BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. (WENY) – Discover and learn through an immersive, hands-on experience for the entire family. Animal Adventure Park and Preserve features hundreds of acres to explore and a diverse array of species to encounter. 

Founder of the park, Jordan Patch, began this journey thirteen seasons ago. 

“I stepped into a field of about 15 acres, and I dreamed big,” said Patch. “That's exactly what Animal Adventure Park and then eventually the Preserve has been. It's a dream come reality.” 

Starting off with only 15 acres of land, Patch would soon expand the facility to about 140 acres in total.  

“We turned them into a family destination in the hills of Harpursville, New York,” says Patch, “showcasing hundreds of species, hundreds of animals for a very unique interactive educational experience.” 

When asked about the most important aspect of creating the park, Patch described his desire to interact with animals on a physical level, a dream he had as a child.  

“When building Animal Adventure, a lot of things are taken into mind to not only, you know, showcase our species, educate the public, but leave them with a lasting impression” said Patch, “they leave here and go, ‘wow, that was awesome,’ and that turns into appreciation for the species, which turns into conservation and preservation.” 

Guests get the chance to feed both domesticated and exotic animals from all around the world. After walking around the park, visitors can learn about each animal’s history, including if the species is facing extinction.  

Having the ability to showcase educational opportunities with a passionate staff behind him, Patch recounts this experience as a dream come true.      

“Animal Adventure Park and the Preserve have one of the most diverse animal collections in the region. And to be able to bring those species to, to our small community, and first make the impact on the local level and then eventually make the impact worldwide when we went viral with April the Giraffe.” 

April the giraffe became an internet sensation in 2017 when the birth of her offspring, Tajiri, was live streamed for the whole world to see. It gained traction on the web and helped bring popularity to the parks.  

Patch continues to strive for bigger and better each season, adding, “I can tell you that 2025 is very promising for a very exciting addition to our facility here. A species that you can only see at a handful of zoos around the country.” 

A family who started visiting the park regularly after moving to the area in 2016 came across Animal Adventure Park and The Preserve two years later. Now, they’ve made it a tradition to come back almost every year.  

“They love the animals, and they love petting them and you can actually feed them and everything because a lot of zoos don't have that,” said Michael Phillips, “And this is one of the ones that do and that's a big attraction.” 

“You definitely get up close and personal with feeding the animals,” said Julie Phillips, “and the girls look forward to it as much as we do every year.” 

Once finishing up with the animal encounters, one can head over to the Preserve – a safari drive-through bringing a personal experience with unique animals.  

If you are done walking the park but want to continue to journey, you can head to the Preserve -- a drive-thru safari, located right across the road. Hosted on over 100 acres of land, the Preserve is another interactive and educational adventure. 

Visitors can drive through and explore geographically designated paddocks which include Aussie Eurasia, The Americas, Africa & Giants of Africa. 

Animal Adventure Park and the Preserve is open April through December.

“No matter the season or the reason, Animal Adventure is always a place to come and have fun” said Patch, “When we're in the spring, summer, and fall, it's our general normal park experience. But in November and December, we transform into our Jungle Bells experience.”

Two and a half million Christmas lights are used to create another awesome experience and a different way to visit and fall in love with the park.

Check our their website for information and ticket prices by clicking this link: https://www.visitaap.com/