Inside: Local mom visits Alligator Alley in Gulf Shores, Alabama (Summerdale, Alabama), where you can hold a baby alligator, pet snakes, and feed over 700 alligators.
Alligator Alley was unlike any animal encounter I have ever experienced. This alligator farm was wildly educational, unique, and a must-see on your next trip to Alabama.
What Is Alligator Alley
Alligator Alley is a self-guided nature park where you can see close to 700 alligators in their natural habitat. Wes Moore, owner of Alligator Alley, opened the farm in 2004 to help transport alligators from unnatural habitats (where they are getting into trouble with humans) to the farm in Summerdale, AL. While I listened to Moore’s presentation at the farm (more on that later), he informed us that the alligators he rehomes have lost their fear of humans, which therefore makes them a nuisance.
What To Expect At Alligator Alley
When you arrive at Alligator Alley, you will park in the parking lot before heading to the entrance. The entrance is where you will purchase tickets, alligator food if you plan to feed the gators, and any souvenirs you may want on your way out. Once you purchase tickets, you can start your trek through the nature trail.
You will start at the baby alligators and then eventually make your way to “Captain Crunch,” who is the largest gator they have there at the end of the trail (but sadly, we didn’t spot him the day we went). You can throw your alligator food into the cages (minus the baby alligator cages) as you walk. This was so fun because the gators would open their large jaws to grab the food as soon as you threw it to them. So cool!
Feeding Demonstration
When you get to the bleachers area, you will want to make sure you find a seat for the feeding demonstrations, which they hold daily at 11 am, 1 pm, and 4 pm. This was the highlight of our experience. The bleachers face the large lagoon where the adult alligators live, and as soon as the handler struck the “dinner bell”, out came a plethora of alligators trudging through the water onto the bank. It was a bit unnerving to see so many big gators coming out of the water.
The handler tossed large chunks of meat while he told us all about the alligators. He knew most of them by name, which I thought was neat, and didn’t seem phased when they were right at his ankles, ready for their lunch…