How to Enjoy Your Spring Break Visit

Rules of the Road

• The most important thing to do is to pack your patience. We do have a lot of people visit at this time of year and we want everyone to enjoy themselves. Remember that the cars in front of you all want the same chance to feed the giraffe or look at the zebras as you. When it gets to be your turn remember that there are many people behind you who are waiting to enjoy the same experience you are having. Please be patient and considerate.

• Avoid long lines, become a member. Look for the membership booth at the front gate to sign up if you haven’t already.

• Check your gas before you get here. Due to our small staff and heavy traffic it may take a while for us to be able to deliver gas. Please also be aware that we charge $6.00 a gallon to do this.

• Come between 8:00 and 9:30 am and receive one free bag of feed for the animals.

• Visit restroom facilities before entering the drive-through.

• Allow yourself plenty of time to complete your drive.

• Consider taking a guided tour and let us do the driving.

• Read all the rules handed out when you enter the drive-through and share them with everyone in your vehicle. They were originated to keep you and our animals safe. Particularly pay attention to allowing plenty of room between your car and the cattle guards when you stop near them. Some of the animals may not be paying attention to the cattle guards when looking for “handouts” and they may break a leg if they were to slip into the bars.

• Giraffe are usually put in their yard around 4:30 to 5:00 pm (depending on the weather)

• Stay in your car and stay safe. We don’t want to see any of our guests injured so safety is a great concern here at Fossil Rim.

• Mini van doors must remain closed for your safety.

• Please show your respect for the animals in our care by only feeding them the food purchased at the front gate. It has been formulated for the optimum health of these animals.

• Please remember to make sure there is adequate room for you to move your car over sufficiently to provide passing room when you stop to feed, photograph or enjoy viewing the animals. While doing this also be aware that driving off the shoulder of the road will further degrade the pavement. However, to increase traffic flow, please pull to the side of the road when stopping.

• Please do not take any unauthorized detours from the tour route.

• Come early or late in the day when it is less crowded.

• Enjoy the views if you find yourself moving slower than expected.

• Please refrain from the temptation to honk at any offending cars. This could frighten some of the animals and possibly cause them to injure themselves.

• Consider bringing water for yourselves as it will be a longer time than usual before you get to a place to stop and get something. Snacks for the younger members of your group may be helpful, just please watch that they don’t end up in the mouths of the animals.

• Remember that we do have a café with an excellent menu but you are also welcomed to bring your own picnic lunch. There are numerous picnic tables located around the overlook stop for your use.

• If you must exit the park before the end of your tour – notify someone at the Nature Store or Children’s Animal Center. They can assist you in exiting at the halfway point. There are no other places to exit besides the front gate and Overlook.

• We would like to request that parents monitor their children when in the Nature Store or the Children’s Animal Center. Please do not take feed into the Children’s Animal Center as this may cause the animals to become aggressive. Your child may be big enough not to be affected but we need to keep the youngest children safe by not having these animals approach anyone in search of food. Also be mindful that when the animals walk away they have probably had enough attention and would like to be left alone.

• Remember that discount Wednesday is not in effect during Spring Break.

• There will be absolutely no entry into the drive-through after the posted closing time of 4:30. No exceptions. Again, this is for your safety. It would not be a safe or fun experience for you to be driving through the park at dark.

• Be sure to watch the weather and determine your comfort level regarding the temperature, rain, etc. The animals are usually out and about, we just want you to be happy with your window down if that is your preference.

While this may seem like a lot of rules and regulations to you, these are all things we have seen diminish the enjoyment of guests in years past. We want your experience to be enjoyable. Your cooperation will be appreciated by all involved.