is very well done, and you can tell the people who work there really care about their jobs and the animals. We had trouble narrowing down our favorite animals. Fergy, Spyke, Bam Bam, and Tigger were definitely on the list. All of the white tigers were spectacular. Eureka Springs was also a great little town with good restaurants. We will definitely be back.

Love the care they are giving their animals and the rescue information to help understand how to educate our children on these endangered animals

Fantastic place to spend a couple of hours with big cats. Be sure to come as soon as they open as that is when the big cats are most active. This is a sanctuary for rescued big cats. The big cats are allowed to “be themselves” so don’t expect a Barnum & Bailey show. However, the staff did a great job of explaining the history behind the rescued cats. Definitely worth a visit.

I love visiting Turpentine Creek. The care given to the animals is phenomenal. Guides are all very knowledgeable about the animals. I definitely recommend spending the night, nothing beats waking up in the early hours and listening to the lions caroling. We visit Eureka Springs every year simply to go to Turpentine Creek. We would go multiple times a year if it was just a little closer.

So family friendly and informative. We loved this place and highly recommend it to anyone who lives animals!!

The staff is amazing. I love watching them interact with the animals. What they do for these animals is great and hearing each rescue story hits hard. This is why my trips are here because it helps the animals. Highly highly recommend.

We had an incredible morning on the behind the scenes Carnivore Caravan guided tour (given by Jade the day we went). Nothing was off limits, we got to see all the animals (big cats, little cats, and bears) you would see on the general tour and we also got to see the animals on Rescue Ridge, the veterinary hospital, and the commissary. We also got to see the future expansion area were the big cats from Carole Baskin's Big Cat Rescue will live. Everyone was extremely attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. The signs in the self guided area were informative and engaging. It's clear that the animals' health and well being is a top priority at this facility. We highly recommend visiting this refuge and supporting the animals in their care. Definitely a highlight of our trip to NW Arkansas. We didn't spend the night onsite but I wish we would have, what an experience that would be!

Loved our visit! Our tour guide was so knowledgeable about each animal; their story, their breed, their names, and their personalities. The work they do to rescue these magnificent animals from such sad situations and give them the care they deserve, a safe environment, and education to visitors is amazing.

This was absolutely awesome will come back I was saddened by the stories but thankful their rescued….plus they let us bring our service dogs

We were very impressed by Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. So glad we visited. The staff were extremely helpful and educational. The animals were very well cared for and the quality of the facility was impeccable. Just wandering around town, we could tell they were highly respected in the community as several businesses either recommended them or advertised for them freely.

We really enjoyed our tour here. The kids loved seeing how active the cats were with the highlight being the "black panther". Totally worth spending one afternoon here while visiting Eureka Springs.

This was a waste of time. Most animals were in their "dens" and you just ride on a tram around the outside and see very little. The kids on our tour were so disappointed. Our guide didn't speak clear english so we missed about half of that. There were a couple of cats but they were laying on their backs way up the hill.

A great place to see and take kids although great for adults only too. The refuge is very clean and well kept. Staff is knowledgable and very nice. Would love to come and stay in the cabins overnight.

Did the general admission tour and it was sad but incredible hearing all of the animals stories and how they were rescued and have been rehabilitated. It was a privilege to see the refuge, animals, and their care. I look forward to going back and hopefully doing the carnivore tour.

It was good to see all the cats they rescued and also the bear. Very nice seeing them being treated right and living the best life.

wonderful place. they do good work here. we had the time of our life! great experience with my 11 yr old granddaughter!

My husband and I first visited Turpentine Creek on our honeymoon to Eureka Springs in 2007. We were in the area for Spring Break and decided to bring our kids to see the big cats! Boy has it changed! The refuge is so much larger now and caring for so many more rescued animals. They have expanded immensely! The tram tour was great. Our guide taught us a lot about the different animals. We really enjoyed visiting again!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The staff were helpful and knowledgeable, we learned quite a bit as well as being entertained by the big cats' antics! Definitely worth the trip.

I was hesitant about this due to fairly steep admission costs for a family of four, but when two teenage boys agree on something of interest on vacation ... you do what you can to make it work. ;-) I was so pleasantly surprised! On a beautiful fall day, we enjoyed 2+ hours of viewing amazing animals and learning about their behaviors and personalities and histories ... which are quite sad, but it is so wonderful to see the new beginnings the refuge makes possible for them! We spent about half our time exploring on foot and half on a tram ride with an extremely knowledgeable and personable guide. The animals are just gorgeous, and after difficult and unfair starts in life for them, it's inspiring to see how the refuge and its supporters are committed to giving them healthy, safe, happy forever homes. We enjoyed this family time together and felt great about supporting such a worthy effort. Among many beautiful animals, we especially enjoyed seeing Bam Bam the grizzly and Kyro the li-liger. Great experience.

Learned what distinguishes a true rescue.. Our guide was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. It is well worth a visit and an extra donation to a worth cause.

Great entertainment AND education. Tour guides and staff are very knowledgeable about a TRUE sanctuary and help guests understand the difference from facilities that exploit animals. Animals (mostly big cats) are very well cared for. Be sure to make reservations and pay attention to health requirements. For an extra special experience, stay overnight.

Every animal here has a tragic story of how he/she came to be here, but they have happy and healthy lives now. A MUST to visit!

Staying overnight at Turpentine Creek was a fantastic experience! We stayed in the Siberian Suite and loved watching Detroit the Tiger play with his toys each morning. Our favorite part of staying at TCWR is hearing the lions carol, it’s amazing. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and go out of their way to ensure you have a great stay.

In addition to tea and coffee, there were some snacks, water and juice available in the room. The refrigerator and microwave made it convenient for storing and warming up left overs. While TCWR doesn’t have dining available (there is a small concession stand available during limited times), there are many fabulous options in Eureka Springs.

We absolutely love staying at TCWR and will return’

The tour was wonderful and the staff and interns were very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. We also enjoyed watching the staff during their big cat training sessions. There are 6 spacious and beautiful RV sites, as well as "safari" tent cabins and other accommodations. The grounds are absolutely beautiful with a lush forest behind our RV and a view of layers of Ozarks from our picnic area. Our site #1 is right next to a tiger Fergie's habitat. Hearing the "caroling" of the cats from dusk to dawn made for a most unique glamping experience! We would highly recommend this little gem of a place to relax and enjoy the magnificent cats and the glorious scenery!

Had to wait for your tour but they had video to watch while waiting. Very informative/educational. People very passionate about their facility.

It was very informative but don’t go if you want to see the animals. The tram ride was all about the animals and how they came to be there. Sad but informative. Just wasn’t what we expected as we were hoping to see the animals up close and personal.

My husband and I loved seeing all the beautiful animals at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge! The 1-hour guided tram tour is definitely a must, as it allows you to see so many more animals than you can see in the walkable exploration area. We got there right as the tram was leaving, so we took an hour to walk around the exploration area, and before we knew it, the tram was ready to take us on a tour! Almost all of the animals were visible doing their thing inside the enclosures we passed. They are all well cared for and clearly enjoy their forever home. This is the perfect alternative to a zoo trip that includes education about exotic animal welfare.

Took the 10am your because we wanted to go before it was too hot for the cats. We were told 5pm is also a good time since that's when they're fed. Tram tour was good, we were at the far back but could hear the guide fine and they were pretty good about pulling up so that we didn't get shut out of the good views. Lots of the enclosures were still being tended to but half the time the keepers were pretty cool about encouraging the cats to chase them around (from the other side of the fence) for us. We didn't really have an opportunity to just chill and watch some cats but that was mostly because they're super cautious about Covid and keeping the cats healthy.

We love this place soooo much we bought season passes so we can enjoy it every time we are in town. the staff is very knowledgeable and friendly.

We absolutely LOVED our visit at Turpentine Creek. We thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend the Rescue Ridge Tour, where you see more of the refuge and where the food preparation takes place and the hospital care area is located. Amazing place to see! We also love staying overnight in the beautiful lodging that is available. We love the Siberian Suite where you can see a couple of big cats right outside the window. It is so awesome to hear the lions roaring to each other as we lounge in our room. Such an amazing experience for all ages!
We think everyone at Turpentine Creek is wonderful, giving so much of themselves for these animals. We can tell that the staff here, LOVES these animals so much. We tell everyone we know about the good things going on there. And we have shared the website videos with our friends. This is one place that everyone would enjoy.

The tour is so informative and makes you realize how Turpentine rescues and cares for these big cats, a few bears and other species. So impressed by all the work done by the interns also. All the tour guides and other staff are very knowledgeable about these wild animals and know them all by name! Turpentine is a true sanctuary who rescues them,giving them a forever home. Also as the animal ages, they can be transferred to "Rescue Ridge", where they live out their days on flat land. Turpentine is a wonderful family experience, especially when you stay overnight in their lodging. There are suites, a treehouse, tents, etc.- anything that fits your needs. The most wonderful event happens each night around 8:00. The lions and ligers begin to carol. They continue some during the night and then early in the morning before their breakfast. My experience at the suite was one of sitting on the big porch, just listening and being so grateful for the people at Turpentine who care so much about providing forever homes. Book your stay!

This is my 4th trip to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, but the first time to stay on the grounds. NO REGRETS!!! I stayed in the Siberian Suite and it was absolutely amazing! I could look out of my bedroom window and watch tigers. My sister-in-law and niece stayed in the Treehouse, which is on the other side of the tigers. We had the absolute best time!!! I've already booked my next time! IF there's not one coming up even before that lol

Our guide was fantastic! She told us tons of details about every animal. It was so amazing to see these majestic creatures so content and cared for. I can not recommend this refuge enough!

We love staying on the property and experiencing all the roars and cuffs, especially at night! The tram tours are fantastic and so informative. I learn something new each time we go! Everyone does such a great job caring for all the animals!

What a FANTASTIC long weekend getaway! TCWR is a relaxing, back to nature not to far away destination vacation spot. Ohhh and there are rescued animals TOO! No crazy "tiger king" here. There is animals from all over the US that have been rescued and are taken care of by the Smith family and their dedicated staff and interns. All of the animals are given the care they deserve. Some of the activities are limited due to Covid, because big cats are very susceptible to the virus...but TCWR has made adjustments to make your experience fun, educational and exciting.
We stayed at one of the RV spots and was "caroled" to by the tigers in the morning and evenings....WOW!
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is a must add to your excursion list!

I am absolutely in love with Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. Please go and see these beautiful animals in their habitats. These animals are so well-loved and cared for! Please support them if you can. It is a fabulous charity to support!

Interesting viewing if the different types of tigers and lions. This is worth a look to see how these animals are rescued from abuse.

Great place that takes the well-being of its animals seriously. It’s the most important thing, that they’re animals are happy and not forced to interact or be out. Great shop and the tram tour was nice, just know the animals may not be active, but that’s ok in their own homes!

It was one of the best experiences of my life! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and passionate, she took the time to tell us in detail about each cat's story. The cats were beautiful and majestic. They were super playful with one another at times and it was cool to hear their roars as well.

This was a highlight of our trip. They are doing such great work here for big cats and deserve to be recognized and applauded for it. The facility is large and very well staffed. The staff was very friendly and informative. We really enjoyed the tram ride around the complex. We learned alot about these animals and were so impressed by what they are doing there to get these animals healthy and out of unsafe situations. The donations they receive are well spent, as they are doing important work for these beautiful creatures. You can easily walk past all the areas where the animals are kept and see a variety of big cats and smaller animals, like servals and mountain lions. They also have a large brown bear on site. They work with rescue groups all over the country to get these animals into a safe, caring and healthy environment. Kudos to the refuge staff!

My wife and I were having ourselves a little honeymoon in Bentonville after tying the knot on October 16th. We were looking for things to do in our hotel and saw the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. We both had heard so many great things about it and knew we had to check it out. It was a 100% worth it, I know some of the reviews talk about how having to wear the masks are stupid or what not. It is to keep the big cats safe, as someone who had COVID and then gave COVID to their house cat (who has now since recovered) I understand why they want to protect them. Our Tour Guide on October 18th was phenomenal and extremely knowledgeable about the animals. We knew going into this we probably wouldn't get to see all the animals due to this not being a zoo and it being a refuge. A refuge literally means a place to rest and that is what these animals are getting.

10/10 Visit!
We definitely will be coming back sometime in the future and plan to do one of the exclusive tours so we can see Rescue Ridge!

Thank you for all you do for these animals!

Big cat refuge where they take in abused and otherwise mistreated lions, tigers, etc....primarily BIG cats. They have created as natural a habitat possible for these creatures to live out their remaining days, fed and well cared for! Recommend the approximately one-hour riding/narrated tour around the refuge. Then you can take as long as you want to walk through the refuge....perfectly safe, the animals are all in secure enclosures. Great gift shop to obtain gifts, shirts, caps, etc and make donations to the work this incredible place is doing! If you are in the Eureka Springs area, this is a must see!

Decided to pay this place a visit and even though it was cold and cloudy , we had fun. Bought tickets online and got a reservation time. It was cloudy and had rained that morning and was damp and cloudy. Most of the big cats were out and about, they said they enjoy getting rain and cooler weather . You can tell the animals were well taken care of and had large enclosures to stay in .

Great tours! Consider pulling covered tram cars (not right word) with something other than diesel truck. To noisy and the fumes were nauseous. Carbon Monoxide over dose.. heath and safety risk. But, loved the animals and the guide was fantastic..

This visit we only got to stay over night. This trip we stayed in a safari lodge hut. Loved it. From the African art and decorations to the marvelous deck overlooking the woods.

Tv,WiFi,coffee teas oatmeal,fruit cups muffins,water what more could you want. Oh wait a fire pit with a meeting circle in front.

We stayed in the Bengal Suite, took 2 tours and the Carnivore tour the next morning. What a wonderful experience. Loved watching the tigers and bears. They are so well taken care of! Amazing stories of rescue of these awesome animals.

Seeing the animals and hearing their stories was wonderful. Glad to hear they are not touched or bred. This place is doing great work!

We visit here every year at this time for fall foliage, motorcycle riding and visiting our wild felines! We help sponsor a lion and lioness. We love what the refuge does to provide these rescued animals with forever homes and care. We also really enjoying the safari lodges where we can enjoy the sounds of the lions caroling night and day.

We enjoyed the tram ride to see the beautiful cats and hearing their stories. Great enclosures and staff.

We hadn’t been here in over a decade and it just keeps getting better and better. It is so clean and there are beautiful habitats that give the animals multiple options on how to spend their day. If they want to be seen, they can be but if they want to be out of sight, they have that option too. Every employee was so friendly and knowledgeable. The tram tour is wonderful and you receive so much information. Every animal has a story and most were abused before they were rescued and ended up here. This place really is a sanctuary for these animals and it is well worth a visit.

Would live there if I could! Loved every moment of the two days/night spent there! Stayed in the Tree House! Very comfortable, gorgeous view of the valley. Close the Fergie the Liger, and final night she chuffed the night away which I thoroughly enjoyed. Very comfortable bed, but would rather listen to her chuff than sleep!

This refuge for cats that are castoffs from owners who didn't want them once they got big, breeders who discovered a flaw, or venues that couldn't care for them.
We enjoyed looking at the animals prior to the tour and then hopped on a trolley to do the rest. The trolley ride was narrated and interesting, stopping at each area for a nice amount of time, and moving up to let each part of the trolleys have a good view.
We were there on a hot day when the cats aren't as active so didn't get to see all of them out and about.
Suggestion: Plan a visit on a cooler day. They are also more active early morning and later evening.

This was our third visit to Turpentine Creek. We decided to go in the afternoon and just made the 2:00 tour, and we were glad we did. A worker told us the animals in the tour of habitats are fed about 3:30, so a lot were out walking. We were ably to hear several tigers “chuffing.” The intern who led the tour was very knowledgeable, and she obviously really cared about and knew the animals, as did every worker with whom we interacted. We highly recommend!

The staff was very friendly and helpful, the tour informative, and the animals amazing to watch. It's an easy drive from Eureka Springs and well worth the time and money in my opinion.

One of the bobcats was growling at us and vocalizing. I took about 10 pictures but later, upon review, none of them had actually taken. I was so disappointed. Since we were staying at the Refuge, about 5:10 p.m. on Saturday, I talked with 3 staff members. I explained the situation and asked them if there was any way they could take my camera and take some pictures of the bobcats. They said yes and returned within a few minutes with some great pictures of the bobcat. I thought that was very sweet of them and I appreciate it so much.

We send people here alot & they always come back overjoyed. Keep on providing such a fun outing for people. We valuie & appreciate you!

This place was so heart warming to me. I never knew so many problems existed in the big cat world. The tour-guide was very knowledgeable, compassionate and knew all of the cats and their history. They take such good care of them. We rode a tram due to covid while she spoke on a microphone. The tram stops at each living area of each animal while she tells you how they got there, what their personalities are like, etc. Well worth the money and time. It was my favorite thing we did in Eureka Springs. Someone had donated pumpkins and the bear and cats all had a good time playing with those.

I've wanted to visit for many years and
yesterday I finally got to go! The weather was awesome and my husband and I had a great time! Our guide was very knowledgeable and most of the animals were out enjoying the sun! The stories of the rescued animals were sad but I couldn't help but be happy for them! They are now healthy, happy, well fed, pins are clean, and most of all they are loved! I now need to say that my favorite animal at the cat sanctuary was Bam Bam the grizzly! Lol he was very entertaining! Bear yoga is so much fun to watch!

We went on a cloudy day so the animals were quite active. Staff and visitors are required to wear masks in the discovery area which made me feel much more comfortable. Everyone there was so friendly and knowledgeable.

Very informative. Your heart goes out to these rescued animals. The tour is about an hour or so. It was not crowded. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly.

Lots of large cats to see. You will pay what you would pay at a large zoo, just to see the large cats. I went there once, glad I went, but have no need to return.

These rescued animals are very well cared for, not only food and shelter but they have enrichment as well. The staff and interns are constantly busy taking care of all the animals and their habitat. There is always someone around to ask questions and they are very knowledgeable and willing to talk about the refuge.

We enjoyed our tour, and were amazed at the stories about the rescued animals. The center is admirable in their help to the animals in need.

Well run facility. You can tell they care about these rescued animals. You can get so close. I have been several times and the best visit was toward the end of the day. Feeding time is the best

We took the 10am tour. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and told great history about each of the animals. We highly recommend this place. Love how they love on the animals.

An amazing and educational place to visit and learn facts about the big cats history. There are many sad life events that rescued cats have endured and TCWR provides a forever home of love and attention. The staff are knowledgeable and will share each cats story. Some (most) are heartbreaking. You'll see beautiful majestic cats of all sizes and a few bears and there is a hyena who is pretty special. It takes a village to care for the 90+ rescues and that's what TCWR has developed over their 31 years! AND you can stay overnight ON THE PROPERTY and see and hear the lions at night.

Turpentine Creek Refuge is truly a magical place. It is clear all the rescued animals are relaxed and happy, and the staff is knowledgable and caring. The 2 tours we went on were informative and fun, and the Discovery area was delightful to explore on our own.

There was a lot of great information on the tour. The stories we heard about the animals were heartwarming. Our tour guide was Jackie and she did great.

This a must see!! My husband said he wanted to visit, and I agreed. I'm so glad I did! The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The nice little tour on the trolley takes you through the whole refuge. They explain how/why they obtained the animals.

This is my favorite place to visit to see and hear the animals. TCWR does an amazing job of caring for these animals and it is well worth the visit. I recommend going when it is not too hot outside as most of the animals will stay inside their houses when too hot.

We decided to go here when we saw the sign on the way to Eureka Springs. We paid $25 each for the experience. You get on a tram and an interpreter tells you about all the big cats that they have at the sanctuary. Some of these are heartbreaking stories that the animals had to endure before they got to Turpentine. During the tour you can't see all the animals that they are talking about. This didn't bother us at all. We saw plenty of beautiful animals during the tour, which takes about 45 minutes. After the tour you can walk around and see the bears and smaller animals they have. If you are thinking $25 is a lot, it goes to feeding these beautiful animals. When you are done head to the gift shop for some great souvenirs. We will be back with the kids!

My daughter and I enjoyed our trip there. It was nice to learn about the organization and what they do to ensure the health and safety of both the cats and visitors. It's a great mission and they do it with care. It was very hot that day and unfortunately we didn't see too many cats up close. But we understood, it's not predictable and that could happen at any zoo. It was still worth it, if only to support the organization.

TCWR is a must visit!! They are a true sanctuary that gives their rescues an amazing life. On our tour we learned the story of each animal we viewed. Though the stories may start out sad, they all have wonderfully happy endings thanks to TCWR. Our tour was on a tram due to Covid-19, but it was still wonderful. Our guide told us each animals story and made sure we all had photo opportunities. The tour lasted almost an hour. Lots of wonderful items in their gift shop and the money goes to help with their costs. If you love big cats, this a great opportunity to not only view, but learn about these amazing creatures.

It was an amazing experience and will make a return trip. The facility is very nice and the people truly care about the animals. It was also very educational. Everyone should visit at least once. You won't be sorry you did. We loved hearing the Lions calling to each especially at night and early mornings. The bears are wonderful as well especially Bam Bam the Grizzly!

The surroundings here are just beautiful! The entire facility is extremely nice. We stayed in numerous rooms while we were here to get the full experience. From being right next to their habitat to being above them in a tree house. I would love to come back here every year! Every single employee here is right on top of their game and so very nice. It's very obvious they all care very much for the animals and their jobs. Can't wait to come back!

I took my 5 year old granddaughter to visit Turpentine Creek Wildlif Refuge right before school started back up. We both love animals, especially big cats. The facility was clean and the staff very helpful. The enclosures are large with many toys and benches. The staff and interns were very knowlegable about each cat and bear and their stories. The tour and tram were interesting and different both times we rode on it. TCWR is a true refuge for the cats who were mostly rescued from abuse and neglect. We spent the night in the Siberian Suite and listened to lions caroling. The room was comfortable and clean and they even left us snacks! I highly recommend Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.

What an amazing experience! These people are compassionate, and professional. Our tour guide took lots of time and was very informative!

Seeing the tigers, lions, bobcats, servals, small cats and bears up close was a wonderful experience. You can really see the care and dedication the staff put into caring for these rescued animals. They have a forever home at turpentine creek and are left to relax in their habitats. It seems they are most active and playful in the morning and evening so during the day there are lots of trails to explore in the nearby state park and lake, plus the nearby town of eureka springs has a cute and active historic downtown. I would definitely recommend visiting if you care animals and want to see big cats up close while supporting a wonderful noon-profit organization.

A nice tour on a tram. Then you can walk at your pace to see the animals. Staff seemed well educated on the animals and more than willing to answer questions

We stayed in the Treehouse lodge and enjoyed 2 tours which were free with our lodging cost. My 11 yr old granddaughter and I definitely learned a lot about the big cats rescue! We both have become advocates for their cause. It was a define educational experience!! We both have already sent letters to our congressmen and senators. She has learned what an advocate is and I’m proud of her!!

This place was right next to our cabins. It was a very enriching educational experience. The work done by the staff is so wonderful to provide the animals a safe refuge. It was awesome to see ligers, white tigers, lions, a black panther and even a grizzly bear. Overall, it was memorable.

The tours at Turpentine Creek are great. The tram takes you by many Big Cats and the guide gives fantastic information about each and the areas they are in. It is also possible to walk through an area where many animals can be viewed. The animals all seem very content and well taken care of. The gift shop has a fantastic variety of gifts.

We really enjoyed visiting the wildlife sanctuary. The docents were very knowledgeable and showed real compassion for the animals on the property. We were able to see many of the rescued animals and hear their stories. This is truly a great project for animals in need.

This was a great trip. We went early in the morning and a lot of the animals were still sleeping or not out of their habitats. The guide stated they are more active later in the afternoon usually, especially around feeding time. You might want to take a later tour to see more animals, however, the educational part of the tour was remarkable. There is a lot to learn about how exotic big cats and other animals are traded and treated in our country.

My sister booked us into one of the Zulu Safari rooms, which were clean and cool (good a/c). They have thought of everything a traveler might need: robes, corkscrews, dining guides - everything. Front porch overlooking the fire circle and back deck overlooking the Ozarks.
Had a job interview the morning after we got there, and it was interesting doing it outside (needed good light) with the big cats caroling at each other.
Highly recommend - zero complaints. Although the room isn't cheap, the $32/person tour is included, which makes the whole package more affordable than it might initially seem.

Wonderful place, so glad these beautiful cats have a safe place to live out there lifes! The tou guide was knowledgeable and we enjoyed it!

what can i say but wow wow wow, just loved it, we did it early friday morning and we was able to do the tour as the only ones which was great, most of the animals were outside also,

If you are ever in the Eureka Springs area, this is a must see. They do tours of the the refuge on a tram with a guide who tells the story of each of the animals and where they came from. Warning, some of those stories are sad. You will also learn a lot of trivia about big cats and about hybrids like ligers. You can book your tour in advance on the website. There are also lodgings available on site as well as RV spots.

Beautiful animals that finally get to be treated with love and respect!!! This place is a must for any animal lover. That being said, you will hear some sad, so sad, stories of how these animals came to call Turpentine home. But then you get to see these healthy and happy animals being loved and respected.

We stayed in the Siberian Suite. It is truly a very nice place to stay and the staff is super friendly. The animals are all very well cared for. I highly recommend staying here

What an amazing place and experience! My family enjoyed our tour and time at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. Our tour guide Clementine had a great deal of knowledge and passion, and shared it with the group. This is a must see for anyone visiting the Eureka Springs area.

My husband and I loved this experience! We don't really go to zoos or do any sort of tours with groups that claim to be a rehab center or "safari", because so many just use the animals for profit without care for their wellbeing. But you could tell from the beginning that this refuge puts their cats FIRST. I loved how they gave us so much information on the cats individually, and why they operate the way they do. You can tell they truly care for and make sure these cats have the best possible lives. They even gave us tips on what to look out for to make sure other refuges are legitimate before visiting or giving them money. The tour was informative, fun, but most importantly, safe and comfortable for the cats :)

The review from Curiosity23725642066 is an absolute joke BTW, and I hope nobody takes it seriously. Anyone who is upset about being educated on animal advocacy, or upset because they can't touch a liger, is the worst kind of person. You should never be allowed to have pets, let alone visit another wildlife refuge. Curiosity23725642066 - you are the worst of people.

TCWR does an amazing job of rescuing big cats, small wild cats, and bears. All the animals are housed well and appear very healthy. Tours are on the hour, and are very informative. Very unique experience!

We stayed two nights in rv spot number one. You could see one tiger and hear many all night long. The rescue is non profit and save big cats from individuals and bad rescues (tiger king). The tigers carol at night. It’s worth staying the night and your money goes to a good cause.

Your visit supports the refuge's wonderful work. There are a variety of cats and the tour guide does a good job of bringing awareness. Plenty of parking.

We love this place so much! The people are so friendly and they super sweet. We live about 5.5 hours away and we come here at least one time a year :)

Once in a life-time experience being awoken at night by tigers, ligers & bears roaring. Waking up in the morning for a walk and walking by a liger cage and watching them eat. It was awesome, it is very unfortunate what has happened to these animals but the refuge has a lot of very knowledgeable people and provide a great tour.

We really love this place. Everyone is so nice and helpful, a rare find in today's society. We stayed in the tree house 15 years ago and were back vacationing in the area again. We stayed in one of the tents this time, in July (95 degrees). We arrived late afternoon and it was comfortable during the day and very nice at night once the sun went down. Did the last tour one day and the first one the next morning. Worked out great as we got to see those animals that like the morning better one time and the evening better the other time. Definitely worth it if you want to get the best of your time. Hearing the cats throughout the day/night is really cool.

The refuge is kept clean. Sharon who did the 12-1 tram ride, was very knowledgeable and very patient answering young children’s questions. We loved seeing the animals being taken care of. I would highly recommend visiting there. Some animals stayed in there house because the heat was building

This was my first time staying onsite at the Refuge and it was a great experience. It is always so heart-warming to hear the stories of the rescues of these magnificent aninals, but also to see them in their elements and to hear them talk to one another throughout the night was moving and special. I can't help but believe that they do appreciate all that you do for them and understand on some level that they are now safe.

Great experience , wonderful facility and a great staff . Been there several times and already looking forward to our next visit . Stayed in the Zulu lodge which was also a awesome experience .

Seriously, how could anyone NOT give this place 5 stars? It is utterly AMAZING. The work they do to protect these big cats and provide them a happy home restores your faith in humanity. While we were there they were providing enrichment toys and even bubble bathes for the tigers. They even have a section of the property for the senior residents so they can have a peaceful spot away from guests. This place is all about the animals! The tour was wonderful! We went at 8:30 a.m. so we could see some of the hand’s on “training” they do with the animals. We chose the 9 a.m. tour so we could see more animals out before they took their afternoon naps. We will be back and will be donating to this wonderful place! Can’t say enough good things about the place! Staff was awesome too!

This is a great experience. The guide was VERY knowledgable, passionate, and entertaining. The animals weren't very active but I don't think seeing the animals was the most important thing about this experience. It was the awareness this refuge gives those that might not know any better. Thank you for all you do! We will be back again and will continue to support you in any way we can.

This is well worth the price of admission and take the tram tour.the interns/guides are impressively informative and the cause of what they do there is great. I learned much more than what I thought I already knew about such things.
Just go.

A very knowledgeable guide provides commentary about each animal as you ride around the grounds on a tram. Tour takes approximately 45 minutes. Well worth the time.

Staying in the adult only Zulu Lodge was wonderful. Cats caroled early morning and after dark. Was absolutely magical!!!

Staff was very responsive. They went above and beyond to make my birthday a happy and unforgettable one.

They weren't overly busy this time of year. The jacuzzi was wonderful

I have traveled to TCWR for a couple of years now to see and support the animals living at the Refuge. I love staying on property for easy access to the daily tours, seeing the animals in the Discovery Area and hearing the lions caroling at night. I stayed 5 night between Tigris Tent and the Treehouse and both accommodations were great, clean and the money spent goes to help the animals so I find it to be a great value. The Lodging Staff was very accommodating as I stayed in multiple in two locations on property. The atmosphere at TCWR is calm and quiet. Aside from the lions caroling! The crowds were not to large for the tours. TCWR is the best known for their caring for the animals.

Seeing these beautiful animals in a caring loving environment blessed my heart. Wonderful experience!! Thanks Turpentine Crew for giving of your time and love to care for these amazing animals. ♥️♥️

The tour guide was very informative and you could tell they really care for these animals. The animals are beautiful. It is a beautiful ride to the place also. I really enjoyed it! Buy tickets online ahead of time to ensure a spot on the tour.

The best wildlife refuge experience we have had! The staff were extremely knowledgeable and very kind, you can tell that they truly love what they do and take great care of all of their wildlife which included bears, big cats, a few smaller species, and a very spoiled monkey! The “retired” age animals were especially well cared for, love what they are all about and what they do for these beautiful animals!

Beings we visited during Covid they had one tour per hour and drove us on a tram. The tram was a benefit because we had 2 people with us that have limited mobility.
We enjoyed learning about true animal sanctuaries and the personalities of the animals.

Big cats and tigers what else can you ask for in this crazy time.
The staff seems on top if their game.
We stayed in the Serengety bungalo
And the animals roared and it was very exciting.

Bucket list for sure!!

So nice to see how these rescued animals are treated given the circumstances from which they came. The tram made it easy for those with difficulty walking.

This was such and educational tour and they have many different types of tigers there as well as some extras. They have shows there that you can attend but the drive thru was AWESOME!!!!

Not very exciting or Informative. Our kids age 10,8,6,3 were all bored out of their minds for the 45 minute train ride. I don’t know if we learned anything except which cats came from tiger king and that ligers actually exist. I would save your $ and time and go do something fun in eureka springs!

We "adopted" a tiger as a Christmas present for our animal-loving 11-year-old, so naturally, we had to go meet Floyd in person. We stayed in the Siberian Suite, which was spacious, comfortable and meticulously clean. The bonus with that room is that there's an enclosure just outside the window, inhabited, when we were there, by a liger. We awakened to the sound of caroling lions, which was an exceptional treat.
The refuge is a true, no-touch sanctuary with non-profit status and a perfect score at Charity Navigator.
The lodging is an especially good deal when you factor in the tours. Overnight guests may go on as many tours as they like at no charge; we went on two (we needed to see Floyd more than once!), which would have cost a combined $130 in our case and that really increased the value of the lodging.
The staff is helpful, friendly and polite in every encounter. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and you'll spend some time in the gift shop, but you'll max out your encounter in 1-2 hours. If you're staying there, make supplemental plans to entertain yourself in downtown Eureka Springs, which is delightful.
One specific note: Photographers should be aware that all the animals are behind double fences, so even very long lenses focused to the distance present very significant challenges for clean shots.

This was an awesome place to visit during our anniversary. The animals seem well taken care of and active. Bam Bam the bear had to be our favorite. He was playing with a log for about 20 minutes while we waited. The tour guide was knowledgeable and the animals were awesome.

My guide was great! She told me so many stories about these animals. It really made it personal. I am staying in Bentonville and this was on my last full day (Friday) I check out tomorrow. I wanted something to do. I'm so glad I found this place!
They even have places where you can stay the night! I already had accommodations in Rogers.
I went to this, then Quigley's Castle just 7 minutes further away down the road, then Cosmic Cavern! I stopped along the way to eat at the Horseshoe Grill. I did not have time to visit Onyx Cave on the way back to Rogers (Bentonville).

We stayed the night at the Kalahari at The Safari Lodge on September 9th for our anniversary on September 11th. We went on a tour, which is included, at 4:00 that day. So amazing! The intern who guided the tour was very knowledgeable, interesting and fun. Also, hearing all of the “cooing” at night was unforgettable. We recommend this adventure, as it supports these wonderful animals.

This place was a joke! Before our tour started we were told we had to wear a mask outside. There were only 10 of us on this tour. They had an area to walk around and see the animals when we looked around there wasn't 1 animal to see. The guide tried to tell us that some of the tigers had covid. All I know is that the animals didn't get covid from any of the tourist. The animals are in cages then there is a fence around the area. Tourist couldn't get within 10 feet of any of the animals. Now when we got on the train that was taking us thru the animal park, then we were told we could take our mask off. The tour guide wasn't friendly and hard to understand him. Once the tour was on the way we kept looking for the tigers? All we saw was empty cages with tigers or lions hidden in areas that noone could see into. There was a family with 3 little kids. They were so bored. Kept asking daddy where are the animals. Half way thru the tour the guide tried to tell us that the animals usually don't come out in the morning. My question was" then why have a tour?" My husband and I travel alot and go to as many animal refuge as possible. This place was the worst! The only reason I didn't ask for a refund was that the money goes to the animals. We usually go to the gift store and spend money we were so disgusted with the place we left right after the tour.

We enjoyed our visit here. Very kind and helpful staff. We stayed in the treehouse bungalow. It was neat to hear the lions caroling from inside the treehouse. Great place to visit!

Loved our time at Turpentine! Everyone enjoyed the tram and learning about the how such majestic animals came into their care. These folks are the "good guys", helping undo the damage people have done to these creatures. Entertaining, informative and enjoyable for us, and funds go to the care of the animals. Everyone wins.

Awesome time ! Our tour guide was amazing. The cats were a bit lazy that day but we still got to see several of them. The grizzly bear wouldn't come out when we were there and my husband really wanted to see him. Great time spent!

One of the best educational non profits in the region. This rescue center treats their animals with dignity, they are in huge outdoor enclosures so they have room to roam, there’s an onsite vet clinic to treat the animals. Fun for kids and adults of all ages.

This is an activity the whole family can enjoy. They operate only on donations and their tour was very knowledgeable. I went in early March around 10 AM. I only wish that more the animals were outside their houses.

We were able to walk around the Discovery area before boarding the tram for a tour of some of the animals. Because we were on a late afternoon tour and it had rained earlier in the day most of the big cats were sleeping. The brown bear, Bam Bam was very active however and we enjoyed watching him enjoy his pool. During the tour we learned the stories of some of the animals rescued and it was heartbreaking but good to understand their stories so that people understand that wild animals are not pets and should not be kept as pets.

I can’t believe we have been to Eureka Springs so many times, and this was our first visit to TCWR. It is truly an amazing place! It is very obvious that the animals who live there are loved and cared for. The habitats are very clean, the staff is so friendly and helpful. We will visit as often as we can because we feel like we really got to know the animals!

While we were in Eureka Springs we decided to make the short drive out to Turpentine Creek. We were very pleased with the experience. Our tour guide was very informative and able to answer all questions. We will be coming back with our little one when it's cooler because she will love seeing all the animals. The only downside was how hot is was and the cats weren't moving much but I don't fault them at all because I wouldn't have been either.

This is a great place and you can tell the animals' welfare is their main concern. We didn’t get to see a lot of the cats because it was too hot in the middle of the day, but we were warned about that in advance. It's a good place to spend your money. We did see several cats and love that we got to be on a tram rather than walking the whole time. The guide was very knowledgeable and I highly recommend a visit any time you're in the area.

This is one of my happy places. The animals are so well cared for and the staff is amazing. We did the behind-the-scenes tour and learned so much. Some of the interns are so new and yet they could rattle off all kinds of information for each specific animal at the sanctuary. Awesome place.

Some people of Eureka Springs will talk this place up but, when we got there, it looked really junky. It was not well maintained and the cages on the inside looked like a prison. It was not fit for wildlife animals. They were very small. We decided to get a refund and not take the tour because of that and because of the mask requirement. They told us that we had to wear a mask in the area where you wait for the Trolly because "the animals were susceptible to getting the virus in that area" even though there were literally no animals in any of those cages near there at the time and that we "could take them off as soon as we got on the trolly", which makes no sense because then, we would be around the animals. I stood up for myself and said that it was against my constitutional rights and one of the unprofessional, sass mouth, ignorant workers said that she didn't care about my rights and I made her think about what she said when I asked her how she would like it if I told her that I don't care about her rights and I think the last nut came loose in her brain. My husband looked at me and said "let's go, I want a refund" and we all walked out. I don't have to wear a mask, the CDC doesn't require you to wear a mask outside and I'm NOT GOING TO WEAR A MASK NOT BY FORCE OR VOLUNTEERING, PERIOD. STOP PUSHING YOUR AGENDA. IT'S NOT WORKING!! Don't give this place your business!

Mainly get lectured on why you shouldn’t keep big cats as pets. Repeatedly. A lot of distance from animals. Very little to see as all are at distance in habitats.

Way too much lecturing and also a whole, whole lot of self-congratulation for saving a few dozen animals from sad lives.

Get the point of what they’re doing, but it’s not a fun visit. And—do we want to spend all the money they do on saving the random liger? I mean, the poor thing can’t even stand up.

Camped here so we could hear the cats in the night. Cheap and decent. Just a patch of grass to pitch a tent.

My visit to the TCWR facility on October 2nd was truly unforgettable, thanks largely to the wonderful and informative "Carnivore Tour" given by Peri.

I absolutely loved learning about the sanctuary's history, their vital conservation work, the compassionate care they provide for the rescue animals, and the amazing rehabilitation programs. Peri's genuine passion for the animals and the TCWR mission was so evident, and it made the entire experience much more meaningful and engaging.

I was especially impressed by the top-notch medical facilities and the generous size of the enclosures where the rescue animals are housed—it's clear they prioritize the animals' well-being above all else.

Thank you again, Peri, for taking the time to share your knowledge and enthusiasm. This tour is a must-do for anyone visiting the area!

Seeing how well the animals were being treated and how well their enclosures were maintained. Was also an educational experience. The guide was very informative.

Turpentine Creek is a wonderful sanctuary for big cats and other animals who are rescued from dangerous situations. They have guided tours and a gift shop you can visit, but my favorite thing is the on-sit lodging. You can stay in a bungalow, tree-house, and even a tent-cabin hybrid! It's a very cozy and romantic experience.

We stayed in the tree house and totally enjoyed our experience. We are from Kansas so we were very interested in Detroit (the tiger right by the tree house was rescued from Salina, Kansas). He was very special to us. We did quite a bit of walking so managed to see the tigers, Guber eating, and the grizzly bear swimming the day before our tram tour. It was a fun couple of days that I spent with my granddaughters for their 13th birthdays! I was very impressed with the amenities provided with the stay. We enjoyed sitting on the tree house deck listening to the lions "caroling". We felt very safe during our stay. We went on the 11 a.m. tour and there just wasn't many cats out so that was a little disappointing. We did like hearing the history of the cats, bear, and monkey. You definitely should spend the extra money to spend the night!

We LOVED staying at Turpentine Creek. My family rented the Siberian and Bengal suites so 6 of us could stay a couple of nights. We woke up to Fergie the Liger, Chief the Lion, Jake the Serval, and more. We heard them caroling and chuffing. It was wonderful. Accommodations were clean, comfortable, and stylish. A play pen for our toddler was already set up when we arrived. Kids loved the tub and the muffins. Tea and coffee offerings were great (but my kids would have loved hot chocolate packets to be included too). We were close enough to drive into Eureka Springs each day and would love to stay again in the future!

This attraction was perfect for our family of four. The wildlife refuge offered a guided tour and a walking tour. After the tour the highlight of our visit was watching Bam Bam the grizzly bear, play in this habit. It was so entertaining. We stayed for an hour after our tour watching him. Worth the money and got a good cause.

This place was pretty darn cool! Lots of big cats and some bears too. It was very neat to see an actual liger. (Napoleon Dynamite would love this place!) If you like big cats, then this is the place to visit. They're doing awesome work there to provide these majestic animals a comfortable life after coming out of such awful conditions.

Turpentine Creek is a must-see if you're in Arkansas. It combines fun and education in a unique way. If you can, stay at the refuge!! Hearing the lions caroling all day and all night is an experience you'll never forget. The accommodations are great and the proceeds help the Refuge continue the work they are doing to rescue these amazing animals.

We really enjoyed looking at the animals in the discovery area. It was great seeing Bam Bam have fun. The tram ride around the park was great & very informative. The staff are very friendly. Had a great time.

How long will they require masks to be worn OUTSIDE? It’s utterly ridiculous that they’re still requiring masks to be worn outside. The CDC says that vaccinated people do not need to wear masks inside or outside. Your animals in the enclosures in the discovery area are more than 6’ away from people AND it’s OUTSIDE. If you follow the science, you would know that the chances of an animal contracting COVID-19 are next to nothing under these circumstances even if the person is not vaccinated. Now consider that a significant percentage of the population IS vaccinated and that number goes even closer to zero. So, it’s ridiculous to force people who want to support your mission through membership to participate in a pretend charade by wearing masks on a hot, humid day to prevent the spread of a virus that has less than .01% chance of spreading to a tiger.

We loved this place.We was taught a lot of information about the tigers and the guide new her stuff.Very friendly place and it’s a most do.

We took the 10:30 tour and at that time many of the animals were not visible because of the heat and time of day.,,so that was disappointing. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and presented a good explanation of each animal and their background. She even took the time to visit with us after the tour and answered all of our questions. We were impressed with the widespread sponsorship for this refuge. It is reassuring to know that many people support the cause to rescue and care for the cats.

Very interesting and informative despite some of the heart wrenching stories of the rescued animals but happy to know they will be well taken care of in their forever homes.

Beautiful care for these beautiful animals. So good to see what Turpentine Creek does. Go early in the day during the summer months. It gets hot. We had a helpful and entertaining guide.

this is a place that no one should miss, especially if you can watch the afternoon feeding. our group of ladies enjoyed it so much!

Very hot day....would recommend going early or later (our tour was 11-12) but we still saw bears, many tigers, and the lion out and about. Tram is about an hour, with plenty of information about the cats and their backstories (some are sad) and their "forever homes" at Turpentine Creek. Recommended for all ages...HUGE facility!

Our visit to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge was amazing! This was the first visit here for my daughter (9 Years old) and I. The animals were all wonderful and well taken care of. The staff are professional and so nice. We had a chance to speak to a few interns working there. They were so knowledgeable of the animals and the back stories of the animals. Some of the stories are really heart breaking. I am so glad a place like this exists for them. I must say that I feel the best way to really experience this wonderful place is to stay on the property. We stayed in the treehouse, and it was such a great choice! My daughter loved the loft upstairs. It is so comfortable and inviting. She made quick friends with Fergie, the Liger, next to us. Fergie would run along the fence with my daughter and purr. The animals are at a safe distance, of course, to protect them as well as the visitors. Fergie also purred which my daughter and I loved. Chief and Amarie (Lions) are also wonderful to hear when all of the cats start talking to each other. At night it sounds as though you are truly on an African Safari. All in all, it is a trip we will never forget. I hope to return some day to experience it all again. Thank you to all the wonderful staff from the young ladies in the Gift Shop to the kind gentleman driving to tram. Everything was, without a doubt, perfect.

We loved hearing the cats "talk" to each other at night. It was exciting and scary. The sounds of the jungle at night were captivating. This is my 3rd visit.The refuge has come so far. The professional staff rehabilitate and cares for these formerly abused and mistreated beautiful big cats & other animals. They do wonderful work. Worth seeing if you're in the Eureka Springs area.

We stayed in the Okavanga Suite and found it to be rustic but very comfortable. Went in mid April and it snowed!! Great experience sipping wine in the hot tub outside our little cabin, in the snow, listening to the lions carol! Wow! This is a nice preserve and we loved it! Can't wait for our next trip!

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is somewhere we visit regularly. They are a TRUE ACCREDITED SANCTUARY. The animals have wonderful homes and re treated with the care and respect they deserve. Its clean and well maintained. Animals aren't forced to perform and always have the right to choose if they want to be seen by the public. 100% recommend.

I wasn't very impressed with this place for the price. We went around 1pm in the summer. The animals were looking for shade. We saw several, but they weren't very active. The facility appears nice, but, for the price, I want to see more, not just hear each animal's rescue story.

Informative tour of a true working animal sanctuary. This is not a zoo, and the animals are not there for our entertainment.

Amazing! We all watched Tiger king and I was worried which way this would go…. It was great! The cats are healthy and active, the enclosures are big filled with toys and logs and the rescue work is honorable. They seem to take great care in these animals as they can’t be released back into the wild, this seems to be the best life they could have. My kids had a blast! We got lucky- early spring and the sun popped out while we were there so most of the cats were out and about (we even got to see the huge grizzly after what they said had been months of him staying in his den). GO!! You will not regret it! We will be going back when the expansion opens

Buy tickets online and save $3 per ticket. We took the 11am tram tour. It was 77°-79°. It was too warm for the animals to be active. We saw maybe 20% of the animals. The rest were staying cool. I recommend arriving earlier in the day and go when it is cooler for the animals. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and all staff were friendly.

Despite the heat, very neat visit with family including a two year old and 7 month old. The “explore” area allows you to walk along several enclosures/habitats featuring a brown bear, Jaguar, and several tigers.

All of the enclosures are set up well so that most of the animals can be easily seen. The tram portion of the tour was also enjoyable. Most of the enclosures are along the right side of the tram (sit towards the middle of the tram to stay in the shade).

Very clean sanctuary and friendly staff. Absolutely worth the visit if you’re in the area.

They’re still requiring masks within the “explore” portion of the park, but not during the tram ride.

Our tram tour guide was very well versed in the refuge. Sad story about these poor abused animals. Well worth the visit.

Nice tram tour. Knowledgeable guide. Got to see several animals, bear was in his house while we were there though. Was there about an hour.

This is a wonderful sanctuary of rescued lions and tigers. They do incredible work and the park personnel are very knowledgeable and give an excellent tour.

Overall a nice place to visit. The staff are very friendly and obviously respect and care deeply for the cats. Some beautiful, beautiful cats there, and they will tell you each of their stories. I do have to agree a little with the review that says should consider only giving tours at 9:00 and 4:00. We did the 3:00 tour one day and the 9:00 am tour the next morning, since we were staying in the RV park. For the 3:00 tours, many of the cats couldn't be seen very well. The 9:00 am was much more interesting. Cats were active, and even got to watch a short tiger "training" session where they teach the cat to raise it's paws, roll over, etc, so they can examine the cat. HIghly recommend going to one of these times. We did very much enjoy camping right next to one of the Liger cages in our RV. We were a little disappointed, however, that the person over the campground would not allow us to have the code to restroom/shower right by us. We had a water leak in the RV and needed to use the campground shower. She wouldn't let us use the nearby one and said we could to drive to another area for a bathroom, because that one was only for the 2 "glamping" tents. However, no one was staying in the tents, so don't think it would have been much of an inconvenience. Idk, maybe they didn't want to have to clean it. Anyway, we ended up taking a swimsuit shower in the water hose at our camp site rather than drive elsewhere. Not so bad, since it was hot outside, but a bit disappointing. Tour guides were friendly, knowledgeable and pretty darn good. I understand the need to tell the animals' stories and be advocates for them, trying to put an end to the terrible "Cub Petting" exploitation etc. But, as other review says, I think they could also insert a little more interesting Big Cat facts, humor, etc, so it is a little less "preachy", since this is a paid attraction. Overall, is still a very nice place to visit, and we would still choose it again, especially since the proceeds go to help take care of these wonderful animals born and raised into less than desirable situations. God bless them for giving these animals a peaceful, non-exploitive place to live out their lives. It's not just about us. Oh, and it was definitely an awesome experience to wake up to the lions caroling in the morning. Something you don't get to hear everyday!

I went to this facility with much trepidation, as I have a low emotional tolerance & perhaps too much empathy for animals who have been abused & neglected. While the guides (& the video) share stories of abuse & neglect, the pervading feeling here is one of love & joy. These animals are well-cared-for in their "forever homes" by passionate people who love doing what they do. These majestic animals (not just big cats) each had their own path to get here, but now that they're here, their stories are happy ones. Our group's guide, Debbie, was amazing! While the tour is short & probably overpriced for what you get, you leave knowing you have been a part of the continuing effort to find & keep animals that otherwise wouldn't have even a remote chance at a good life. This place allows us humans the rare joy of visiting an animal's home & having a chance to watch it live it's life, free from abuse or fear. Support this place if you can.

Really cool and very informative. Worth the trip. This place will exceed your expectations. Guides are very knowledgeable.

This was an interesting experience and the guides were very good and passionate about their work. However, I am not sure they really want your business. We arrived without purchasing our tickets on-line. The clerk was very annoyed and did not make us feel welcome. To tell you the truth, I actually thought about leaving based on her attitude. She went through the process of purchasing the ticket on-line, it seems for the sole purpose of getting our email address. They now keep sending us emails. I have asked to unsubscribe multiple times but still have not been removed.

Went here while in eureka for our anniversary.. covid changes things so only a team tour was available.. the guide was great. Knew her stuff and very informative . The big cats were so beautiful! We plan to go back again for the walking tour when it is available again!

I knew next to nothing about this place before going there. We saw a billboard and read excellent reviews. I was blown away by the stories and experience. I didn’t even know I liked big cats until coming here. The tour guide and interns were delightful. You can tell they enjoy their jobs. I’m still disturbed by how these poor animals end up coming here but so thankful they have this safe haven.

Seeing the animals rolling in the grass and playing with each other or their enrichment toys was great to experience. Listening to the lions each morning was the greatest way to wake up. Cannot wait to go back.

We are so glad we visited this refuge and learned about all of these beautiful animals that are being given a second chance. The caretakers are amazing.

I love big cats and any other animals, so we decided to make a trip to Turpentine Creek while we were in the area. I thought it was mostly underwhelming and not worth the drive nor the $25 admission price. There are a few enclosures in the "Discovery Area" where you can see animals up close. Most of the animals are seen from the tram, which is a trailer connected to the back of a pickup truck that slowly drives you past the other enclosures. In most cases the animals are a far distance (roughly 100 yards) from the tram and difficult to see. It was also a very hot day when we went, so most of the animals were not active. Some weren't even outside. It does appear that this place is a legitimate animal rescue, so at least our money went to a good cause, from what I can tell. It took us about an hour to tour the whole place.