When most travelers think of Sevierville, Tennessee, their minds jump to Dollywood, mountain cabins, and pancake houses. But tucked just 20 minutes from Dollywood along a quiet stretch of Walnut Grove Road sits one of the most genuinely surprising animal experiences in the entire Smoky Mountains region. Springtime Exotic Petting Farm is not a roadside novelty. It is a fully hands-on, multi-species farm that offers over 20 different animals, a parakeet aviary, seasonal festivals, and most notably, an exclusive capybara and kangaroo encounter that is unlike anything else available in Tennessee.

Watch the YouTube video:

This guide covers everything a visitor needs to know before making the trip, from ticket prices and opening hours to what each animal experience actually feels like up close.

Springtime Exotic Petting Farm

Springtime Exotic Petting Farm is located in Sevierville, Tennessee, and is accessible by taking a left onto Walnut Grove Road. The property is centered around a red barn that serves as the main entrance and ticketing area. From there, the farm opens up into a sprawling, walkable space filled with animals, activity zones, slides, and seasonal decorations.

The farm is run with a clear philosophy: almost every animal on the property is touchable, feedable, and approachable. The only exception is the zebra, which is kept on a special diet and is viewable but not available for feeding.

With over 20 species on site, Springtime Exotic Petting Farm occupies a genuinely rare category. It is not a zoo where animals are observed from a distance. It is not a simple petting zoo with just goats and sheep. It sits somewhere between a wildlife sanctuary and an immersive family adventure, and it pulls that balance off with impressive consistency.

Ticket Prices and What Is Included

Understanding the pricing structure before arriving helps avoid any surprises at the gate.

General admission is $15 per person. Children aged two and under are admitted free. Senior citizens receive a discounted rate of $13.

Admission includes access to all animals on the farm, the bird aviary, the giant double mega slide, the jumping pad, seasonal activities, scavenger hunts, and all the games and play structures scattered across the property.

Animal feed is available separately. A bundle costs $5 and includes a variety of food types suitable for the different animals across the farm. This bundle covers outdoor animals, guinea pigs, bunny rabbits, and the bird stick for the aviary. Given how interactive the animals are and how much of the experience depends on feeding them, purchasing the feed bundle is strongly recommended.

The premium experience at Springtime Exotic Petting Farm is the Capybara and Kangaroo Experience, which is priced at $35 as an add-on to general admission. This is a 25-minute private, hands-on session that takes place in a separate enclosed area. It is covered in detail below.

Hours, Seasons, and Best Times to Visit

Springtime Exotic Petting Farm operates year-round with a few exceptions. The farm closes for part of January and part of February. It is also closed every Monday and Tuesday throughout the operating season.

On open days, the farm runs from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The best time to arrive is in the morning. The animals are active, hungry, and energetic early in the day. Beyond that practical benefit, mornings in the Smoky Mountains are notably cooler than afternoons, which makes walking the grounds considerably more comfortable, particularly during the summer months. That said, the staff notes that the farm remains consistently busy throughout the day, and the animals stay active and receptive to feeding from open to close.

The farm also runs seasonal events that are worth planning around. A Strawberry Festival takes place during the month of April. A Fall Festival runs for six consecutive weeks, beginning in September and ending on Halloween. The Fall Festival is the largest event the farm runs, and the grounds transform with fall and spooky-themed decorations that cover much of the trail areas.

The Capybara and Kangaroo Experience: What to Expect

This 25-minute exclusive experience is the centerpiece attraction at Springtime Exotic Petting Farm, and it earns that designation. There is nowhere else in Tennessee where visitors can sit on the floor with capybaras crawling across their laps while simultaneously hand-feeding kangaroos lettuce and interacting with young joeys.

The experience takes place in a dedicated enclosed area separate from the main farm. Visitors sit in a circle on the floor, and the capybaras move freely through the group. Holding capybaras is not practical simply because full-grown adults reach up to 150 pounds, and they are described accurately as big butterball creatures that would roll right out of anyone’s arms. Instead, the experience is about proximity, contact, and feeding. The capybaras climb onto laps, investigate hands, chew on anything they can reach, and respond to gentle touch.

The sounds capybaras make are one of the more surprising aspects of the encounter. They produce a low purring noise similar to a cat combined with a chirping sound that resembles chickens. For most visitors, this vocalization is entirely unexpected and adds a distinctive quality to the interaction.

The kangaroos in the experience are still young. Adeline, one of the featured kangaroos, is approximately 17 to 18 months old. Missy, another resident, is around 14 months. Kangaroos are not fully grown until they reach three years of age, meaning the current animals in the experience are still in an early, highly social stage of development. Visitors can hand-feed them lettuce, observe their playful behavior, and interact with them at close range. Picking up the kangaroos is not permitted for visitor safety, but staff members can handle the animals and bring them close for interaction.

A bottle-feeding session takes place once a day, during which visitors can participate in feeding the younger animals.

There are also five newborn capybara pups at the farm that were born on January 3rd, making them approximately two to three months old during the spring season. These animals are on the cusp of being introduced to the experience area, which adds an additional layer of novelty for visitors arriving in spring.

The farm is also anticipating a new joey, as one of the female kangaroos, Adeline, is believed to be pregnant. Kangaroos typically carry one joey at a time, though twins are biologically possible and rare.

The Bird Aviary: An Immersive Parakeet Encounter

The bird aviary at Springtime Exotic Petting Farm is housed in its own building and is included in general admission. Visitors enter with a bird stick, a feeding tool included in the $5 bundle, and what follows is a full parakeet swarm.

The parakeets inside are completely free-flying and comfortable around humans. They land on arms, shoulders, and heads without hesitation, and they eat directly from hands and from the bird sticks provided. The density of birds inside the aviary means visitors are typically covered in parakeets within seconds of entering.

A few practical notes for the aviary: watch where each step lands, as birds congregate near feet and on the floor. The birds also show interest in jewelry, particularly bracelets, so it helps to be aware of accessories before entering. The experience lasts as long as the visitor chooses to stay and is genuinely entertaining, particularly for younger visitors.

All the Animals You Can Feed and Pet

Beyond the headline capybara and kangaroo experience and the aviary, the farm is populated with a remarkable variety of animals that roam, graze, and wander freely through designated zones.

Goats are present in abundance and come in multiple sizes and breeds. Some are fully grown, others are recent newborns with small horns just beginning to come in. The goats are highly social, will follow visitors around the property, and are assertive about getting attention when food is nearby.

Alpacas are spread across several areas of the farm. They are gentle, curious, and vary significantly in temperament. Some approach calmly and eat directly from hands. Others are more assertive, and the staff notes that the white alpaca on the property can be a bit territorial. Still, interactions are relaxed and memorable.

The camel, named Chewbacca, is a notable resident. The name is intentional: the camel produces a sound that reportedly resembles the Star Wars character. Chewbacca is a soft-mouthed feeder, which means food can be offered directly from the hand without concern. The farm staff recommends holding the feed in a flat palm.

Emus and ostriches occupy the back of the property. A clear warning from both staff and experienced visitors: do not arrive at the emus and ostriches with a full bucket of food, because they will take it all in a single aggressive pass. They are large, fast, and very food-motivated. Watching them strip a cup of grain in a single bite is impressive in its own way, but saving some food for the rest of the farm requires a strategy approaching the back section.

A large bull is also present on the property and is clearly visible up close. Visitors can observe and interact from the fence line. Sheep and additional goats are penned together in one section, where the social dynamics play out visibly. Goats assert dominance over the sheep, which makes for an entertaining feeding dynamic.

Guinea pigs and bunny rabbits are housed inside a red building, which provides welcome shade and cool air during summer months. The guinea pigs respond well to lettuce, which is included in the feed bundle.

The pigs on the property are viewable but not available for petting or feeding, as they are prone to biting.

A zebra lives on the upper section of the farm near the slide area. It is on a special diet and is not available for feeding, though visitors can get quite close and observe it clearly. It is one of the more visually striking animals on the property. Free-roaming cats also live on the grounds. They know where the food sources are and station themselves accordingly.

Chickens and a turkey wander the property and often appear unexpectedly between other animal areas. The turkey in particular seems to have designated itself a farm guide and appears near visitors throughout the walking route.

Activities and Play Structures

Springtime Exotic Petting Farm is designed to keep visitors occupied well beyond the animal experiences. The following activities are available on-site.

The double mega slide is a large, multi-lane racing slide that visitors descend using foam tubes. It produces genuinely competitive speed and is popular with both children and adults.

A large jumping pad is available for younger visitors and provides open-air bounce activity near the main farm area.

A gem mining sluice is located near the kangaroo and capybara experience. Gem mining is a popular activity in the broader Smoky Mountains region, and having it on-site adds a separate attraction for families.

A human hamster wheel is positioned in the upper section of the farm. Two people can enter simultaneously and attempt to spin it, which is harder to control than it appears and produces reliably entertaining results.

Duck racing is available in one of the indoor areas. It involves small toy ducks racing down a water channel, which makes for an easy competitive activity between groups. Cornhole and other lawn games are set up across the property, adding casual activity options that do not require instructions or supervision.

Axe throwing is available for older visitors and adds an unexpected adventurous activity to what is primarily a family farm experience. A bubble station is positioned near the kangaroo and capybara area.

Scavenger hunts run seasonally and are designed for children. Participants collect stamps from different stations around the farm and return them to the front for a prize.

For visitors interested in photography, a John Deere tractor is positioned in the upper area of the farm for photos. The farm is also situated at a high enough elevation that the distant Smoky Mountains are visible from that section, making it a natural stopping point for landscape shots.

Planning the Visit: Practical Notes

Arriving in the morning maximizes comfort and allows time to complete all areas of the farm without rushing. The full experience, including the capybara and kangaroo add-on, the aviary, all animal zones, and several activities, takes approximately 2 to 3 hours for most visitors.

Getting to the farm from Dollywood takes approximately 20 minutes. The route includes a left turn onto Walnut Grove Road. Parking is available at the farm, and the entrance is located near a red barn that is visible from the road.

The farm is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Arriving close to opening on a weekday offers the quietest experience.

If visiting with children, bringing hand sanitizer beyond what the farm provides is a practical consideration. The farm does have sanitizing stations positioned throughout the property, including near the aviary exit.

For food buckets, managing the quantity strategically across the farm makes a significant difference. Starting with goats and alpacas, then moving to guinea pigs and bunnies, and saving the smallest portion for the emu and ostrich section in the back is an approach that ensures food remains for all the animal zones.

Quick Reference: Springtime Exotic Petting Farm at a Glance

Location: Sevierville, Tennessee, approximately 20 minutes from Dollywood via Walnut Grove Road

General Admission: $15 per person. Children 2 and under free. Seniors $13.

Animal Feed Bundle: $5, includes feed for outdoor animals, guinea pigs, bunnies, and bird aviary stick.

Capybara and Kangaroo Experience: $35 additional, 25-minute private hands-on session.

Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Wednesday through Sunday.

Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, and parts of January and February.

Animals on Site: Capybaras, kangaroos, alpacas, camel (Chewbacca), emus, ostriches, zebra, goats, sheep, guinea pigs, bunnies, pigs, a large bull, turkey, chickens, free-roaming cats, parakeets.

Activities: Double mega slide, giant jumping pad, gem mining, human hamster wheel, duck racing, cornhole, axe throwing, bubble station, seasonal scavenger hunt, John Deere tractor photo opportunity.

Seasonal Events: Strawberry Festival in April, Fall Festival from September through Halloween.

Final Thoughts

What makes Springtime Exotic Petting Farm stand out in a region already dense with attractions is the specificity of its headline experience. Capybaras and kangaroos in the same hands-on, floor-level setting is not something found anywhere else in Tennessee. At a zoo, kangaroos are viewable from behind a barrier. At Springtime Exotic Petting Farm, a 14-month-old kangaroo chews on a jacket sleeve while a three-month-old capybara settles across a lap and purrs.

The general admission tier is already dense with value. Twenty-plus species, a full bird aviary swarm, the slide, the activities, the gems mine, and the seasonal programming all come with the $15 base ticket. The $35 capybara and kangaroo add-on is the premium layer, and for visitors who come specifically for that encounter, it delivers fully on the promise.

For families traveling through the Smoky Mountains region, for solo travelers seeking something off the Dollywood circuit, and for anyone who has never sat on the floor while a capybara investigates their shoelaces and a young kangaroo leans against their leg, Springtime Exotic Petting Farm is a stop that holds up.

Read More

For more updates and insider tips, follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & X!