JOHNSON CITY WILDLIFE FIELD GUIDE
Close Encounters from Your Car: Drive-Thru Safari at Exotic Resort Zoo
A drive-through experience in Johnson City that lets you feed and observe hundreds of animals from the safety and comfort of your own vehicle—ideal for visitors with mobility or weather concerns. (Exotic Resort Zoo)
Close Encounters from Your Car: Drive-Thru Safari at Exotic Resort Zoo.
From the moment you roll through the gate at Exotic Resort Zoo in Johnson City, the safari reorients the usual animal-park choreography: instead of walking paths and viewing platforms, dozens of species approach your vehicle, eager for snacks and attention. The Drive-Thru Safari lets you remain inside your car while feeding and observing hundreds of exotic creatures up close—a format recommended for anyone worried about mobility or inclement weather.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Hundreds of Animals, Face-to-Face from Your Vehicle
This experience centers on close interactions: animals from around the world come to the road edges and accept feedings from visitors’ cars, offering intense, immediate wildlife moments without leaving your seat.
Clear Safety and Etiquette Rules Keep Things Predictable
Strict operational rules govern the drive-thru—stay inside your vehicle at all times, keep moving to avoid traffic backups, maintain a slow speed, and follow staff directions; these measures protect both visitors and animals.
A Practical Alternative for Mobility- and Weather-Sensitive Visitors
Because the entire route is driven from your vehicle, the Drive-Thru format is explicitly promoted as a good option for guests with mobility concerns or those seeking shelter from adverse weather.
What the day feels like
What the Drive Feels Like
The route is an active, car-bound loop: you progress along designated roads at low speed, windows up or down as directed, watching animals appear at the roadside and offering food from a flat, open hand. Staff emphasize staying on the route, keeping traffic flowing, and letting guided tours pass when necessary—so the tempo is steady and controlled, with wildlife moments punctuating the drive rather than long standing stops.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this drive-thru is best—and not best—for.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Bring a vehicle in good working order with fuel; purchase animal feed at the gift shop (only feed bought on-site may be given), and be prepared to feed animals from a flat, open hand as instructed.
Keep hatchbacks closed, pickup beds off-limits for riders, and ensure tops and doors are secured on Jeeps; no motorcycles, convertibles, or large RVs permitted.
Do not exit your vehicle; maintain the posted slow speed limit and allow guided tours right-of-way to keep traffic moving safely.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Can I get out of my car to take photos or approach animals?
No. Guests must remain inside their vehicles at all times; anyone found outside their vehicle will be escorted off the property.
May I feed the animals with food I bring from home?
No. Only animal food purchased from the gift shop is permitted; feeding outside food can result in removal from the park and financial liability for veterinary bills.
Are convertibles, motorcycles, or pickup-bed riders allowed?
No. Convertibles and motorcycles are prohibited, and people may not ride in pickup beds; Jeeps must have tops and doors on to enter.
What happens if my vehicle breaks down inside the park?
The operator cannot assist with vehicle issues; you must contact a roadside service at your own expense if you experience automobile problems in the park.
Can I hand-feed every species I encounter?
Most animals can be hand-fed using a flat, open hand, but zebra and certain bird species must not be hand-fed because they bite—throw food on the ground for those animals instead.
Do guided tours affect my drive-thru route?
Yes. Guided tours have the right-of-way; if a guided tour approaches, you must pull to the side and allow them to pass immediately.