United States
Arkansas (AR)
Eureka Springs
Things to Do in Eureka Springs
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
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Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

See all things to do
See all things to do
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
4.5
#3 of 60 things to do in Eureka Springs
Nature & Wildlife Areas
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
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About
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest big cat sanctuaries in the United States. The non-profit USDA licensed refuge, founded in 1992, has grown to become one of the Top 10 attractions in Arkansas and the most popular in Eureka Springs. Lions, cougars, leopards, tigers, and bears are displayed in large natural habitats surrounding the main enclosures and gift shop. Over night accommodations are available via the Safari Lodge, RV park, and camping facilities. Tours are available from 9 am until 4 pm.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,480 reviews
Excellent
2,005
Very good
328
Average
109
Poor
28
Terrible
10
MyrnaW981
Springfield, MO39 contributions
A Nice Facility
Jul 2020 • Friends
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.
Written July 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Office P
MyrnaW981, Thank you for coming to visit Myrna. As most other facilities we have been struggling during COVID-19. We had to temporarily close for months and visitors make up a large part of our income. Even though we have made adjustments to our facility to protect our team and big cat residents (Who can also get covid from humans) we've been doing our best to make our tours just as valuable. Instead of lowering cost we have tried to offer additional features that usually cost more. In the past, tram tours are an additional $5 per person, but we are currently offering them at no additional cost. We offer tours every hour and try to let individuals know that our animals are most active towards the beginning and end of the day. As a true sanctuary we never force our animals to be out and active if they do not want to be. We are always trying to figure out ways to put more value into our tours but we also have to follow covid rules right now. This whole thing is a learning process for us and we are continually changing and adding things to our tours to make them the best they can be during these confusing times. Thank you for your feedback and we will continue to make adjustments as necessary to make a trip to Turpentine Creek a valuable educational experience.
Written July 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Elaine H
1 contribution
A long, boring rant erroneously called a "tour"
Jun 2021 • Couples
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.
Written June 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Office P
Hi, Elaine! Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry your experience wasn't what you hoped for. As a true sanctuary, it is our duty to educate the public and advocate for animals like those who have found a safe haven at TCWR. Because many people are unaware of the plights of big cats in captivity, we try to make the tour as educational and informational as possible. If you have any feedback regarding how we could better balance this information with stories about each animal, please email us at tigers@tcwr.org. We try to make it clear that during the summer months, our animal residents are most likely to be active in the early morning and later in the afternoon. As you can imagine, felines are unpredictable and we don't force them to be on a schedule since this is their home. If you email us at tigers@tcwr.org, we would be happy to set you up with a tour at a better time so you can get what you feel like is your money's worth. Thank you for supporting the wellbeing of our animal residents with your visit. Because of you, they are free to nap and play at their leisure.
Written June 22, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
eapage1212
Jackson, MS1 contribution
Pleasantly surprised!
Oct 2020 • Family
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!
Written October 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Office P
Hi, eapage1212! Thank you so much for supporting our animal residents through your visit, as well as your detailed review. Big cats can sleep up to 18 hours a day and get lazier when it's warm; coming for the 10 AM tour in cool weather is an excellent choice if you want to be treated to frisky animals! We are so excited you got to see them play, rather than napping. We make sure to provide a variety of enrichment to keep them stimulated, preventing both boredom and depression while encouraging exercise. Abby is wonderful, and we are so proud to have her one our team. We will be sure to pass along your compliment; she will greatly appreciate it! :) Thank you again, and we look forward to having the pleasure of hosting you in the future. Stay safe!
Written October 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SilverWink1
35 contributions
Wonderful Experience
Aug 2020 • Family
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.
Written August 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Office P
Hello, SilverWink1! Yay! We're so excited you opted for a cooler time of day to visit! We guess time really does fly when you're having fun, huh? Our tour guides are wonderful and very passionate, which we are glad resonated during the tour. Thank you so much for visiting and for taking time to leave such a detailed review, noting the best times to visit. We hope your next experience is just as wonderful! We will piggy back off your tips by saying that mid-fall (sometimes humidity is still super high in early fall) and early spring is another great time to visit. Winter is good, as well, though African cats tend to hide when it's super cold. Thank you again, and please take care!
Written August 18, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Christy M
13 contributions
Enjoyed so much
Sep 2020
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.
Written September 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Office P
Hi, Christy M! It was so wonderful having you! We are so excited you got to watch our animal residents playing with some fall enrichment! Thank you for taking time to visit, and well as leaving such a detailed review. We appreciate you supporting the Survivors of the Big Cat Trade who call the Refuge home so much! Take care!
Written October 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MISTI C
9 contributions
Neat but could have skipped.
Apr 2021
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.
Written April 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Office P
Thank you for coming to visit us. If you have any suggestions on how would could improve our tour, we would love to hear from you! You may send suggestions to Tigers@TurpentineCreek.org. Thank you again for your support - your visit makes a difference in the lives of our animals!
Written April 7, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KateS
Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States4,832 contributions
A happy place
Sep 2020
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.
Written September 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Office P
Thank You so much for your review! Situations like these are very emotional and sometimes easy to just turn a blind eye to them so I really admire that you made this journey and more so that you shared your experience. We truly put our Animals first and give them love and a happy home. All proceeds go directly back to the sanctuary and I apologize if you thought it was overpriced. Our Guides do their best to give you the best tour so we can continue to care for our beautiful animals and give them the best possible care available.
Written November 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jesse E
North Lewisburg, OH815 contributions
Wonderful experience.
Sep 2020
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.
Written September 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Office P
Hi, Jesse E! Thank you so much for leaving such a detailed review. We value your feedback regarding your wheelchair- we have been focusing on making the Refuge more accessible, and it sounds like we still have work to do. We want everyone to be able to experience the Refuge without obstacles! We appreciate how positive you remained about your experience despite the wheel chair issues. We work hard to care for our animals and ensure our guests have an amazing experience. It was so wonderful hosting you, and we hope to see you again! If you have any more suggestions regarding how to make TCWR more accessible, please feel free to email us at tigers@tcwr.org. Thank you again, on behalf of our animal residents, for your support! Please take care!
Written October 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Greta B
Ozark, MO7 contributions
Fantastic Overnight Getaway!
Sep 2021
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.
Written September 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Office P
Greta, thank you so much for supporting our animals with your visit! Lodging goes a really long way in providing for our animals! We are glad you enjoyed yourself and hope to see you again. Take care.
Written September 9, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robert P
2 contributions
Definitely Worth The Drive!
Oct 2021
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!
Written October 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Office P
Dear Robbie & New Bride, Congratulations to both of you! Thank you for making the trip to support our animals. We are so happy to learn that you enjoyed your visit and that you chose to spend such a special time with us! Thank you again, we wish you all the best! Take care.
Written October 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is open:
  • Sun - Sat 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

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